Lorenna Grant project
Project Name: Dalyellup Secondary School
Architects: HASSEL
Location: Wade Street, Dalyellup, and Bunbury
Artist: Lorenna Grant
Art works: The Essentials of Flight
Project Start Date: 19 July 2007
Project Completion Date: 15 February 2009
In July 2007, artist Lorenna Grant began work on a series of three pieces for the Dalyellup Secondary School.
This integrated artwork was developed in consultation with HASSEL, a company with a keen interest in quality design for schools and colleges. Extending her studio work into the field of public art, Lorenna developed an entry sculpture, entry gates and a series of timber and metal lounging platforms.
We spoke with Lorenna to find out her thoughts about the process and the creation of the works, read her interview below.
Planning and Fabrication
Creating The Work
The artworks collectively named The Essentials of Flight source their inspiration from the land on which the school has been built. Spending time at the site before building works commenced allowed an observance of natural systems within the area. Collectively what was noticed, was then layered into an ?essence? of what the southwest and particularly this area shows as unique. The black basalt vein that runs through the ground from the Bunbury coast in and down, the burnt skin of the forest from time to time, the big black birds feather, gothic and specific - red tail flashing. The black cows against green and then straw coloured fields- these became like strips torn through the fabric of a painted perceived reality. Like holes through to something unknowable. The emerging forms were then stripped back with a Giacometti-style penknife to be only just recognisable. Surface facets were then made reflective, to be informed through colour by the building, indigenous plants and changing sky.
The distillation of initial observances have been shaped into gathering points where the community can move through, stop and be part of the work, literally by sitting climbing meeting and conversing at these points.
The Highlights
I have been involved with public art for some years and will quite happily work alone but it is the converging professional languages that is a highlight for me. That, and making art!
Coming to create artworks that result from an expanded and expanding dialogue between the disciplines is exciting, challenging and rewarding. The highlight was to work with a group of professionals that allowed an undefined and therefore risky process to commence, and even more, to trust the trajectory. This gave me unprecedented freedom and in turn resulted in a harmonious outcome where the seams of art and architecture gave over to a meaningful seamless schema. To be specific, architects David Gulland-Hassell drew his way through meetings while remaining sharply succinct in overall directions, Eleni Gogos-Hassell's eye was sensitive, considered, poetic and really caring, and art coordinator Pip Sawyer brought material knowledge and applied skills. As a team the highlight is achieving what I understand to be the developing principles of public art. These principles are personally important to the development of my art practice. They allow many of my artworks to exist that would not otherwise exist, without cross-discipline co-operation.
The Challenges
A component of the resulting artworks were fixed screens that I designed to compliment the functional fencing. This went outside of the allocated budget for art and so was offset with the original architectural plans. It was not until towards the end of the project that the site architect, Clem Mitchel, was able to confirm inclusion and we were able to have the fixed panels made.
Travelling from Perth over the 18 months was a joy, a rare opportunity to let thoughts wander without an outcome, many ideas were conceived during this time. I love regional projects.
Has The Process Worked For You So Far?
YES!
Read more about Lorenna Grant
Read about other State Government Percent for Arts Scheme Projects
Read more about the Western Australian State Government Percent for Art Scheme
