Victoria-based artist/curator Trevor Smith's new show The Cocktail Hour opens at Michael Reid this month. Showcasing over 40 of his unique, soft sculptural textile works, the quirky exhibition will be his largest to date.
A fan of craft and textiles since childhood, Smith learnt to crochet in primary school (his mum taught him), received his first sewing machine at 15 and in Year 10 proudly won Naracoorte High School's Outstanding Achievement Award for Home Economics (in which subject he was the sole male student). Later focusing on soft sculpture and traditional patchwork, crochet was put aside for several decades, until 2009, when he took part in Regional Arts Victoria project The Big Hole Yarn and his passion was reignited.
The Cocktail Hour brings together an impressive collection of humorous creations with a nostalgic domestic vibe – think kitchen appliances, retro foods, tea-cosies – with Smith drawing particular inspiration from Women's Weekly dinner party cookbooks from the 1970's. The works will make you laugh but also potentially blow your mind at the technique involved (particularly if you've ever thrown down a crochet hook in despair). And if you've never seen a crocheted pavlova... now's your chance.
Image: Trophy Fish, Trevor Smith, courtesy the artist and Michael Reid Sydney