Knowledge Sharing

Launching the Why We Create Series in 2012 at Pin-up Project Space Melbourne. Photography James Braund.

Throughout my creative practice I enjoy sharing knowledge through writing, blogging, lectures, talks and workshops. It may come as a surprise to you just how active I am in this area. It’s an integral part of my practice, if not sometimes the most important.  Why? I feel sharing my perspective and experience in this way may encourage other practitioners, bring perspective to professions about the importance of design and creative thinking; share an understanding of the process behind realising creative projects and encourage people to find their own groove and path in the world.

On the eve of presenting a series of workshops and talks for QUT Art Museum as part of the WOOD: art design architecture exhibition (presently at QUT Art Museum) I reflect on some of the key knowledge sharing moments I have enjoyed along the way.

Sharing the making and concept behind Tracelet 2012. Photography James Braund.

Since starting my blog tracepattern.wordpress.com in 2011 I have enjoyed writing about creative practitioners’ work as well sharing the background to my own practice and process. During this time I also contributed as a freelance writer and photographer for ArchitectureAU and worked as Creative Director for Howwecreate.

QUT Landscape Design Studio Workshops, 2009. Photography Christina Waterson.

‘Pattern and Tectonic’ Workshops for Brisbane State High School Year 11 Art Students in early 2013 culminated in their annual CREATE event. An Art + Place Workshop and Talk, for Arts Queensland, at Noosa in 2012 led to a chance meeting with architect Phillip Daffara (PlaceSense). My inclusion in a series of Workshops with artists Nicole Voevodin-Cash (Public art and Landform) and James Muller (New media/Film maker) for Montessori International College Students the same year came from this first meeting. The workshops engaged students and staff to use art practices in galvanising concepts, developing guiding principles to articulate the Art+Place vision; and identifying opportunities for integrated artworks within the College’s new campus.

Why We Create’s Queensland Launch in 2012 at Trace on James Street.

SLQ APDL Side Project Interview with architect Shane Thompson. Image Courtesy of APDL.

There have been a host of public lectures and forums each with their own unique focus, content and audience. Most memorable were an SLQ Side Project Interview with Architect Shane Thompson in 2012, Pecha Kucha UNLIMITED Talk (State Library of Qld) in 2010, World IP Day Talk QUT (Kelvin Grove Campus) and Pecha Kucha Vol 01 (Brisbane Powerhouse) in 2008. I recently gave a talk to design students visiting DesignEX 2014. I presented alongside the exceptionally talented practitioners Gordon Tait (TAIT) and Adam Goodrum in a session chaired by Penny Craswell. I so enjoyed seeing Gordon and Adam’s inspirational work!

Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award Floor Talk at Redland Gallery in 2008.

Artist Talks are a lovely way to connect with people and share knowledge on a more intimate level. My most memorable and enjoyable artist talks include one held at the Rosshilli House, Ipswich (Queensland), a Gold Coast Chapter DIA Breakfast Talk in 2010, and a Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award Talk at the Redlands Regional Art Gallery in 2008.

Guest Critic for Bond Uni Architecture Design Studio Crits in 2013. Photography Courtesy of Bond University.

Guest lecturing and critiquing is also important and takes a lot of energy to ensure feedback is specific, clear and relevant to each student and their project. Last week I had the pleasure of being a guest critic for Suzanne Bosanquet’s 3rd Year Design Studio at University of Queensland (UQ). I have been a guest critic across a diverse range of design fields including Architecture Design, Interior Design and Landscape Design at The Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland and Bond University.

The 2014 AIDA jury (L-R): Paul Kelly, Susanna Bilardo, Hamish Guthrie, Joanne Cys (jury convenor), Geraldine Maher, Victoria Judge, Matthew Blain, Christina Waterson and Ryan Russell. Not pictured is jury sustainability advisor, John Gertsakis. Photography Jonathan Butler. Courtesy of ArchitectureAU.

Being a member of the judging panel for 2013 The Australian Interior Design Awards and returning as a Co-Chair for the Awards in 2014 was insightful, affirming and fantastic to contribute to the design profession in this way. Other guest judging roles I have undertaken include for the 2008 Noosa Regional Travelling Scholarship, and 2012 Launchpad Programme.

You never know the difference made through sharing in these ways. I encourage you to be generous with your time, ideas and perspective when it comes to knowledge sharing. Your biggest legacy may well be how you inspire people to greater things in their own practice.

See QUT Museum’s website for WOOD Workshops in June 2014. I am also presenting a public floor talk on Thursday 12 June 2014 at the QUT Art Museum.

Merging September into October

The Brisbane Launch of The Monocle’s Guide for Better Living was attended by a who’s who from Brisbane’s Creative Community.

September/October proved to be my busiest months so far this year. I had to literally run from meetings to appointments and from deadline to deadline. Needless to say I am happy it is November! So to bring you all up to speed here I share some of my September/October highlights!

Guests were treated to personally signed copies of The Monocle Guide for Better Living by editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé, good conversation and unique culinary treats by Gerard’s Bistro, Fortitude Valley.

September ended with a kind invitation from Elie Moubarak (Owner and Creative Force behind Lychee Lounge, Laruche Bar & Supperclub, and Gerard’s Bistro) to attend Monocle’s launch of their Guide for Better Living. It was a great event! Thank you Elie and all who attended for making it a delectable afternoon delight!

Lucky Duck cafe and bar launched in Highgate Hill.

Some dear friends launched their cafe and bar Lucky Duck which is a stone’s throw from where I reside. I took a few photos to support their budding business and enjoyed some great coffee, chilled live music and the relaxed interior at the same time. Congratulations Justine and James!

Compiling my portfolio for a myriad of applications.

As part of my future dreaming for 2014 I have been applying for residencies, exhibition opportunities and project funding. I can’t say any more than that as I never count my chickens before they’re hatched! Fingers Crossed!

Broad Beach master planning model by Bond Unit 2A Architecture Students.

I’ve been transiting back and forth to Bond University twice weekly to guide Studio Unit 2A Architecture Students through a project which transforms Broad Beach with a series of community projects.

13000km to date!

There has been a lot of driving this month with my speedometer clocking 13000 kilometres…

…and a lot of weaving. Here I am pictured putting the finishing touches on X-Screen Solid for the Hightide Exhibition at artisan.

Weaving Weaving Weaving. I spent much of October with Tasmanian Oak. Sanding it, sealing it and weaving it into X-Screen Solid for the Hightide exhibition at artisan. For more on the process stay tuned!

A six-hour world wind visit to Sydney. Sunset over Sydney Harbour.

A quick trip to Sydney for an application that’s part of my future dreaming for 2014! I had just enough time to enjoy the sunset over Sydney Harbour.

A happy dance with my designs, celebrating the Hightide Exhibition opening at artisan, Fortitude Valley Brisbane. Photo by Darcy Clarke.

The month rounded out with the Hightide Exhibition opening at artisan Fortitude Valley. During October I was interviewed for the exhibition content and worked on story boxes that described the conceptual ideas behind my designs. It was a rewarding process. X-screen solid was featured in my suite of works alongside Lift Stool, Tilt Mag Rack and Tracelet. In total 22 designers exhibited work in the exhibition that complemented the Hightide: Queensland Design Now publication launched earlier in 2013 in LA, Melbourne and Brisbane.

All photography by Christina Waterson unless otherwise credited.

DIA Tarmac SpeedMeet + FolioReview 2013

Let the SpeedMeet + Folio Review commence! Photography Elliot Fooks.

The latest instalment of Tarmac’s SpeedMeet + FolioReview (presented by DIA Queensland Branch Tarmac Student Council) was held at The Queensland Museum and Sciencentre on 30 July 2013.

Using the format of speed dating, but with a whole lot more style and design intent, Industry Professionals sat down with passionate students, reviewed their work and offered advice about landing that all important first job. Students received folio feedback, made some important contacts, and gained insight into the industry.

Students gather before SpeedMeet + FolioReview event starts. Photography Elliot Fooks.

Every five minutes (or so) a bell rang to mark the time for participants to stand up and swap tables (and therefore mentors). This format made for an exciting event with a fast and furious pace, and interesting and to the point discussion.

Folio review and feedback. Photography Elliot Fooks.

Attending students were from a broad range of creative industries including Interior Design, Architecture, Graphic Design, Illustration and Industrial Design, as well as hybrid and interdisciplinary mixes of all of the above.

Julian Munro (Derlot) talks shop with an avid audience. Photography Elliot Fooks.

The industry professionals, who mentored for the event, included Jason Bird and Benjamin Breitenstein (Luxxbox), David Shaw (Street and Garden), Marc Harrison (Husque), Julian Munro (Derlot), Natalie Wright (Lecturer Interior Design, QUT), Christina Waterson (yes thats me), Beck Davis (Design Department, Griffith Uni), Kasia Jarosz (Jarosz Design), James Luu and Melissa Tooley (PDT), Philip Bugden (One Alliance) and Eddie Maksoud (Edwards Advertising).

Check out upcomingTarmac Events (including Speedmeets and Design Crawls) on the DIA Tarmac Facebook page or get in touch with DIA Tarmac directly and be a part of their next great event!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Vanessa Parker (President of the DIA Qld Tarmac Student Council) for inviting me to be a Guest Professional for the event! Gratitude to Elliot Fooks (3rd year Industrial Design student, QUT) for the great photography.

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).

2013 CREATE Event at BSHS

Work by BSHS Students enjoyed at CREATE Event. Photography Christina Waterson.

In early 2013 I was invited with other well-known local artists, to present a series of pattern and tectonics talks and workshops to Year 11 Brisbane State High School (BSHS) Art Students.

Through an intensive program set out by BSHS Art Teachers Ms Cilento and Ms Kidd – utilising repetition and pattern and a rigorous making process – students developed material studies capturing an assigned action (for example crumpling, weaving, pleating, looping, coiling etc.) into 3D sculptural works for display at the BSHS’s Create Festival. Create is an annual event celebrating work by BSHS Visual Art, Media Arts and Film & Television students.

Work by BSHS Students enjoyed at CREATE Event. Photography Christina Waterson.

Work by BSHS Students enjoyed at CREATE Event. Photography Christina Waterson.

I love sharing knowledge and it was an absolute joy to present the talks, experience each students unique vision, see the diverse works featured at CREATE on June 14, 2013 and receive some nice feedback from BSHS’s Ms Kidd, Head of the Visual Arts Department on the workshops:

We have also been privileged to have Christina Waterson and Donna Marcus visit our classrooms to talk to students about their art practice. Both artists work in Sculpture, however their process and methodology is quite different, and it has been useful for students to experience different ways of working. Ms Amalia Kidd, HoD, Visual Arts, BSHS May 2013 Newsletter.

Work by BSHS Students enjoyed at CREATE Event. Photography Christina Waterson.

Thank you BSHS and a special thank you to the passionate team of educators within BSHS’s Visual Arts Department.