Off to the old folks home...
March 2022

Thanks to the amazing support of the Myrtleford Hospital Op Shop, we are now realizing our dream to create the 'Kites Memory Mural' in the courtyard at Myrtleford's Barwidgee Lodge aged care facility. We hope it enlivens the space, giving young and old, residents and visitors, a conversation piece, drawing everyone outside to explore. It's a great pleasure to be doing some of this work onsite and having time to chat to the residents, while we work.

Another first!
January 2022

We were delighted to be invited by North- East Victoria artist Kirrily Anderson, to add a few small textural elements, to her amazing mural at the Falls Creek Child Care Centre. After our two big trees this was pure fun.

From little things big things grow...
July 2020 - December 2021

Go big or go home!  With the theme “Love the Life”® this large river red gum tree, is our biggest and most challenging work to date. After wide consultation, 41 images of what our community loves about our town and surrounds, were embedded in the design. Local children and fellow mosaic makers assisted with leaf making and some of the images.

This project was supported by the Australian and Victorian Governments through Creative Victoria and Regional Arts Victoria, along with the Alpine Shire, Myrtleford Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Rinlatech Engineering.

Back to school for the Crackpots
April -October 2021

A new adventure! Employed as Creative Workers in School(CWS) at Myrtleford P-12, we worked with the junior students(Prep-6), and their amazing art teacher Mrs Craftwright(Kit Cartwright), sharing our mosaic passion and skills, while working collaboratively to create an amazing piece of art - 'Tree of Harmony and Friendship' -which now graces the front of the school. Each student contributed a leaf and a handmade clay tile with their name.

The CWS program was delivered by Regional Arts Victoria through the support of the Victorian Government’s Working for Victoria (WFV) initiative and in partnership with the Department of Education and Training (DET) and Creative Victoria.

Mosaics in the Alps
18th January to 25th January 2021

We were more than 'very excited' to have our first ‘Artist in Residence’ experience thanks to Falls Creek Alpine Resort. A week of blissful uninterrupted mosaic making, and an immersion in the stunning local landscape, its flora and fauna. We left a couple of small mosaic calling cards(with permission) in the village and are looking forward to the possibility of collaborating with the Falls Creek community about a larger installation in the future. 

Fun with Stan - 'The Adventure Man'
November 2020

Mentoring and teaching

Crackpot 1 has been conducting classes and workshops in her mosaic studio for over 5 years, so when local budding film maker Stan Meissner approached and asked to film an adventure with us Crackpots, we thought it would be good fun. We are sure Stan didn’t quite know what he was getting himself in for.

Over several weeks we mentored Stan on his 'mosaic journey' to produce a high quality piece that reflects who he is.  Send Crackpot #1 a message via our contact form on our home page or Facebook messenger if you would like to learn mosaic skills.

Fascinating Flora and Fauna
November 2020-April 2021

Myrtleford Landcare Threatened Species Trail

We Crackpots love our local natural environment, and hope our art endeavors motivate people to get out and about exploring and appreciating it. We enjoyed the mosaic challenge of making representations of 11 local threatened species, including birds, plants, reptiles and mammals, as part of a larger awareness campaign by our local Landcare group. The mosaics are located along the pathways on Reform Hill, Myrtleford and a QR Code at the entry points allows you to access a trail map, learn more about each mosaic, and what you can do to help our threatened species. 

It’s a community thing….requests, recycling…
September 2020

We Crackpots frequently get suggestions, or requests for pieces on the trail, which has given birth to the eastern yellow robin, wombat, and steam train - to name a few. Chatting over a Chai with Vik from Coffee Chakra, there came a request for ‘something on the pole’……. ‘perhaps an umbrella’.

Using a rich ‘palette’ of recycled treasures gifted from our community (such as chipped crockery and tiles salvaged from the old Hospital Op Shop renovation), this piece evolved during COVID19 second lockdown. The work became an opportunity to create a ‘mini celebration’ of our increasingly multiculturally diverse community. As always we want you to take that ‘second look’ …What significant colours are in the bunting? Is that what I think her hair is? What flags are in the umbrellas? As Chai lovers -Which is the Chai cup?

Let's Play!
May 2020

This, our first large single piece, is sure to bring back childhood memories, and we hope make lots of new ones for folks. Time for the Crackpots to learn more about technique in large scale works, and hone our 'precision' skills.

This work will keep us out of mischief during COVID19 times, and has been made possible with a grant from the 'Into Our Hands Foundation' and the support of Myrtleford Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Alpine Shire. Due for completion in December 2020 here's a sneaky, snake preview.

Below installation in progress....true to Crackpot form, some native animals have made themselves at home among the snakes and ladders, and a couple of other surprises too.....

Up,up and away...
January 2020

What does one do with all those donated chipped or broken cups and plates? Not that we are complaining - we love to reuse and recycle! First there was one, then two, and now five. This work was installed during the height of the 2020 bush fires, under the cover of smoke. Look carefully at these five hot air balloons and you never know what you might see! There are plans to add to the landscape.....

In the she sheds
April 2019

Things on the trail were ticking along with more pieces gradually appearing. Not content to plod along #Crackpot 1 threw out the challenge to #Crackpot 2 saying "we need some minis" - ten, and they must fit in the palm of our hand. You will find these hidden around Rotary Park. Still on her 'mini bandwagon', Crackpot #1 appeared paper in hand complete with instructions for baby trout.  All these honed our skills, especially our fine motor skills using tweezers! Meanwhile Crackpot #2 began to embrace a bit of 'bling' including mirror in each of her mini fish!

If you are a local(or distant friend) you might spot some of your old crockery among the mini fish, or indeed other works under the bridge, or on the trail. Using crockery expands the range of possibilities available for pattern and texture within a work.

 
1t Started With A Fish...
January 2019

Did you know that the very first guerilla mosaic occurred when this little fish was placed under a bridge? Crackpot 1 stated: "we're going to fill the whole wall with fish" much to the horror of Crackpot 2, who was placing a sneaky little Pokemon mosaic nearby, with heart thumping, all the while looking over her shoulder. Since then many fish, and a host of other creatures, have appeared, including those made by willingly co-opted family members, friends and fellow mosaic makers. It continues to evolve...

" The earth without art is just 'eh' "

~ DEMETRI MARTIN ~