Hammer & Hand is a metal & jewellery collective based in Hobart, Tasmania and Bangalow, New South Wales.

Well this Fallow year started with the Hammer&Hand Van doing a bit of  ‘Mercury Retrograding’ (??) in the very wet morning , requiring moisture dispellent and copious amounts of paper towel to get it going … I maintained a Sunny Outlook and Calm Demeanour  and drove (spluttered!) it to the auto electrician to replace a cracked starter coil I had previously Araldited ..(aka Jewellers cement)  Then….  Play Time !!.. This may be a Dinosaur Critter with a Ukulele Playing Behatted Rider ..as in the ‘Ten Bulls’ .. ‘Catch Horned Veloceraptor at Four’ !  …  Images are   ‘play in progress’  Fused mild steel.

A few years ago I decided that I would introduce the Fallow Year concept into my life ..

The Biblical Fallow year being the idea of rotating your fields on a Seven Year Cycle … Every seventh year a field is rested and not worked or ploughed ..leaving the weeds,herbs and grasses to flower and seed …

For myself and my Art Practice this means that I will, in the Fallow Year, undertake no commissions, fill no orders and do only what I feel I would like to do Artistically ..In order to let the Weeds,Herbs and grasses of my Mind Flower while still attending  my workshop every day as ever. (because that is where I want to be .. in Toy-land ! )

This I made possible by opening a bank account some years ago in order to save enough to finance a years operation of  my workshop and general survival, on the understanding that whatever came first.. the Seventh year or the financial means .. That would signal the beginning of  THE FALLOW YEAR !!!…….  

Well .. by some Serendipitous timing .. today being the last day of the Financial year and tomorrow being the first day of the new one… and a Monday to boot ! .. I have reached that goal that I set and so am very happy to announce that as of midnight tonight .. I will begin this Fallow year and see what it yields !   

YaHooly !!!!

  The home fires were blazing , The Moondog Gypsy Blues Band Howlin’ at the Solstice Moon.. Mulled wine , Hot soul soup, Snax galore  and a full compliment of Hammer Members …with the weather a Doozie and all ! We had a CRACKER of a night !    Thanks to all who braved the chilly evening and came along to warm the night  around the Fire . Here are some images and I am sure The Members of the collective will be posting pictures of their pieces . If you missed the opening (The weather !!!), come along and have a look over the next few weeks . MAH01017 MAH01003

Well the E’invites are out and we are counting down to the launch this FRIDAY the 21st ,  5pm ..  looking forward to seeing everyone’s pieces … I have caught some glimpses and it is a bit exciting  !

Twenty Kilos of Angels, Feral critters and Flatwear heading for Hobart’s Hammer and Hand !

Hammer & Hand Byron Bay are preparing for our Twice Annual Exhibition .. This time around the theme “a LOVING SPOONFUL”

Join us at the launch on Friday evening, 21st June, 5pm at the Studio/Gallery at 4 Ti-Tree Place in the Byron Arts and Industry Estate for a big helping  !!!