An origami convention sounds like something for the professionals to show their skills and share information only experts can understand – but prepare to be surprised. Folding Australia is also for anyone who’s ever wanted to try out the Japanese art form but could never figure out how to start by reading a book or who’s just never had the courage to try.

There is a small exhibition showing some advanced folding, featuring creations like Yoda (from Star Wars) and a kookaburra, (pictured), but the main aim of the two-day program is to teach and inspire more people to get into paper-craft.

I got to make an origami dog, penguin, book and box in the beginner class. I met a family who all took the beginner classes with all the enthusiasm of a good student. Even the youngest member (10 years old) was thoroughly engaged throughout each of the two-hour classes.

Feeling pretty proud of myself, I tried the intermediate class to make a rabbit and was almost immediately humbled by the extensive process of folding needed to create a seemingly simple design. It all seemed easier when doing the step-by-step instructions in the beginner class.

The teachers were very patient and willing to lend a hand to a struggling beginner (and I did eventually make a rabbit!) The two-day workshop has made me appreciate the patience and skill needed for origami (although my patience is still lacking). Attending an event like this is definitely something for everyone to try when they get a chance – and you might just get hooked to the art of paper.

Folding Australia has finished showing at the Fringe Festival. For more information on Origami Australia events and projects, visit their website.

In this modern society of instant messaging, SMS and e-mail, human contact and conversation has slowly faded into the background of our everyday interactions – or has it? Artist Debbie Harman writes that Filling the Cracks with Conversation represents “a normal part of Melbournian life to insert little pieces of conversation wherever you can. Speaking to anyone and everyone, we generally love to chatter and to wish each other well.”

The great thing about this installation is what it triggers inside of us. All artwork, whatever its form, is based on personal experience and does something to all of us, but this work leaves a lot to the imagination. It reminded me of the little things we say that make up a whole day. All the small ‘how do you do’ and ‘take care’ that make up human communication. The little pebble-like stones put in the cracks of the pavement are like the fillings of our crazy life. Great things sometimes come in the smallest forms.

Installed all around Melbourne, you can track their progress on Harman’s Filling The Cracks With Conversation. Sign up and receive a notification whenever a new area has a ‘conversation’. You could just see the photos already taken and uploaded on the WordPress site, but what would be the fun in that?

There are no tours; part of the thrill is to stumble upon the gems by yourself. They are really small pieces so a keen eye and patience is probably needed. The photos provided on the WordPress site might help you locate the hidden words if you’re particularly lost. For the treasure hunt, bring a friend and explore parts of Melbourne you never realized were there and appreciate the city (or appreciate the city again if you’ve lived here all your life).

Filling the Cracks with Conversation exists around Melbourne.

Inspired by his business of cuff-links made by Australian artists, Lord Coconut decided to expand to the cuffs themselves, sending out more than 50 French Cuffs to Australian artists with only one rule: to use the cuff as their canvas. Of the 50+ cuffs sent out, 37 cuffs have returned. The exhibition has a small, cozy setting, and the cuffs on display in a glass cabinet provide an interesting take on art.

With the surface area of a few squares of toilet paper one would believe an artist’s creativity would be stifled, but if what’s on display shows anything, it’s the wonder of human imagination. Each cuff is different in every way other than its size.

If you are looking to engage further with the exhibition, talk to Lord Coconut himself for interesting stories about each piece. For example, the story behind Greg Hatton’s ‘Worn Cuff’ is simply that: Hatton wore the cuff for a week and whatever stains the cuff is what you see. Stephanie Hocking’s ‘My Two Passions’ is a combination of her passion for drawing and cuff-link design. These are interesting back-stories which I would not have known (though I might have guessed from the title) if I had not talked to Lord Coconut.

Because not every cuff came with a description the stories are not published on the brochure given. The brochure provides a picture and the name and some of the titles may give a hint to the mind of the artist behind the cuff. While talking to Lord Coconut he did mention that he is planning to put some more information on the cuffs on his Facebook page so keep an eye on that.

One thing is for sure, art is not dead yet.

Art of the Cuff runs until 13 October at Lord Coconut. This is a free event.

Scattered through the Brunswick RMIT campus, hidden in nooks and crannies, this show embodies the name Artland: a land where we lead an active and engaging hunt for art.

Each of the 16 sculptures has a concept, written on a plaque next to them, which enhances the understanding and experience when viewing the sculptures. They can sometimes be missed as commonplace items if standing at a certain angle, like Hopi Marama’s ‘I Can Dig It’, so keep an eye out for the yellow dot that marks an sculpture.

Nifty maps are provided for the lone traveller and there are walking and biking tours provided for those with time to spare and a love for a little more depth in their art experience. There are some areas, like the University car park, that are quite isolated and getting lost would probably happen once in a while – but that’s half the fun. Going with a friend would give you both something to discuss/argue about. Of course, whether or not you go in a group, with friends or by yourself depends on personal taste.

There are QR codes (I didn’t have internet on my phone so I couldn’t find out what they do) which would probably lead you to a little extra information about the sculpture. But for those who,  like me, are unable to scan QR codes, the RMIT Artland 2012 website also provides the description of the artwork and a small picture.

This was such a thoroughly engaging experience from the RMIT students that even my friend, who doesn’t usually appreciate artwork, was at least mildly impressed with the display and array of new and interesting minds.

Artland shows until 11 October at RMIT Brunswick Campus. This is a free event.