Exhibition Insight... Generate 2019
JamFactory Associates 2019: Hamish Donaldson (Glass), Scott Van Manen (Furniture), Hannah Vorrath-Pajak (Ceramics), Gretal Ferguson (Jewellery and Metal), Sarra Tzijan (Jewellery and Metal), Luca Letteri (Furniture) and Sean Prentis (Jewellery and Metal). Photo: Kate Bowman.
Generate 2019
Words by Caitlin Eyre.
Caitlin is Assistant Curator at JamFactory.
Photos by Kate Bowman.
The curated exhibition of work by Associates completing JamFactory’s Associate Program is an annual showcase of outstanding work and new ideas. Celebrating JamFactory’s role in nurturing emerging artists and designers this exhibition is a launch pad for these artists’ businesses as they make the transition into professional practice.
Hamish Donaldson, Water Table #1, 2019, blown glass, timber, 680 x 380 x 380 mm
HAMISH DONALDSON
Glass Studio
Glass Artist, Designer, Maker
Born: 1992, Numurkah, VIC
Hailing from a family of glass blowers and engravers, Hamish is a third generation glass artist who learnt the craft from his parents in their home studio. His practice focuses on blurring the lines between the realms of art and design. The Water Table (pictured) series of timber-topped glass side tables were conceived during a three-week collaborative project between JamFactory and Ninuku Arts in the desert landscape of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. The pieces were inspired by Hamish’s consideration of water towers as being the bearers of our life force in harsh landscapes whilst also serving as reminders of the ongoing impact of colonisation on both our First Nations people and the environment.
Hamish would like to acknowledge that his works were made on Kaurna land and that sovereignty was never ceded.
@ham_don
Gretal Ferguson, Cross Stitch III, 2019, gold plated and powder coated copper, silk, 750 x 100 x 100 mm; Cross Stitch II, 2019, gold plated and powder coated copper, silk, 100 x 80 x 80 mm; Tension Stitch II, 2019, powder coated copper silk, 90 x 125 x 125 mm
GRETAL FERGUSON
Jewellery and Metal Studio
Contemporary Silversmith and Jeweller
Born: 1982, Sydney, NSW
Studied: Advanced Diploma in Jewellery and Object Design, Design Centre Enmore, Sydney, NSW;
Masters in Jewellery, Silversmithing and Related Products, Birmingham City University, Birmingham,
United Kingdom
Trained in traditional silversmithing techniques, Gretal is a contemporary object and jewellery maker whose practice is focused on crafting conceptually-based, limited edition exhibition pieces. Gretal uses Australia’s limited historical tradition of silversmithing to her advantage by exploring new ways of working that would be considered taboo to most classically trained silversmiths.
Gretal’s Stitched series of copper vessels explore the changing roles of women in craft and society, commenting on the perception of what women do versus what they are actually capable of doing. By combining the traditionally masculine craft of silversmithing with the traditionally feminine craft of hand stitching, this series endeavours to challenge entrenched gender roles while paying homage to the craftspeople of the past.
Luca Lettieri, Terzo, 2019, Shou Sugi Ban Blackwood, stoneware clay, 550 x 430 x 350mm
LUCA LETTIERI
Furniture Studio
Object and Furniture Maker
Born: 1994, Melbourne, VIC
Studied: Certificate IV in Furniture Design and Technology, Sturt School for Wood, Mittagong, NSW
Trained in traditional timber furniture making, Luca is a multidisciplinary artist who utilises traditional craft practices to create sculptural objects that are inspired by post-minimalism and Italian folk art. Since undertaking JamFactory’s Associate Program, Luca has seen his practice evolve from a bespoke commission-based model to an exhibition-focused practice that spans a diverse array of mediums gleaned from his material explorations in other JamFactory Studios.
The Untitled series chronologically displays the evolution of Luca’s practice from crafting functional furniture to making sculptural objects with no discernible function. Through the use of reoccurring motifs that morph and shift across the objects, Luca explores co-dependency in human relationships, with each element unable to stand alone and requiring another in order to function cohesively.
Sean Prentis, Lens of Dancing Shapes, 2019, sterling silver, 50 x 20 x 5 mm; Book of Bits and Pieces, 2019, sterling silver, copper, paper, silk thread, 60 x 120 x 5 mm
SEAN PRENTIS
Jewellery and Metal Studio
Artist and Jeweller
Born: 1994, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Studied: Bachelor of Fine Art (Jewellery & Small Objects), Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD
Working predominately in black and white, Sean’s metal practice is focused on producing playful, complex and surprising forms that have firm grounding in his highly detailed pen and ink drawings. His illustrations on both silver and paper express a keen sense of movement and wonder through abstraction, and convey the sense of rhythmic, pulsating energy that he feels during the making process. Sean is particularly drawn to the material similarity between silver and paper, with his practice exploring patination, layering and minute detail as a way to push these materials to their limits while honouring their raw beauty.
Sarra Tzijan, Continuous Line Drawing, 2019, sterling silver, 3000 mm (length); A Personal Tree, 2019, copper, 350 x 340 x 200 mm
SARRA TZIJAN
Jewellery and Metal Studio
Contemporary Metal Artist
Born: 1990 Melbourne, VIC
Studied: Bachelor of Design (Communication Design), Royal Melbourne Institution of Technology, Melbourne, VIC; Advanced Diploma of Object and Jewellery Design, Melbourne Polytechnic, Melbourne, VIC
Sarra is an Australian-Indian contemporary metal artist whose practice explores flow through form, process and aesthetic. Working across both jewellery and sculpture, Sarra combines traditional craft processes with modern art and design.
The marks and shapes created in Sarra’s jewellery reference the illustrative work that was significant during the early stages of her artistic career. This aesthetic is reflective of the continuing influence of graphite drawing, etching and printing in her practice. Continuous Line Drawing (pictured) signifies how Sarra has been able to merge her illustration and metalwork skills to create marks in a free and intuitive way. Sarra’s sculptural works speak to her mixed heritage, the Village Vessels series having been initiated in India and finished in Australia. Both the wearable and sculptural pieces reflect on and acknowledge the significance of others in her metal practice.
Hannah Vorrath-Pajak, Water Vessel VII, 2019, stoneware clay, gas fired, 270 x 185 mm; Water Vessel VII, 2019, stoneware clay, gas fired, 170 x 135 mm
HANNAH VORRATH-PAJAK
Ceramics Studio
Artist and Potter
Born: 1996, Adelaide, SA
Studied: Bachelor of Visual Arts (Ceramics), University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA
Hannah is an emerging artist and potter whose practice is inspired by the forms and aesthetics of the plant and fungi kingdoms. The Water Vessels series of sculptural pots signifies the evolution of Hannah’s practice during her time at JamFactory, tracing her progression from a focus on crafting functional ware to a more exhibition-centred practice. In this series Hannah has incorporated ‘wild clay’ into the surface decoration of her vessels. Used as slips and glazes, these ‘wild clays' form part of her experimental practice where she digs for and uses clays from the local area.
Scott Van Manen, Counterveil Desk, 2019, American White Oak, Ebonised Tasmanian Oak, 750 x 1500 x 500 mm
SCOTT VAN MANEN
Furniture Studio
Furniture Designer/Maker
Born: 1988, Adelaide, SA
Studied: Certificate IV in Furniture Design and Technology, Sturt School for Wood, Mittagong, NSW;
Bachelor of Music (Jazz), University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA
Scott is a furniture designer and maker who is inspired by both the complexity of geometric forms and the simplicity of mid-century modern design. In his largely timber-focused furniture practice, Scott places great importance on producing high quality functional pieces that will last generations.
The pieces displayed in Generate represent Scott’s time at JamFactory and the direction that he sees his practice going in the future. The traditional timber joinery and dovetailed drawers of the Countervail Desk (pictured) are an ode to Scott’s fine furniture background, while the Pontetto Lamp underscores Scott’s recent explorations outside of timber and his increasing interest in implementing cast concrete, terrazzo and steel into his practice.
CURATOR:
Caitlin Eyre
EXHIBITORS:
Hamish Donaldson (Glass)
Gretal Ferguson (Jewellery and Metal)
Luca Lettieri (Furniture)
Sean Prentis (Jewellery and Metal)
Sarra Tzijan (Jewellery and Metal)
Scott Van Manen (Furniture)
Hannah Vorrath-Pajak (Ceramics)
GENERATE 2019
13 December - 9 February 2019
JamFactory
Gallery One