You often get asked…

…as an independent creative “what’s the end goal?” My answer; ‘a budget to make the work, a small but competent team and an opportunity to share the work’. The Designer in Residence and development and production of Mythica Ignota at Canberra Glassworks delivered in spades. 

If acknowledgments seem ubiquitous and formulaic it’s because the many facets of collaboration are hard to describe and aren’t readily accessible in the final objects. “This wouldn’t have happened without…” is literal. The objects in this show are embedded with the skills, ideas, attention, commitment, patience and dedication of many people - I’ll stick to naming the human ones. And as most acknowledgements go, this list of names is inconclusive, in neglects those in the Glassworks community who showed warmth, encouragement, interest. Those who willingly shared insights into processes hard won through years of trial and error. Those maintaining and tending to the running of the remarkable facility that is Canberra Glassworks. The people sending positive comments and feedback in-person and online. My beloved family for caring for children, providing meals, being flexible and responsive and excellent company. As I said, many facets of collaboration.

To Arts NT and the assessment panel for your belief in this project and process and the financial support that makes it possible. 

To all the fabricators and suppliers in Canberra and beyond, for often doing things outside of your usual scope, and at times within a limited time-frame.

To the CGWs team, especially Jacq, Justine and Brooke. As an independent designer working mostly on my own for many years (decades - eek!) having you in the wings to answer questions, print pages, provide guidance and do the Work was a genuine treat. To Elizabeth, for doing the hard work to keep the ship heading in the right direction.

To Spike and Rose, for the early tests (and last minute gracious saves) and readiness to experiment. I’ll never forget the almost supernatural experience of flagging an idea only to see it materialised and on my desk the next day.

To Jennifer Mills for all the word-smithing over the years. Katie-Ann, for collecting and delivering. Bec Conroy for looking at the words and bring them to the next level. Elise at Megalo for being flexible and still delivering gold at the last minute.

Kelly Lee for your guidance early-on. I’ll come back to your thoughts and approach and have been holding them as I moved through this process. There are conversations and collaborations in our future that I’m already looking forward to for the insight and the challenge.

To Tom, Griffyn and Hugo, the install dream team. You guys are really amazing. You’re ability to pre-empt each other’s needs and movement, your patience and dedication to getting it as good as possible - never choosing a shortcut but maintaining efficiency. Please can you be at my every install ever.

Ineke, my mentor throughout this project, who despite relocating, starting a new job and curating five exhibitions still managed to carve out time and brain space for me. As a no-longer emerging creative it’s thought you no longer need mentoring, but my time with you proved the opposite. Thank you for your knowledge and ability to understand my practice within a broader creative ecology and help guide and make decisions as to how to best express the ideas.

Neil from NHO. Thank you. To have your engagement in my process and practice and belief that I’m offering something of value means a lot. From the small details to the big picture, I’m sincerely grateful to have your thoughts and attention orientated my way!

To Sophie and Edwin at Sophie Gannon Gallery, knowing that there is a place and platform that I can show the objects that have often taking innumerable hours and a lot of resources to create is a cornerstone to my practice. Your ability to understand design as having cultural value and the time to educate audiences and collectors gives me - and all the designers you represent - the space and energy to keep creating. 

Sean, to not have to think about the details of the Shimmer Cabinet and know that I could trust you to have it in hand and deliver is a rare feeling for me. Thank you for going above and applying your knowledge and craft and care to this work.

Hannah, what an absolute delight being able to work with you. To have your attention to detail in material and process directed towards my designs made them what they are. Waratah Lamps and world is made of relative … wouldn’t have happened without you.

Tom. What a genuine joy to work with and alongside you. Your generosity, patience, craftsmanship and material knowledge coupled with your gentle and humorous way in the world… I truly hope I have the chance to relive it. You put the finesse in those lamps and a skip in my step.

Ace, Golda and Zadie, my delightful and understanding children. I hope that this creative life we’ve built around us gives you an understanding of how wonderful the world can be but also the responsibility that comes with being a part of it. You each showed care and awareness beyond your years through the final marathon to bring this project into being. So proud of you.

James (ha, you know I’ve got tears in my eyes writing this!). Dedication, support, engagement, attention to detail, being there to weld acrylic, polish osb, assemble steel and stone, cook dinners, make lunches, collect components, source silicon, organise the rego, play dates, birthday meals… I wouldn’t want to be on this wild ride with anyone else. 

Aimee, you are a designer’s guardian angel. I have never worked alongside anyone more dedicated and curious and kind and supportive. Your growing encyclopaedic knowledge of processes, fabricators, makers  and materials in Australia and beyond is a amazing. Your willingness to try, test, test again (and again), resolve and make is a dream come true. I’ll always cherish this time, in a very large part to you. Thank you doesn’t quite cut it… ready to reciprocate now and for a long time to come.

And to this planet, who’s miraculousness we seem to have forsaken. I hope these objects and thinking provide a step towards being in an enriched relationship with you and the care that that offers.