About Us

Maker & Smith is an independent partnership of Mary Ellen Cliff and Carola Akindele-Obe, based in Western Australia.

Shining the spotlight on hard-won craft skills

Mary Ellen Cliff and Carola Akindele-Obe established the partnership in July 2017, with the sole purpose of acting on their deep-felt ambition – to see the professional craft sector shine brighter in Western Australia.

Some might say we have lofty ideals – basically we are looking to amplify high quality skills in the craft community; to inject enthusiastic energy and a thirst to achieve high levels of technical and creative accomplishment. We are excited about the renewed interest globally in the handmade, in particular approaches that take traditional techniques and materials into new contemporary expressions.

We have both felt the benefits of travel and exchange, and so our goal is to make a positive contribution to the local scene by showcasing great makers through film, story-telling and masterclasses presented by specialists, invited from interstate, overseas and in Western Australia. And also to encourage local Western Australian makers to extend their presentation on the global arena .

Our goal is to make our programs pay for themselves without relying on tax-payer monies and without compromise; we rely on the support of mutually beneficial partnerships and pay fair fees to the skilled artisans we invite to present in our programs.

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Mary Ellen Cliff

Mary Ellen is a textile and ceramic artist, with retail, teaching and NGO experience. She is an active member of Albany Potter’s Group. Mary Ellen brings significant governance and strategic experience to the partnership, in particular in the areas of retail and education management.

Mary Ellen has NGO experience in the field and at a directorial level. Other relevant prior experience in Mary Ellen’s rich career includes owner operator of a retail store and director of a small independent school.

In her early teaching career Mary Ellen worked in Aboriginal communities in the Western Desert and Pilbara regions. She now resides on the south coast of WA in the town of Denmark and is seeking to promote regional crafts and makers.

Contact Mary Ellen.

Carola Akindele-Obe

Carola graduated with a BA(Hons) Design from Glasgow School of Art in Embroidered & Woven Textiles (1987). In her early career she sought traditional craft skills to create woven sculpture working with experts and completing City & Guilds qualifications in basketmaking at the then London College of Furniture.

Along the way Carola collected experience in festivals and craft retail in the UK with Ragamuffin, Dazzle Contemporary Jewellery, Brighton Artist Open Houses and the Charleston Trust. During a hiatus in Asia and Africa, Carola worked managing small and large scale events for charities and contributing as a freelance writer to traveller magazines.

Since arriving in Australia in 1997, Carola studied a Masters in Arts Administration (UNSW) and has worked as a project and marketing manager with the Sydney Art on Paper Fair, Biennale of Sydney, Artopia (WA statewide open studios), Artsource, Art Collective WA and as a writer and editor with The Write Business.

Carola is a member of the curatorial team, establishing the inaugural Indian Ocean Craft Triennial due to take place in Perth in September 2021.

Carola is based in Perth, Western Australia.

Contact Carola.

A mother’s work repaired jumper – Tom of Holland
Ring by Claire Townsend
Gansey commissioned repair – Tom of Holland
Porcelain bowl by Sandra Black
Brooch by Rita Winkler
Tambour Beading workshops by Hand & Lock London

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Still from Garry Fabian Miller – Voyage, Simon Ray, 2018. Copyright Dovecot Tapestry Studio.
Still from MUG, Nick Bennett, 2017
Still from Alan Kitching, A Life in Letterpress, Alice Masters, 2016
Still from With These Hands, Thea Stallwodd, 2018

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