Morphology : The Exhibition
The artistic theme of Morphology is centred on memory - loss, love, harmony and dissonance.
Wheeler Place
Fri 4 Oct - Sun 6 Oct
Explore the Morphology exhibit in Wheeler Place, a collaborative sculpture project created by workshop attendees throughout the festival.
Newcastle has a manufacturing legacy that has had a global reach- the foundation of the city’s culture and the lifeblood of its people, making such a special place. This work was produced in the historic Sunlight Soap and Candle Factory, Mayfield East.
All the artists and contributors to this sculpture pay homage to the hard working people who have built this city and importantly the Awabakal peoples who we respectfully work and create upon their lands.
The artistic theme of Morphology is centred on memory - loss, love, harmony and dissonance.
Discarded furniture pieces, are simply that. They are however, each one, imbued with a history, a life before of function, design, meaning and memory. Once ubiquitous, wooden chairs and tables were in every Newcastle home, lasting through generations. The look and feel of antique, often dark walnut stained timber furniture is so instantly recognisable for Australians and evokes a feeling of ‘home’, something cosy, something comforting, somehow familiar and reassuring but perhaps something now lost.
This sculpture imbues, embodies and wraps itself around the emotionally charged feeling of these memories, of homes, relatives and childhood experiences past-inviting the viewer to explore the details and concepts with within as well as the small written messages left by those who contributed in its making.
The Morphology project was hosted in the incredible Soap Factory arts space by in-house furniture makers and artists Jono Everett (Everett Creative) and Hannah Cheetham (Built In-Kind) during 7 days of public access workshops, collectively imagining, designing and fabricating this sculptural piece with the people of Newcastle and beyond. Participants were able to explore ideas, gain hands-on experience and skills in design, spatial design, construction and fabrication under the guidance and supervision of Jono, Hannah and other leading designers and makers.
The hundreds of furniture components in this piece were all harvested from discarded timber furniture from the roadside - disposed and no longer considered valuable. Public participants worked toward a singular artistic vision, not only contributing their ideas and passion but they also brought broken and preloved items for inclusion in the work. In return they gained woodwork, fabricating and wood finishing skills and had exposure to a workshop environment and, most importantly, made beautiful new connections and friends. Many participants have never experienced working in timber, making a sculpture or exhibiting an artwork – and can now stand back and celebrate the sculptural piece you see here. Participants etched poems, thoughts, stories and memories into the furniture components - see if you can find them.
CONTRIBUTORS
The Morphology project was documented by in house artist/photographer Edwina Richards
Video capture – Marcel Bracks
Lighting – Jarod Pak
Audio soundtrack by Jet Everett – aka Dark Pattern
Studio assistants – Tom, Mahalia, Jarod, Holly, Ben, Heleana, Taylor, Gretal and Amy
Special recognition to the members of the public who bravely stepped up and helped build this epic piece- congratulations!
All the artists and contributors to this sculpture pay homage to the hard working people who have built this city and importantly the Awabakal peoples who we respectfully work and create upon their lands.
The artistic theme of Morphology is centred on memory - loss, love, harmony and dissonance.
Discarded furniture pieces, are simply that. They are however, each one, imbued with a history, a life before of function, design, meaning and memory. Once ubiquitous, wooden chairs and tables were in every Newcastle home, lasting through generations. The look and feel of antique, often dark walnut stained timber furniture is so instantly recognisable for Australians and evokes a feeling of ‘home’, something cosy, something comforting, somehow familiar and reassuring but perhaps something now lost.
This sculpture imbues, embodies and wraps itself around the emotionally charged feeling of these memories, of homes, relatives and childhood experiences past-inviting the viewer to explore the details and concepts with within as well as the small written messages left by those who contributed in its making.
The Morphology project was hosted in the incredible Soap Factory arts space by in-house furniture makers and artists Jono Everett (Everett Creative) and Hannah Cheetham (Built In-Kind) during 7 days of public access workshops, collectively imagining, designing and fabricating this sculptural piece with the people of Newcastle and beyond. Participants were able to explore ideas, gain hands-on experience and skills in design, spatial design, construction and fabrication under the guidance and supervision of Jono, Hannah and other leading designers and makers.
The hundreds of furniture components in this piece were all harvested from discarded timber furniture from the roadside - disposed and no longer considered valuable. Public participants worked toward a singular artistic vision, not only contributing their ideas and passion but they also brought broken and preloved items for inclusion in the work. In return they gained woodwork, fabricating and wood finishing skills and had exposure to a workshop environment and, most importantly, made beautiful new connections and friends. Many participants have never experienced working in timber, making a sculpture or exhibiting an artwork – and can now stand back and celebrate the sculptural piece you see here. Participants etched poems, thoughts, stories and memories into the furniture components - see if you can find them.
CONTRIBUTORS
The Morphology project was documented by in house artist/photographer Edwina Richards
Video capture – Marcel Bracks
Lighting – Jarod Pak
Audio soundtrack by Jet Everett – aka Dark Pattern
Studio assistants – Tom, Mahalia, Jarod, Holly, Ben, Heleana, Taylor, Gretal and Amy
Special recognition to the members of the public who bravely stepped up and helped build this epic piece- congratulations!