FORM Contemporary Craft and DesignGrowing high level creativity through engagement with WA's heavy industry"Even before we had access to VACS funding, we at FORM Contemporary Craft and Design knew that we could do something radical by bringing WA's craft practitioners together with WA's heavy industry and natural resources" states Lynda Dorrington, executive director of FORM. "By stimulating innovative partnerships between WA's creative and heavy industries, we could foresee a sustainable future for the state's artistic, cultural, social and economic development. Our unique Industry-based projects would place WA craft and design in the national and international context and grow market strength." Coinciding with the arrival of new VACS funding in 2004, FORM entered a three-year industry partnership with Alcoa World Alumina Australia and The Alcoa Foundation. Known as the Vast Terrain program, is strategically targeted to stimulate a classy, and distinctly Australian identity for desirable one-off objects and new product lines in aluminium. Fine design and market profiling will value-add to Australian aluminium, a material largely taken for granted for its countless domestic and industrial uses.
Robert Foster Pod Vessel 2004 The Vast Terrain exhibition is the outcome of the first year project. Three leading Australian metalsmiths, Frank Bauer, Robert Foster and Andrew Last created bold new jewellery, vessels, homewares and lighting designs in aluminium after researching and experimenting with the metal under the guidance of metallurgists and designers. Shown in Perth (February - March 2005) it attracted critical acclaim and an additional 1000 visitors. The exhibition toured to the Sydney Opera House late March - mid May, and will travel to the Melbourne Museum for 28 July - 6 November. |
Andrew Last Platter (Detail) 2004 Speaking at the 800-strong opening of Vast Terrain Wayne Osborn, managing director of Alcoa World Alumina Australia summarises their partnership, "Through Vast Terrain, Alcoa is doing its part to help create a legacy in contemporary aluminium design, foster innovation in the arts and contribute to the knowledge and expertise of the community." Vast Terrain's further two-year program offers high level experimental, design workshops for students and designers, on-line technologies, multi-disciplinary practice in the field of craft and design, plus an international design symposium. Curated exhibitions will showcase new work throughout the whole program, presenting new Australian aluminium design to national and international audiences and markets.
Frank Bauer Light (Detail) 2004 Lynda Dorrington praises VACS funding, "One of the real values of the VACS funding is the certainty it provides for undertaking longer term projects that will attract high level partners such as Alcoa. FORM can plan rich training and research programs for practitioners that inspire the development of bold new Australian craft and design."
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Member organisation of Craft Organisation Australia are supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments