Hello christinawaterson.com

christinawaterson.com homepage. For all project details and photography credits go to christinawaterson.com

Our new website went live late last year and since then we’ve received some lovely feedback and interesting projects. If you haven’t checked it out yet please head on over to christinawaterson.com

Project: Plexa #1 on the William Jolly Bridge, 2015. Photography Christina Waterson

There you’ll find featured a selection of our favourite projects and collaborations; beautiful photography; and a little background to our projects.

Advocacy highlight page at christinawaterson.com  For all project details and photography credits go to christinawaterson.com

You’ll also find info about some of the great Clients we’ve worked with as well as some insight into the depth of our creative practice in Art, Design and Advocacy.

Thank you to Wes Davis (Founder of Netprophets and MoPad) for a great website and hosting, and being an awesome creative to collaborate with; and Craig Rochfort (Founder of Jane Fender, Co-founder of the brand Art Park and founder of Rochfort Design Management) for beautiful curation of content. A Dream Team!

 

 

 

The Making of Flourish – thrive prosper bloom

An excited me next to the final full size prototype of one of the Flourishes. This was made for final sign-off of the central element details. Photograph by Poppy Veerasawmy (Creative Facade).

BACKGROUND

In early 2014 I was shortlisted, along with three other Australian Artists, to competitively bid for The Milton Artwork Public Artwork Façade opportunity. Each artist had six weeks to develop a unique artwork concept and submit a detailed expression of interest that included their artwork concept, composition, buildability and fabrication methodology.

Concept behind Flourish – Patterns of Milton’s early land use and how they mirrored some of the micro structures within native and crop species.

After visiting Milton and undertaking research into the site’s history I was intrigued by Milton’s development over time. Of particular interest were the patterns of early land use and how they mirrored the micro cellulose structures within native and crop species. I  tested my initial concepts using a series of small handmade models. Some of the models just tested the individual elements’ form, while larger studies explored the overall composition and visual permeability of the artwork. These studies then directly informed the 3D computer models and renders. Flourish’s composition frames a field’s edge where native flora have re-grown and flourished.

Different from all angles – Flourish handmade artwork of a small portion of The Milton Artwork Facade for my Concept Proposal, February 2014 (Dimensions 550 x 375mm). Photography Christina Waterson.

Concept render of view from within the spaces behind Flourish, prepared for my Milton Artwork Facade Concept Proposal, February 2014.

Initial concept render of Flourish – thrive prosper bloom, February 2014. The artwork marks the Railway Terrace entrance to Milton Train Station.

My final EOI included the Flourish artwork concept; handmade models; facade elevations and sections; interior and exterior views; assembly methodology; as well as detailed quotations from three local manufacturers.

In late 2014 to my joy I’d successfully been selected as the preferred artist for the project.

Showing colour and how the work progressed throughout the process – here is the revised concept render of Flourish presented to the BCC.

After initial briefing with the Project Stakeholders I incorporated their great feedback to add colour and further develop the composition option that incorporated a central dimensional flourish design framed by flatter border panels. At the end of 2014 my revised composition was approved by the Client and submitted to the Brisbane City Council (BCC).

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT, FABRICATION  AND INSTALLATION

Team meetings with the client, fabricators and documenters for design development, documentation and prototyping happened in the first half of 2015.

One of many prototypes made by Auzmet for Hutchinson Builders, during Design Development and Documentation. Pictured is a half scale prototype of a central Flourish element with the border design. Photography by Christina Waterson.

This was an intensive and rewarding process in which details of the artwork and its elements were streamlined for material properties and sheet efficiency; as well as for the fabrication process. The artwork’s overall layout was further developed during this time to accommodate weight and support requirements. The design of the fretwork was developed to meet the revised free air requirements in those areas while also concealing the artworks orthogonal support frame. I worked closely with Poppy Veerasawmy (Creative Facade) throughout this process.

The final colours (based on native flower species), artwork layout and details were signed off in May 2015 with the approved design being fabricated in June and July. It was really great that the artwork was made in Brisbane by local manufacturers who specialise in metal fabrication and coating. It meant I could visit each fabricator on a regular basis, stay in touch with progress and photograph the fabrication process.

Just a few of the 200 or more Flourish parts awaiting finishing and transport to the painters. Photography by Christina Waterson.

Labelling of parts that make up the central Flourish panels prior to coating. Photography by Christina Waterson.

At the painters each element was painted prior to assembly. Photography by  Christina Waterson.

During installation of the central Flourish area. Photography by Christina Waterson.

Installation started in August and was completed in September 2015. I visited the site weekly to see how the artwork had grown. It was an affirming experience to witness it evolve to completion. The details that we’d worked through during design development/documentation contributed to the overall effect and success of the artwork.

View to Flourish – thrive prosper bloom from Railway Terrace footpath. Photography by Christina Waterson.

Different from different angles: An acute detailed view to Flourish – thrive prosper bloom north along Railway Terrace. Photography by Christina Waterson.

An acute detailed view Flourish – thrive prosper bloom south along Railway Terrace. Photography by Christina Waterson.

Flourish – thrive prosper bloom 2015 from Railway Terrace, Milton. Photography by Christina Waterson.

Long front view of Flourish from Manning Street approach. Photography by Christina Waterson.

Since Flourish’s completion I’ve received lovely feedback from visitors to Milton. People especially love the artwork elements, colour and the way the composition looks different from all angles.

PROJECT DETAILS

Client: Commissioned by Aveo Group Ltd and Hutchinson Builders

Name: Flourish – thrive prosper bloom 2015

Medium: Painted steel

Location: The Milton Residences, 55 Railway Terrace Milton, Queensland, Australia.

Artwork Area: Over 440 sqm

Built locally in Brisbane by Hutchinson Builders through Auzmet, Creative Facade, GCI Group, and Peerless Painting and Sandblasting.

The Concept behind Flourish – thrive prosper bloom 2015

Detailed view to Flourish – thrive prosper bloom 2015 from Railway Terrace, Milton. Photography by Christina Waterson.

Flourish references the site context of Milton as a rich point of intensity in the development of Brisbane – from its natural pre-settlement geography of fresh water creeks feeding the Brisbane River, providing fertile hunting and fishing grounds for Aboriginal people, to the early township farms established on the rich alluvial flats. Inspired by the micro structure of plant cellulose, Flourish expresses concepts of growth, mimicking the natural processes of cell division and reproduction while referencing native flora for its colour palette.

Imagery from my research into Milton’s history and it’s development over time. Of particular interest were the patterns of early land use and how they mirrored some of the micro structures within native and crop species.

The early settlement farms were quickly followed by industry and transport systems and today Milton continues to thrive as a key node for social and commercial exchange. Flourish thus attempts to capture and express the layers of these site relationships.

Detail of the top of the artwork screen. Photography Christina Waterson.

It’s bespoke composition frames a field’s edge where native flora have re-grown and flourished. The elements that form Flourish’s central composition are part of the family of forms used in the Stellar Collection with TAIT and artwork entitled Celestial Analogue 2014. Flourish’s elements are scaled to the city and have unique details that address the specific screening and ventilation requirements of The Milton building.

Overall view of Flourish – thrive prosper bloom 2015 from Railway Terrace, Milton. Photography by Christina Waterson.

The interlocking forms gather themselves to intensity in the centre as the work knits and folds in upon itself and into the built form, circulating light, shade, and colour in ever repeating patterns.

Flourish uses dimensional thickness to create a mesmerising surface that responds to view, light and shadow and in this way gives different experiences throughout the day and from distinct vantage points. My fascination with three-dimensional surfaces and patterning is a constant thread that runs through my practice, artworks and product collections.

Flourish – thrive prosper bloom 2015, commissioned by Aveo Group Ltd and Hutchinson Builders for The Milton Residences, is my largest public work realised to date.

My Studio Move

My Torbreck Home and Studio of Seven Years. Photography Aidan Murphy 2008.

Maybe you’ve noticed I have been extremely quiet of late. I’ve been busy planning, packing and de-cluttering in preparation for moving from my precious Torbreck studio and home of seven years. It was a major undertaking, made more difficult by the success of my creative practice and a very busy 2014. A good problem to have – yes!

I launched my creative business from this studio in 2007. The unique light and outlook at Torbreck has been inspirational. Many of my collections including The Komodo Series 2008; The Bloom Series 2009; Scale Screen 2012; Shadow Set 2012 and Soft Cell 2012/14 were conceived or made as small tentative studies at this special address.

The Komodo Series 2008 by Christina Waterson including (L > R) Poly Woven Study, X-Screen (Solid Edition) and Plexa Screen 2008. Photography Christina Waterson 2014.

Early one morning in my Studio, April 2014. Photography Christina Waterson 2014.

A special inspirational place. Me pictured with Fall 2002 and Taking Flight parts 2010. Portrait for 2014.

For me this place represents freedom and escape, light and openness, and I feel many of these aspects are part of the work I conceived and made while residing and working there in the sky. While I am deeply saddened to leave this special place I know an exciting new chapter is just beginning.

Always home for sunset. Photography Christina Waterson 2014.

A special thank you to Linda, Ty, Alex and David from Torbreck who everyday go above and beyond to make Torbreck a special place to live and enjoy!

 

WOOD: art design architecture

WOOD: art design architecture exhibition view at Jam Factory Contemporary Craft and Design. Photography by Christina Waterson.

The national touring exhibition WOOD: art design architecture opened in Brisbane at the QUT Art Museum last week. I thought I would share with you my review of the exhibition written originally for ArchitectureAU online on the occasion of the exhibition first opening at JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design, in February 2013. And so not to ruin the experience of seeing the work in QUT’s generous sequence of exhibition spaces, I have only included photos of the original JamFactory installation that accompanied the text below. Enjoy!

Greer Honeywill’s This housing estate is not to scale #2 (foreground) and Boot Lace by Sherrie Knipe with Colony by Christina Waterson, behind. Photography by Christina Waterson.

WOOD: art design architecture celebrates our long relationship with wood and presents its diverse properties and qualities, along with the multiplicity of ways it can be worked. The exhibition includes work from twenty-eight Australian exhibitors who either work directly with wood, or with skilled crafts-people. The pieces relate to each other on several levels to form an overall vision for the exhibition based on figure and form; pushing material limits; craftsmanship and our eternal connection to wood – through place, nature, use and memory.

Interior and architectural projects are part of the showing. These are often difficult to appreciate in an exhibition context without directly experiencing the made place in real-time, but each project is presented in a distinct way to give an insight not available in the experience of the actual project.

Brian Hooper and m3architecture’s Tree of Knowledge Memorial 2009 is presented through a single key image alongside one of the recycled hardwood elements used to reinstate the aura around the remains of the Tree of Knowledge. This allows an intimate experience of these elements (that hang out of reach in the actual project) and thus enables an appreciation of the hardwood’s age, materiality and previous life as telephone and electrical poles. A simple scale model of March Studio’s Baker D. Chirico on the other hand emphasises the contour like nature of its interior plywood ceiling and wall strata.

John Wardle Architects’ Jewellery Box with form studies of the Shearers Quarters project. Photography by Christina Waterson.

Small massing and form models of John Wardle Architect’s Shearer’s Quarters project are displayed in an elegant spruce jewellery box with sliding drawer. The Jewellery Box is crafted with the same care and attention to detail as the office’s architectural projects and represents a key part of the practice – the relationships formed with highly skilled craftsman to achieve complex architectural ideas. The fruit of these key relationships is found in the joyful and intimate experiences that punctuate life lived in and around this practice’s buildings.

Piti, 2012 by Billy and Lulu Cooley uses river red gum burnt with design, displayed alongside Clipped Wing Bench in Tasmanian Blackwood by Simon Ancher. Photography by Christina Waterson.

Hossein Valamanesh’s Breathe 2012, bronze cast from assembled twigs and branches, celebrates the life-giving force of nature, forests and trees. Architect Drew Heath’s spaces are warmed by light that has been warmed by wood’s hue. Developed within the experimental confines of his own home, Heath’s light lintels (on display) and layered ceilings incorporate marine plywood to warm our modern-day fluorescents.

Amore mio chair in American black walnut by Jon Goulder with Tom Miram’s The Memory Keeper, 2012 (background). Photography by Christina Waterson.

Tom Miram’s The Memory Keeper 2012 is made from the trunk of a fallen coastal grey box, and marks his connection to the place of his childhood, and the history of change along its river valley. Other works show the process of realising work in wood.

Requiem (spirit of the beehive) by Lionel Bawden (right) with Greer Honeywill’s This housing estate is not to scale #2 (left) and Plantation Chair by Alexander Lotersztain (behind). Photography by Christina Waterson.

Alexander Lotersztain’s marine plywood Plantation Chair prototype (a step to the final design with adjustment marks and cuts) is displayed beside a standard plywood sheet nested with the assembly elements of four Plantation Chairs and accompanying Eggcups. Sherrie Knipe’s patterned Boot Lace and John Quan’s incredibly thin Flexible Desk Lamp push timber veneer to its limits, while offering playful outcomes.

Visitors appreciate the detailed pattern in Boot Lace by Sherrie Knipe. Photography Christina Waterson.

Brief 2012 (my favourite work in the exhibition) by Damien Wright, is a large dining table made using ancient petrified Red Gum and Ringed Gidgee. Its honesty, logic and refinement exemplifies Wright’s adept skill and the unique techniques he has developed to form these hard to work timbers. The undulating drawer fronts of Khai Liew Julian Chest 2011 invite touch and use to appreciate the solid American black walnut. It is made with care and exactitude and will age gracefully over generations to come.

Up close with Khai Liew’s Julian Chest 2011, solid American black walnut with patinated copper inlay. Photography by Christina Waterson.

Throughout my visit to this exhibition, I felt a strong desire to touch the works – to get up close, to see the grain and smell the scent of the woods used. Our long, close up and personal relationship with wood is kindled by this heart-felt exhibition and beautiful accompanying publication. Wood is warm to touch, alive and ever-changing and continues to find a place within our lives and memories.

WOOD: art design architecture resulted from a collaboration between JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design and Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, where it was presented in February through early April 2013 with the exhibition continuing its national tour throughout 2013 and 2014. The exhibition at QUT Art Museum continues until 29 June 2014. See their website for details.

Decade of Design: Brisbane News 959 Article

Feature: Design in Focus. Brisbane News Issue 959 Cover. Courtesy of Brisbane News.

This week a great article about Hightide: Queensland Design Now Exhibition was published in Brisbane News. A sample of designers, whose work is featured in the exhibition, were interviewed by Jane Scott and photographed by Richard Waugh and Megan Slade for Brisbane News. They included Jason Bird (author of Hightide, Luxxbox), Surya Graf (Sugarfry, Snack-on, Street and Garden) and Christina Waterson (yours truly).

Decade of Design: Jason Bird (Luxxbox) author of the Hightide: Queensland Design Now Book pictured within the exhibition at artisan, Fortitude Valley. Brisbane News Issue 959.

Surya Graf relaxing on his Wave Bench, Sunshine Coast. Christina Waterson pictured with X-Screen. Brisbane News Issue 959.

Jane Scott from Brisbane News was great to speak with. The interview felt more like an enjoyable conversation than a formal interview. Photographer Richard Waugh visited my studio to take the photograph for the Brisbane News article. We had a lot of fun and Richard captured some great photos with the natural light pouring in from the south. Thank you Jane and Richard!

Have a read of the article and let me know what you think! And definitely visit the Hightide: Queensland Design Now Exhibition to see the great work of all of the designers up close. The exhibition runs until 8 February 2014, at artisan: idea skill product in Fortitude Valley.

HIGHTIDE the Exhibition: Digging Deeper Reaching Higher

The Hightide exhibition opened at artisan: idea skill product on 31 October 2013. Photography Christina Waterson.

The Hightide: Queensland Design Now exhibition and book serve as a terrific introduction to the featured 22 Queensland designers. A sample of their designs, realised from 2002 to 2012, appear in the exhibition and speak of their passion to make inspirational objects that become a special part of people’s everyday lives. Their designs also show a sensitivity to materials and a celebration of light and shadow informed by a deep connection to this place, Queensland. Lift the corner a little and you find the designers’ true depth and contribution rest further afield beyond their designs.

Catching up: Benjamin Breitenstein (luxxbox and Made Here Now) and Karl Hilton. Photography Christina Waterson.

Many of the designers’ projects have been realised throughout Australia and overseas. They redefine and push materials in ways that only come from working closely with makers and manufacturers in Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region. Many of the featured designers collaborate with practitioners across fashion, food, architecture, and design as well as give ongoing mentorship to design students and design professionals. They have side projects in publishing and writing as well as exhibition and event design.

The inspiring David Shaw and KT Doyle in deep conversation. Photography Christina Waterson.

Designers including Daniel Tobin (UAP), Jason Bird (Luxxbox), Alex Lotersztein (Derlot) and Luis Nheu (Interior Designer, Brand + Slater) have contributed to public art, interior and architectural projects across the globe. Others write and publish books, journals and guides. Jason Bird initiated, wrote and published Hightide: Queensland Design Now. KT Doyle, Surya Graf and Christina Waterson (yes me!) share their inspiration, process and perspective through their blogs What I Learned Last Week, A Sugar Fry and Tracepattern, respectively.

Bjorn Rust is a Co-founder and the editor-in-chief of Scrag End Journal (about food and also a cut of lamb). Darcy Clarke has written a guide entitled Creating a Difference: Business Tips for Creative People to Become Business People. David Shaw (Street & Garden) and Marc Harrison (husque) maintain thriving design businesses and have actively mentored some of the featured designers for many years; importantly guiding, informing and inspiring them and the next generation of practitioners.

Dig deeper and see what you discover…

I wholeheartedly encourage you to visit the Hightide exhibition at artisan, enjoy the Hightide book with a coffee and a sweety, and then take the time to look a little closer into the 22 Queensland Designers.

You will be truly inspired by not only the breadth of their world class designs and depth of practice, but also the true heights of their creative reach!

Parallel Nippon at artisan

Parallel Nippon Contemporary Japanese Architecture 1996 – 2006 opened at artisan: idea skill product in Fortitude Valley on 8 August 2013. Photography Christina Waterson.

To conclude my wrap of the exhibitions and events I visited throughout August I would like to make special mention of the thoroughly enjoyable evening I had at the Parallel Nippon opening hosted by artisan: idea skill product, on 8 August 2013.  I attended the opening on the generous invitation of Raymond Quek (Professor of Architecture at the Soheil Abedian School of Architecture).

Professor Raymond Quek, Dr. Paul Emmons and Christopher Hill (Linedota). Photography Christina Waterson.

Raymond was also accompanied by Christopher Hill (International Adjunct Teaching Fellow at Bond University and Co-Founding Architect of Linedota, London) and Dr. Paul Emmons (Associate Professor at the Washington – Alexandria Architecture Centre of Virginia Tech). Paul was in town after presenting his lecture “Embodied Orthographic View of the Architect” as part of Bond University’s 2013 Architectural Lecture Series.

Traditional music accompanied the opening at artisan. Photography Christina Waterson.

Guests attending the exhibition opening enjoyed tracing the evolution of Japanese Architecture between 1996 and 2006 while enjoying traditional music and intelligent conversation.

It was interesting to see many projects I’d personally visited, summarised here in an exhibition format. How hard it is to translate through exhibition the true experience and joy of architecture. One must experience architecture in the flesh; in time; through arrival and the sequence of spaces; and within a greater context.

Parallel Nippon exhibition panels. Photography Christina Waterson.

And then there is the detail, of which an exhibition can offer but a taste and only encourage one to undertake an international quest. I am dreaming of travel; especially a return to Japan in the not too distant future. Parallel Nippon only further ignited this feeling in me.

Now I must hasten to the joyous and ever shifting present…

But first a special thank you to Professor Raymond Quek for such a kind invitation to attend the opening. Further gratitude to Raymond, Christopher Hill and Dr Paul Emmons for making it a most enjoyable evening.

For more on the travelling exhibition see a review by Hayley Curnow for ArchitectureAU. Continuing its international tour Parallel Nippon opened at The High Court of Australia, in Canberra, on the 12 September (running until 4 October 2013). Visit their website for details.

A Thriller – Being a Bond Uni Guest Critic

Architectural Design Studio 5 critiques kick off at Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia. Photography Courtesy of Bond University.

In late June I had the pleasure of being invited to be a guest critic for Design Studio 5 Interim Critiques at the Institute of Sustainable Development and Architecture, within the Soheil Abedian School of Architecture, at Bond University.

The guest critics came together from a range of fields. Critics included Belinda Smith (Artist/Designer, Plummer + Smith), Brant Harris (Architect, PHAB Architects), and Japser Brown (Architect, Jasper Brown Architects) overseen by International Adjunct Teaching Fellow Christopher Hill (Architect, Linedota London) and Jonathan Nelson (Teaching Fellow/Fabrication Research Lab Manager, Bond University; Architect).

Diversity in approach. Students transform their found wood through a series of exercises and material explorations. Photography Courtesy of Bond University.

The design studio entitled 3+9 Steps – A Thriller led by Christopher HIll, guided the Students through a series of exercises or transformations. They were encouraged to think deeply about each act and introduction of a new material to their salvaged wood, as well as the resultant effect their actions would have on its reading or experience.

Guest Critic Jasper Brown reviews a student’s work. Glass transformation in foreground. Photography Courtesy of Bond University.

Copper drawn through Student’s found wood. Photography Courtesy of Bond University.

Brant and Belinda review a student’s work in the Workshop. Photography Courtesy of Bond University.

Their actions emphasised, contrasted or sometimes subverted the nature of the wood and importantly revealed the Students’ own strengths and potentials in their design thinking and methodology. Often small and considered actions imparted the most meaningful gestures within the projects.

I am looking forward to seeing how the Student’s work has developed (with the addition of programme and brief) at next week’s Final Critique Sessions!

A BIG thank you the Soheil Abedian School of Architecture, at Bond University for the wonderful invitation and welcoming me into the fold; especially Raymond Quek (Professor of Architecture and Head of  Discipline: Architecture, Bond University), Christopher Hill (Adjunct Teaching Fellow, Bond University; Architect, Linedota London) and Jonathan Nelson (Teaching Fellow/Fabrication Research Lab Manager, Bond University; Architect).

ArchitectureAU

Since March this year I have been contributing to ArchitectureAU. Its an online portal for Architects and Designers to connect with people, the latest projects and critical discourse. To date I have contributed five stories with photographs and illustrations.

APT7 at GOMA – View to Damien Gulkledep’s Pomio People 2011. Photography Christina Waterson.

1. My first was a postcard about APT7 at GOMA.

Design Process – This story also included a series of collages and illustrations I completed while Studying Architecture at The University of Queensland. Collage by Christina Waterson.

2. The next was an interview with Queensland Interior Designer Marisha McAuliffe about her groundbreaking research into the Design Process.

The Opposite House Foyer – a luxury hotel in Sanlitan Village, Beijing, designed by Kengo Kuma’s. Photography by Christina Waterson.

3. Then I contributed a Postcard about a great hotel I stayed in while visiting Beijing, called The Opposite House.

Jeweller Phoebe Porter at the opening of her exhibition entitled Unfold. Photography by James Braund.

4. I loved writing the catalogue essay for Jeweller Phoebe Porter on the occasion of her exhibition Unfold held at Craft Victoria. It was great to share this essay called Making Refining Sharing on the Architecture AU website accompanied with beautiful imagery by photographer James Braund.

WOOD: art design architecture – view to Sherrie Knipe’s work Boot Lace. Photography by Christina Waterson.

5. And my latest contribution – a review of the exhibition WOOD: art design architecture at JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design, Adelaide.

I have come to really love being creative through writing and photography, as well as meeting the talented practitioners behind the amazing work. It is a pleasure to present their stories through the professional forum of ArchitectureAU.

Follow the links above to my articles posted on the ArchitectureAU website, have a read and let me know what you think!