Making: A Way of Life // Artist biographies + statements
Alison Jackson
Alison Jackson is a designer, maker and contemporary Silversmith based in Braidwood Australia. Completing a Gold and Silversmithing degree at the Australian National University, Alison holds over a decade of artistic and technical metal forming expertise.
Craftsmanship and the way pieces are made has always been an influence to Alison. From the way two surfaces join together, a junction, or the way an edge has been finished, it’s all in the details of an object. It is the perfection of being imperfect and the distinctive nature of structures and objects that inspires her. By linking the rich history of metal-working to present-day artistic practices, Alison intertwines her fine hand-crafting skills with the experimental nature of design and metal forming.
Dan Lorrimer
Dan Lorrimer is a sculptor, machinist and fabricator. With a degree in Sculpture from the Australian National University, Dan has since diversified his work, significantly developing his skills across a wide range of technical areas, specialising in metal forming.
Dan’s work is driven by a deep understanding of materials, industrial processes and a keen sense of exploration through making. He works across scales in metal, from sculpture, object design through to custom prototyping and fabrication services. Dan’s thirst for learning and developing unique processes is woven through all he designs and makes, continually striving to refine and resolve making processes to be the best they can be.
Dan’s sculpture practice explores notions of movement, energy, solidity and illusion through minimalist sculptural forms, often located between the artificial and natural world.
He has exhibited widely across Australia and is currently represented by Flinders Lane Gallery Melbourne.
Flatware Collection
Beginning as a fluid hand drawn sketch – each form has a playfulness and intrigue about it. Brought together as a collection by their fine detailing in the handle connection point, there are infinite possibilities to explore in their combinations. Not ever seen as a traditional set, but more a collection of useful tools for the kitchen for just the right thing, we leave it to the viewer to ponder their own thoughts and reflections of how each could be used. We find ourselves instantly drawn to some shapes, knowing exactly how it will fit into our lives. Others might be more perplexing or require more thought – but that is the beauty, we all have our own nuances that shape our individual daily rituals.
Finished with a thin layer of wax initially, the brass handles will continue to develop a deeper patina over time. The rich golden tones will slowly darken with time, water droplets will leave their speckled marks and fingerprints will layer together giving a unique depth to the evolving patina. We celebrate the beauty of the patina, watching it build and change with each use, marking memories and character as the pieces are used, loved and treasured.
The bright raw brass colour can be returned at any stage with a simple cleaning process, detailed in the piece care notes.
Flow Form Vases
Blending the complexities of custom metalworking tooling with our approach to making in small batches, we are able to celebrate our skills in the art of production.
Through the design of our specialised tooling for the Flow Form Vase, our making process is identical for each vase – yet, the visual outcome of each vase is completely unique each time. This means no two vases are ever alike and in fact, impossible to replicate – resulting in truly distinctive one of a kind pieces that celebrate the individual nuances of form and finish.