Artifice Store x Petite Green

In a side room of the heritage listed Customs Wharf Galleria is artist-run Artifice Store. Tucked inside are the colourful and eclectic goods of Melbourne’s finest jewellery, art and homeware makers. The first things you see after cruising in from wandering the sleepy, sea-side streets of Williamstown are Lucas Grogan’s ‘Fuck Yeah’ plates, porcelain skulls by Iggy & Lulu, mountains of beautiful quirky jewellery and unconventional terrariums.

Artifice Store opened last September as a joint venture between owners Jessica Morrison, Matthew Bracken and Coconut Lu. The three are part of a tight-knit community of Melburnians who create. Matt works in art installations and big public art installations and the other two teach jewellery at Box Hill after having their own successful accessory lines. From sharing studios and constantly collaborating, the ladies are have great connections and relationships with all the artists whose work they stock.

Their latest alliance is with Amy Wong of Petite Green. Her living sculptures don’t narrate typical scenes of a couple sitting on a bench or animals frolicking in bushes. One of Wong’s little greenhouses can encase zombies prowling a cemetery, a chick flashing her chest at a rock concert, a CSI investigation or the attack of fifty foot woman.

Through the weekend before Valentine’s Day, Artifice Store is inviting you to come in and create your own cheeky terrarium with the mastermind behind Petite Green. The class will not only cover the design and creation aspect but also how to select plants and soil and how to care for the terrarium long-term.

“It will be a chance to make, time out for computer focused, busy people. It is good to get a bit dirty and do something tough but enjoyable,” says Jessica.

With a lot of people living in small apartments or with a big garden but no time to tender it, terrariums are an easy and delightful way to ease the nature deficiency many of us suffer from. A variety of shell shapes, figurines and plants will be on hand. However, if you have quirky little ornaments sitting on your window shelf bring them along to the workshop and give them a new life.

The workshops are $65 each, Saturday 9 Feb @ 1pm and Sunday 10 Feb @10.30am

ARTIFICE STORE
Customs Wharf Galleria, 126 Nelson Place, Williamstown
9017 5446
artificestore.com