This year the emerging artist will be Claire Byers and the guest artists will be Malcolm McLaren.

 
 
Claire Byers: Weaver of Salamanca Arts Centre, HOBART, TASMANIA.

   I was born in Battery Point Hobart, I learnt to weave at the  University of  Tasmania at the Centre for the Arts. After completing my studies I worked with and trained along side the established weavers of Tasmania. It is their knowledge and skill and the unique nature of this island that has taught many craft.
 
    I  weave woollen cloth. l weave scarves with fine soft yarns that have been hand dyed and are  composed of stripes. Every warp I dye is an experience in colour for me, 1 love to find  how they  work together.  I also produce  woollen  satin  upholstery  cloth.  This  is  made  info  cushions  and bags. As a weaver I want to  make cloth  that is  interesting to  touch and see, I want to make cloth that people can  include into  their every day life and live with happily.
 
    Until recently I  only used  yarn produced  in Tasmania.  Now that  our wool is spun else  where I  have begun  to explore  yarns available  from Victoria. There is a fine merino yarn  I have  sampled that  I will  use in  my future work,  The  quality  of  our Australian  yarns is so high  that I  have never been tempted to use anything else.
 
   I  joined  the  "Hammer and  Hand" gallery/workshop  six  months  ago. The shop is situated in the heart of  the Salamanca  Arts Centre.  I work  with a blacksmith  and  two  jewellers. It  is  a  rich  environment, you  never know who is going to walk in your door or what opportunities  may arise.  It is a  very  exciting  place  to  be.  I am also  a  member  of  the Handweavers Spinners and Dyers Guild of Tasmania.  The Guild  provides me  with the opportunity  to  meet  regularly  with  other  weavers  and  crafts  women. It also provides access to equipment I need and has an excellent library.

   Being a weaver seems an appropriate Craft for Tasmania. I think my desire to weave came from growing up here. I believe that our crafts need to be practised to maintain our connection with ourselves and our community. To know where something has come from and who made it is important. Our lives can be filled with things made by unknown hands in unknown places or with products that are from here and from there.

   This is the first year I have come to Deloraine, it's my first big fair ever. The opportunity to show my work and demonstrate my craft is a great honour. I hope that by being here l can inspire more people to learn the craft of weaving. I believe that Tasmania is the perfect place to value add our primary resources. Meeting people from all over Australia and working along side all these other crafts people is an inspiration.
 

Malcolm McLaren: Maker of Bagpipes, Reeds & Whistles of BERRIDALE, TASMANIA.

   Malcolm has been making Bagpipes in various forms since 1982, following a trip to the UK, and acquisition of a set of Northumbrian Smallpipes. On joining the "Lowland and Border Pipers Society ' in the same year, a keen interest in the Scottish variants of Bellows blown Pipes created an opportunity to make and play these instruments.

   A resurgence of interest in most forms of Bellows Pipes over the last 20 years has meant that demand has outstripped supply and after making 30 or so sets for other pipers, Malcolm decided in 1997 to follow a career as a full - time instrument maker. His pipes are played throughout Australia, and as far afield as Japan, Canada and Scotland.

   In recent years considerable time and effort has been spent to develop an accurate chanter for Irish Pipes, in conjunction with Richard "Dickie" Deegan, who is well known for his Uilleann (irish) Piping both here in Tasmania and overseas. Several sets and many chanters for Irish Pipes have been made and distributed under the "McDeeg" name. These chanters have been reviewed and acclaimed in several journals in the UK and USA.

   Malcolm is a member of Na Piobairi Uilleann based in Dublin. Reed making for these various bagpipes, indeed all the components, wood, metal, and leather are handcrafted by Malcolm, and where ever possible, local materials are used to really good effect. Highland Pipes in full size and smaller are also made, and for many years, Malcolm has been able to repair and refurbish instruments for local bands.

   Whistles in plastic, aluminium and wood are also made, and now form a major part of Malcolm's output. During a recent tour of "Riverdance", the piper Declan Masterton from Ireland was presented with one of Malcolm's whistles, which he has played with great satisfaction in subsequent performances, Several types of Whistles and a set of Border Pipes, made from local woods were recently displayed in the Forestry Commission exhibition of "Musical Instruments Made in Tasmania".