artist profile

Julie Collins and Derek John
Title: Ship of Fools the fleet
Date: 2007


Title: Slice
Date: 2007


Title: Memoir
Date: 2007


Title: Ship of Fools coast
Date: 2007


Title: Planning Overlay
Date: 2007


Title: Ship of Hope
Date: 2007


Title: Gravel Road
Date: 2007


SCULPTURE
A practicing sculptor for over 20 years, my sculpture ranges from gallery work to large-scale temporary and permanent commissioned works for the last 6 years I have been collaborating with Derek John. I have participated in over 75 exhibitions including 11 solo shows.

CURATORIAL
I have curated 20 group exhibitions and have been involved in the installation and Co Ordination or up to 25 exhibitions in galleries across Victoria. Most recently I have curated the Toorak Sculpture Festival 2007, Ten, the CSA 10th anniversary exhibition and are current developing the Golden Plains Arts Trial, a one day open studio event in the South Western Victoria, involving 50 Artists.

ASSOCIATION
I was the founding member and Chair (3 years) of the Contemporary Sculptors Association Inc (CSA), an artist run organization. The CSA developed and manages Yarra Sculpture Gallery in Abbottsford, (CSA headquarters). Has produced a bi monthly newsletters, host a web site and slide library, holds forums, invites guest speakers, manages prizes, advises private and governments organizations on subjects such as commissioning processes and leasing agreements.

The CSA mounts exhibitions both at the Yarra Sculpture Gallery and major outdoor shows like the St Kilda Botanical Gardens exhibition. In 2005 I re joined the committee as chair and will be working on expansion plans. This next phase will see the CSA become a National sculpture centre, with galleries, studios, library, community access studios & education facilities. Our aim is to create links with regional, national and international Artist run spaces. During my time developing the CSA and then as Chair I worked very closely with the City of Yarra’s Arts and Cultural services.

FORUMS & WORKSHOPS
I have been invited to present at public forums and been involved in several working parties in regards to public art development. And Presented Artist’s Talks at Moorabbin Tafe and several times for Australian Business & Arts Foundation.

EDUCATION
I have taught sculpture through private classes, RMIT TAFE (2 years), Victorian College of the Arts (3 years). My time at the VCA involved studio tutorials and the Co ordination of ‘Off Site’, a program I developed in order to help students obtain the skills of organizing exhibitions, performances, installations etc. away from the college.

URBAN DESIGN
I was involved with the City of Manningham’s Urban Design committee, as the artist adviser. This team involved Architects, Urban Designers, Landscapers, Developers, Council representatives and members of the community. We dealt with issues from repainting Doncaster shopping town to how small shopping strips presented a united message.

STUDIOS
I have been Co ordinator / administrator for several group studios including Caravan Sculptors in Richmond, Tigerland Studios & the Compound 481.

PROPOSALS
I initiated and proposed the concept of the Herring island environmental Sculpture Park to Parks Victoria. Parks and Maudie Palmer later developed the project as a part of the Melbourne Festival. I was commissioned to produce a major work on the island in 1997.

I proposed a Travelling award for Toyota Australia as a way of sponsoring young artist and creating interest in their gallery. 2006 marked the first annual award.

RESIDENCES
I have had several residences, one with the City of Manningham, where I work within their council quarry for three months, producing a commissioned sculpture. And at Parks Victoria’s Pettys Orchard, a 12-month live in residence where I developed 20 major works throughout the 40 acres property and held two major exhibitions. Artist in residence at Carey Grammar for a 12 week period.

COMMISSIONS
I have been commissioned for public sculptures, including Parks Victoria’s Herring Island, City of Manningham & St Michaels Catholic church. I have been short listed 4 times for others major commissions. This has helped me develop budgeting skills, proposal writing, maquette development and project management. I have gathered a team of professionals, ranging from engineers, steel fabricators, landscapers, and crane and installation specialist, of which I call on when developing and constructing proposals.

STUDIES- Julie
2007- Ballarat University, Masters
1985-87 Victoria College, Prahran Campus. Bachelor of Fine Arts
1883-84 Box Hill College of T.A.F.E Melbourne

ART RELATED POSITIONS
2005-07 Chair of Contemporary Sculptors Association
2007 Advisory board for Contempora Docklands.
2005-07 Sculptural Advisor to Toyota Australia
1999-01 Lecturer in Sculpture, Victorian College of the Arts
1997-00 Founding Member & Chair of the Contemporary Sculptors Association
1996 Lecturer in Sculpture. RMIT TAFE
1995 Artist Member - Urban Design Committee- City of Manningham
1990-93 Tigerland Studio Co ordinator
1986-89 Caravan Sculptors Studio Coordinator

FORUMS, CONFERENCES, ARTIST TALKS
2007 Ballarat University Research Conference.
2007 Lorne Sculpture Festival, Lorne Cinema, Victoria
2007 Arnold Block Leibler, Concurrent, with Yering Station
2007 Australian Business & Arts Foundation, Altona
2006 Moorabbin Tafe , Melbourne
2000 Gasworks 2000 Sculptors’ Conference, Port Melbourne
1997 Art in the Public Domain: Does our Public Sculpture Work? Yarra Sculpture Gallery.

CURATORIAL ROLES
2008 Golden Plains Arts Trial, South Western Victoria.
2007 Ten, Yarra Sculpture Gallery 10th Anniversary exhibition
2007 Invitational Toorak Festival of Sculpture
2007 Archive, Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2007 Water, Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2007 Waste Not, Want Not. Edinburgh Gardens
2007 Waste Not, Want Not. Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2007 ARI (artist run initiatives) event Project co ordinator Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2006 CSA Auction - Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2005 Bonanza05- Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2005 Committed- Committee. Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2001 ‘Live’ Installation/performance. Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2001 Melbourne Component- Sculpture Survey 01, Gomboc Gallery W.A
2000 ‘One Night Stand’ Yarra Sculpture Gallery Melbourne
2000 ‘Dear John, ONE NIGHT STAND’ with Larry Walsh. Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2000 Overue, Yarra Sculpture Gallery
1999 Commissions Rejected, Yarra Sculpture Gallery
1999 ‘Seamless’ Yarra Sculpture Gallery Melbourne
1997 ‘Enough Space’ Yarra Sculpture Gallery Melbourne

COMMUNITY PROJECTS
2007 Napoleons Bus Stop. Victoria
2008 Golden Plains ‘seven bus stops’, project coordinator. Victoria

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2006 WITH OWNERSHIP COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. Yarra Sculpture Gallery With Derek
2004 LANDSCAPE. Yarra Sculpture Gallery. With Derek
2002 THE SMALL ONE, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Melbourne With Derek
2000 FRACTURED MEMOIRS, Yarra Sculpture Gallery
1999 PETTYS REOPEN, Pettys Orchard, Templestowe Melbourne.
1998 PETTYS ORCHARD, One weekend only. Melbourne
1997 WORSHIP, Yarra Sculpture Space Melbourne
1995 RECENT SCULPTURE Craft Council Gallery Canberra
1993 ZONING Luba Bilu Gallery Melbourne
1991 RECENT SCULPTURE Luba Bilu Gallery Melbourne
1990 SEA STORIES Luba Bilu Gallery Melbourne

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2007 Bonanza 07 Yarra Sculpture Space, Abbotsford.- With Derek
2007 Lorne Sculpture Prize, Lorne foreshore. With Derek
2007 Ten, 10th anniversary exhibition CSA. Yarra Sculpture Gallery. With Derek
2007 Yering Station Award, Yering Station With Derek
2007 Concurrent, ABL , Melbourne With Derek
2007 Posted, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, With Derek
2007 Water, Yarra Sculpture Gallery With Derek
2007 Waste Not, Want Not. Edinburgh Gardens With Derek
2007 Waste Not, Want Not. Yarra Sculpture Gallery With Derek
2007 Contempora2, Docklands, Melbourne With Derek
2006 Bonanza 06, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Melbourne With Derek
2006 Motorshow 06, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Melbourne With Derek
2006 Yering Station Sculpture Award, Yarra Valley. With Derek
2006 Symbiotics, Toyota Australia, Port Melbourne With Derek
2006 Toorak Sculpture Festival, Toorak, Melbourne With Derek
2005 Docklands Festival of Sculpture. Docklands Melbourne. With Derek
2005 Metaphysics, Toyota Australia, Port Melbourne With Derek
2005 Bonanza 05, Yarra Sculpture Gallery With Derek
2005 Committed-Committee. Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2004 Bonanza 04 Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2004 The World We Live in’ Melbourne Museum
2003 Bonanza 03 Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2002 Bonanza 02 Yarra Sculpture Gallery
2002 Yarra array, Birrarungmar, Melbourne City. With Derek
2002 TERRA FIRMA sculpture trail, Melbourne
2002 CSAsculpture@ stkildabotanicalgardens – St Kilda Botanical Gardens With Derek
2001 BONANZA, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Melbourne
2001 HORIZONS 01, BHG Gallery, Kyneton, Victoria With Derek
2001 SELECTION, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Melbourne
2001 SCULPTURE SURVEY 01, Gomboc Gallery W.A

2001 BEGONIA FESTIVAL SCULPTURE SHOW, Ballarat With Derek
2001 CSAsculpture@ stkildabotanicalgardens - St Kilda Botanical Gardens With Derek
2000 OVERUE - Yarra sculpture Gallery Melbourne
1999 ORGANIC - SCULPTURAL FORM/NATURAL LANDSCAPE McCelland Art Gallery Langwarrin Melbourne
1999 THE AUSTRALIAN TACTILE ART PRIZE Customs House Sydney
1999 COMMISSIONS REJECTED, Yarra Sculpture Gallery
1999 BONANZA99 Yarra Sculpture Gallery
1998 M 3 -End of year exhibition Yarra Sculpture Space Melbourne
1998 SCULPTURE TRAIL - Dandenong Ranges Victoria Australia
1998 CERES SCULPTURE SHOW Melbourne Australia
1997 HERRING ISLAND ENVIRNOMENTAL SCULPTURE PARK, Melbourne International Festival, Melbourne.
1997 ENOUGH SPACE, Yarra Sculpture Space Melbourne
1997 FRINGE FESTIVAL, Stop 22 Melbourne Australia
1996 SCULPTURE NOW, Castlemaine State Festival
1992-93-94-96 GASWORKS OUTDOORS SCULPTURE SHOWS
1995 THE SITUATION NOW; A Survey Of Local Non Objective Art -University Art Museum Latrobe University Melbourne
1995 CONTINUUM AND CONTRAST Curate by Ken Scarlett McClelland Gallery
1995 CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN ARTIST National Gallery of Victoria
1995 IT’S A GUITAR SHAPED WORLD Curated by Reg Lynch Tamworth City Gallery NSW
1994 FOURTH AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR Royal Exhibitions Buildings
1994 SCULPTURE FOR HEIDELBERG Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
1994 SCULPTURE ON THR FORESHORE Williamstown Festival Melbourne
1993 ALICE PRIZE Araluen Arts Centre Alice Springs
1993 ‘NO STANDING’ Melbourne International Festival Melbourne
1993 ARTWORKZ 5 101 Collins Street Melbourne
1992 MARGARET STEWART ENDOWMENT COLLECTION National Gallery of Victoria
1992 RECENTLY SEEN McClelland Gallery Mornington Victoria
1992 THIRD AUSTRALIAN CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR, Royal Exhibition Buildings
1991 REVIEW 1991 Luba Bilu Gallery Melbourne
1991 IN 3D; CONTEMPORARY OUTDOORS SCULPTURE Heide Park and Art Gallery
1990 SPECIAL-. IT’S BEEN USED BEFORE Luba Bilu Gallery
1990 SCULPTURE AT RIVERSIDE QUAY South Bank Melbourne
1990 FOURTH AUSTRALIAN SCULPTURE TRIENNIAL Meat Market Craft Centre Melbourne
1989 ST KILDA FESTIVAL SHOW Theatre Works, Melbourne
1989 SCULPTORS ON THE WALL, OTHERS ON THE FLOOR 70 Arden Street Gallery
1988 GROUP SHOW 70 Arden Street Gallery Melbourne
1987 PRAHRAN PRIZE SHOW William Street Gallery Melbourne

RESIDENCIES
1998 (12 Months) Petty Orchards- Parks Victoria
1996 (3 months) Carey Grammer, Melbourne
1994 (3 Months) Doncaster Quarry- City of Manningham

AWARDS & GRANTS
2007 Celia Dymond Design Acquisitive Award With Derek
2007 Best Oral Presentation. University of Ballarat Research Conference
2007 University of Ballarat Travel Award
2007 City of Ballarat Arts Development Grant
2007 Regional Arts Victoria
2007 Ballarat Arts Foundation.
2007 Contempra2 Sculpture Encouragement Award With Derek
2006 Fernhills non acquisitive prize, With Derek
2006 Yering Station, Highly Commended- With Derek
1993 Artworkz 5; 101 Collins Street Acquisitive prize
1986 Lincoln Institute Acquisitive Prize

COMMISSIONS
Fresh & Salty, Haddon Wetlands, Regional Arts Victoria With Derek
Melbourne International Festival, Herring Island, Melbourne
City of Manningham Melbourne
St Michaels Catholic Church- With Derek

COLLECTIONS
National Gallery of Victoria.
Latrobe University Melbourne.
Taim Management.
101 Collins Street Melbourne.
Parks Victoria.
City of Manningham Melbourne
Herring Island, Melbourne.
Julian Burnside QC.
Royal Blind Society - NSW.
Fundere Fine Art Foundry Collection.
St Michaels Catholic Church- With Derek
Celia Dymond Design Award- With Derek

BIBLIOGRAPHY
2007 Backhouse, Meagan, the Age Oct 07 With Derek
2007 Webb, Penny ‘M’ review, Sunday Age 28/10/07 With Derek
2007 Art in Golden Plains, Golden Plains Miner, 18/10/07 With Derek
2007 Golden Plains Arts Trail, Golden Plains Miner 13-9-2007
2007 Bus Stop, The Courier, June 07
2007 Napoleons Bus Stop, Golden Plain Miner, June 07
2007 World Sculpture News, Toorak Streets, Sandy Caldow, May/June
2007 Taking it to the Street, Curating Toorak The Age, Meagan Backhouse 21/3/07
2007 Around The galleries, The Age, Meagan Backhouse 25/2/07- With Derek
2007 Mixed Media, The Age, Meagan Backhouse 21/2/07 -With Derek
2007 Contempora2, docklands catalogue -With Derek
2006 ‘M’ (lift out) the Sunday Age, 29/10/06 - With Derek
2006 With Ownership Comes Great Responsibility, Catalogue- With Derek
2006 Motorshow 06, Catalogue- With Derek
2006 Yering Station Sculpture Award, Catalogue- With Derek
2006 Symbiotics, Toyota Australia, Catalogue- With Derek
2006 Toorak Sculpture Festival, Catalogue- With Derek
2005 Metaphysics, Toyota Catalogue With Derek
2005 Docklands Festival of Sculpture Catalogue March 05 With Derek
2003 Melbourne Magazine. June 03
2003 Yarra Array Catalogue. Melb City
2002 CSAsculpture@ stkildabotanicalgardens Catalogue
2001 Sculpture survey 01 Catalogue
2001 World Sculpture News Volume 7 Number 2
2001 CSAsculpture@ stkildabotanicalgardens Catalogue
2000 World Sculpture News Volume 6 Number 1
1999 Organics Catalogue, McCelland Gallery - Anna Claddaburn
1999 Coming back for Moore, Herald Sun 23/10/99
1999 The Herring Island book
1999 Tactile Art Prize Catalogue
1999 World Sculpture News Volume 5 Number 2
1999 The Age. - ‘10 top things to do’
1999 Doncaster/Templestowe News - January
1998 World Sculpture News - Roger Taylor Volume 4 No 4 autumn
1998 The Age, Saturday Extra 10/10/98
1998 Doncaster Templestowe News Oct
1998 Pettys Orchard Catalogue
1998 Art Link Vol 18 No 2 1998
1998 Art and Australia Vol 35 No. 4 1998
1998 ‘Sculpture in search of a public’ The Australian 8-5-98
1998 The View Australia Issue 8
1997 Contemporary Sculptors’ Association Newsletter No. 1 Dec
1997 'Art goes to ground' The Herald Sun 24-10-97
1997 'Sculpture nurtures a natural talent' The Age- Metro 9-10-97
1997 'There’ll be dancing in the Streets'. The Age -Metro 9-10-97
1997 'Visual Blockbuster' Herald Sun 6-10-97
1997 'Finding a home for large flights of fancy' Yarra Leader 6-10 -97
1994 ' Rocking along in the name of art' Herald Sun 27 - 9 - 94
1994 Westwood, Matthew, 'Collectors Paradise' The Australian.
1994 'Update', City of Doncaster/Templestowe newsletter. Vol. 6 No. 7
1994 Heathcote, Christopher, 'Press the Pedals For…The Age 4-5-94
1994 Scarlett, Ken. Sculpture for Heidelberg. Catalogue
1993 Artworkz 5. Catalogue
1993 Artlink, Vol 13 no 2
1991 Heathcote, C. 'Black Bars serve as icons,The Age 14-4 - 93
1991 Heathcote, Christopher ' A Year in the Arts' The Age, December.
1991 Brown, Scott 'In 3D: Contemporary Outdoor Sculpture'
1990 'Fourth Australian Sculpture Triennial- Meat Market Exhibition'
1990 'Original Recycling' Herald Sun 18-12-90
1990 Rooney Robert 'Recycled Artworks should keep the conservation Department happy' The Weekend Australian 8-12-90
1990 Sculpture at Riverside Quay Catalogue