• Fringe Furniture 32 entry. Photo: Raf Nathan
    Fringe Furniture 32 entry. Photo: Raf Nathan
  • Fringe Furniture 32 Exhibition. Photo: J. Forsyth
    Fringe Furniture 32 Exhibition. Photo: J. Forsyth
  • Figgoscope Curates - ToTem Family. Most Experimental Design Award, supported by Melbourne Fringe. Photo by Jonathan Griggs.
    Figgoscope Curates - ToTem Family. Most Experimental Design Award, supported by Melbourne Fringe. Photo by Jonathan Griggs.
  • Kayla Lim - The Bend. Best Student Design, supported by Tongue and Groove and also Emerging Designer Award, supported by Craft. Photo courtesy of the designer.
    Kayla Lim - The Bend. Best Student Design, supported by Tongue and Groove and also Emerging Designer Award, supported by Craft. Photo courtesy of the designer.
  • Fringe Furniture 32 Exhibition. Photo: J. Forsyth
    Fringe Furniture 32 Exhibition. Photo: J. Forsyth
  • Artesan Design - Symmetrical Asymmetry. Rakumba Award for Lighting Innovation, supported by Rakumba. The Handsome and Co. Finely Crafted Award, supported by Handsome and Co. Photo courtesy of Melbourne Fringe.
    Artesan Design - Symmetrical Asymmetry. Rakumba Award for Lighting Innovation, supported by Rakumba. The Handsome and Co. Finely Crafted Award, supported by Handsome and Co. Photo courtesy of Melbourne Fringe.
  • Eamon Riley - Bar-code. The Games We Play Award, supported by The Abbortsford Convent. Photo by J. Forsyth
    Eamon Riley - Bar-code. The Games We Play Award, supported by The Abbortsford Convent. Photo by J. Forsyth
  • Cheng-yue Jia - Origami Lounger. Authentic Design Alliance Award of Merit supported by Authentic Design Alliance. Photo courtesy of Melbourne Fringe.
    Cheng-yue Jia - Origami Lounger. Authentic Design Alliance Award of Merit supported by Authentic Design Alliance. Photo courtesy of Melbourne Fringe.
  • The Arrest - Keystone. Photo courtesy of the designer.
    The Arrest - Keystone. Photo courtesy of the designer.
  • Kristen Wang - Re.Bean Coffee Stool. The Banyule Design for a Circular Economy Award, supported by Banyule City Council. Photo courtesy of the designer.
    Kristen Wang - Re.Bean Coffee Stool. The Banyule Design for a Circular Economy Award, supported by Banyule City Council. Photo courtesy of the designer.
  • Nood Co - Iva Side Table. Tait Award for Design Innovation, supported by Tait. Photo by Marc Ash Photography.
    Nood Co - Iva Side Table. Tait Award for Design Innovation, supported by Tait. Photo by Marc Ash Photography.
  • Table and bench in blackwood by Joseph Pringipes. Photo: Raf Nathan
    Table and bench in blackwood by Joseph Pringipes. Photo: Raf Nathan
  • Fringe Furniture 32 Exhibition. Photo: J. Forsyth
    Fringe Furniture 32 Exhibition. Photo: J. Forsyth
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On the Fringe

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Words: Raf Nathan

September 13–30, 2018, Fringe Furniture 32. You have to go to this annual event if furniture is your thing, more so if woodwork is a passion. Not that this is a fine woodwork exhibition, at all.

It’s staged at the fantastic Abbotsford Convent which now operates as a loose conglomeration of studios, yoga rooms, galleries, clinics and cafes. Centrepiece of the convent is actually the community kitchen, a bustling hippy styled space with group tables with pay-by-donation patronage.

This year’s Fringe is on display in the arguably oversized gallery area and was a totally uncurated mix of student pieces, professional work, green gone mad as well as the almost sublime.

Fringe Furniture as a show has been an ongoing event for 32 years, an outstanding achievement. As a woodworker, who actually entered some 26 years ago, it’s an exciting and inspiring event. Yes some of the woodwork is appallingly made, some work is just totally off-line or absolutely useless, but like I said at the start, you have to go.

At a show like this you expect different. Prices varied from probably too cheap (say $500 for a very nice oak table) to reasonable. Far too many pieces were stickered with POA however, which I thought rather amateurish. Overall a great exhibition, but hurry, because it closes 30 September.

More information at melbournefringe.com.au/event/fringe-furniture-32
To get in touch and exhibit next year contact projects@melbournefringe.com.au

 

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