Artforms collaborated with Garry over the distance to offer potential mounting board options for Garry’s work which was to be created in our Bibra Lake workshop prior to the opening of the exhibition.
Artforms cleared its workshop to prioritise the fabrication of Garry’s delicate artwork. As a choice of backing had not been confirmed, we awaited Garry’s arrival in Perth. He then selected powder coated, boxed aluminium as the mounting platform.
Covid 19 shortages made acquisition of the 3m x 1.2 m aluminium sheet quite a feat. When acquired, the sheet was cut and folded to create a strong, stable backing surface. It was then powder coated in matt black.
Artforms devised a method of mounting the 155 individual shell pieces. We undertook extensive investigation into appropriate adhesives to attach the shells to the fixings. The exact placement of the shells to replicate Garry’s pencil and paper plan, was a slow process requiring care, concentration and precision. We reproduced the swirls in Garry’s design and organised for them to be laser cut from aluminium and powder coated in satin black. Artforms devised bespoke brackets to attach the work to the ceiling in the exhibition. The whole work was encased in a specially designed transportation frame to protect it on its journey from our workshop to John Curtin Gallery.
Seven other small Western Australian companies collaborated with us and benefitted from our fabrication of Garry’s artwork.
