John Packer CV

Public Art, Sculpture, Bridges, product design and fabrication. Public Art consultation and 2D/3D design & Blacksmithing workshops.

Creating artworks for public spaces for 15 years, working principally in metals, incorporating other media such as glass, concrete, and wood.

My work is usually site-specific, ranging from ‘functional’ items such as railings, street furniture and bridges, to kinetic, musical and static sculptures. Artworks are mainly constructed at the workshop / studio in Bristol, using specialist contractors for production of larger commissions and installation where needed.

I have led various 2-D and 3-D design and creative metalworking/ blacksmithing workshops for people aged 6 to 60 years. Some of these workshops have formed part of urban and rural regeneration projects, and the community consultation process. The output from these workshops has directly or indirectly inspired and contributed to the final design of artworks.

My inspiration is taken from natural forms and phenomena, such as the fractal geometry of shells and plants, and the dynamic patterns of water ripples. My fascination with structures and engineering has also led me into designing bridges as well as experimental structural sculptures.

Education

MA Fine Art, part-time (first year) University of the West of England (UWE) 2005-6 BA(hons) 3 Dimensional Design (Industrial Design (Engineering)), Birmingham Polytechnic, 1990
Foundation in Art & Design, Chesterfield College of Technology & Arts
A Levels (Maths, Physics, Art) Chesterfield College of Technology & Arts

 

Commissions

 

2011 Drinking Water fountains, National Trust. various UK locations, work in progress
2011 Preston Wetland Nature Reserve and Bee Orchid site. Collaboration with
Ecologist and Storyteller Martin Maudsley. www.brain-gel.com/storysoup storytelling.htm £ Budget 12k. Work in Progress.
2011 Vortex Sculpture, Bulwell Joint services Centre, Nottingham, Budget £20k, Work in Progress
2010 Bespoke kitchen design, private commission, Hathersage. Carved slate and Birch plywood.
2010 Gates and railings, London Road, Croydon, client Mansell Construction. Budget £29k
2008 Railings, Crosskeys, South Wales, client Groundworks. Budget £12k
2008 Bargoed Colliery footbridge, for Caerphilly Council, Wales, span 18m Design commission. Total project budget approx £250k
2008 Vertical Garden Sculptures, Derby, client Westfield Shoppingtowns LTD. Budget £60k
2008 Curtain Grills, Manchester, client Irwell valley Housing association. Budget £45k
2008 Railings, Crosskeys, South Wales, client Groundworks Caerphilly. Budget £17.5k
2008 Gates & Railings, The Refinery, Old Market Bristol, Client Robert Sawyer. Collaboration with Kevin Hughes. Budget £24.5k
2007 Porch Canopy & Railings, private commission
2006 Railings, Parc cwm Darran, client Caerphilly County Council, Collaboration with Bristol-based artist Kevin Hughes
2003-6 The Sprouting, Bourton-on-the-Water for Fossway Housing Association. Collaboration with Kevin Hughes
2006 Ventilation Grills, Tower Wharf, Bristol. Client HBG
2005 Double Helix sculpture, for Barratt homes, South London, 2005
2005 Woodland Court Gates, Cotham, Bristol, for Acton Housing Association
2005 Alcombe Sure-Start bridge, Minehead, span 10 metres for Sure-Start. Short listed for Institute of Structural Engineers international structural awards 2006
2004 ‘Celtic Otherworld Garden’ sculptures for Westonbirt International Festival of the Garden, 2004.
2003 Sculptural Seating supported by participative design workshops in Twerton, Bath for North-East Somerset Arts. Collaboration with Kevin Hughes
2003 ‘Frozen Anima’ screen, Georges Square, Bristol, for Deeley Freed
2002 Bollards, Walcot Street, Bath for Bath council (BANES) Collaboration with Kevin Hughes
2002 ‘You Are Here (Are You Here?)’ etched embedded map, Capricorn Quay, Bristol, for Crosby Homes
2002 ‘One Second Line’ embedded panel, Capricorn Quay, Bristol, for Crosby Homes 2002 ‘One Line’ Ventilation Grills, Capricorn Quay, Bristol, for Crosby Homes
2001 ‘Double Helix’ Sculpture, Filton High School, Bristol
2001 ‘Spirit of Business’ Kinetic Sculpture, for New Academy of Business, Bristol
2001 ‘Parallax Railings’, Bristol Buddhist Centre
2001 ‘Grass Railings’, private commission
2000 ‘Wishbone Bridge’, Godney, Nr Wells, Somerset, 12m span, private commission
1999 Helical forms, private commission
1998 ‘Recycled Samba Machine’ Kinetic Musical Sculpture, Create Centre, Bristol. Collaboration with Kevin Hughes
1996 Custom Motorbike, private commission
1995 Wave Railings, Manchester Buddhist Centre
1994 Random Kinetic Water Sculpture, St Gregory’s School, Sudbury, Sussex
1990 Joystick Design and small batch production used in virtual reality computer systems, for Division Ltd

Exhibitions

2008 ‘Maquette for a Bridge to Nowhere (no.2)’, sculpture selected for Bristol
Contemporary Open, Paintworks, Bristol
2006 ‘Maquette for a Bridge to Nowhere’, sculpture exhibited at group show, Paintworks, Bristol
2005 Chaos Clock, kinetic water sculpture, exhibited at Here Gallery, Bristol

Creative & Participative Workshops

2010 Sculpture decoration workshops, Southmead Community Centre, Bristol
2005 Blacksmithing and 3D design workshops for ‘hard to reach youth groups, Twerton, Bath
2003 Blacksmithing and 3D design workshops for teenagers, Blandford Forum, Devon
2002 3D design and blacksmithing workshops in Twerton, Bath - targeting ‘hard to reach’ youths aged 13+ in design and making activities, and consultation for future public artworks
1996 Water Sculpture workshops for children aged 6 to 11, St Gregory’s School, Sudbury, Sussex

Other work and qualifications

2001 Diploma in Psychosynthesis counselling
2001-3 Self-employed Psychosynthesis counsellor (part time)
1999-01 Interactives Exhibit Developer, Explore At-Bristol
1998 P/T care work for people with learning difficulties, F&SHCT
1997 Charity Fundraiser, Karuna Trust
1991-2 Scratch Animations and projections - business partnership