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Dawn Conn

BORN:
New Zealand

LIVES:
Dawn grew up in New Zealand and has lived in Australia & all over Europe. Dawn has recently moved back to the UK, living in Berkshire with her husband and daughter.

PARENTS:
Owned a 5000 acre sheep & cattle farm about 150 miles north of Auckland, New Zealand. As a child Dawn spent many precious hours with her Mother observing and learning the time-honoured tradition of sewing & other handicrafts. To her, it was an art form and language of textiles has always captivated her.

EARLY LIFE:
Dawn Conn grew up on a large farm in New Zealand, where most things were either grown or made. From those humble beginnings growing up on the farm in New Zealand, taught Dawn the value of resourcefulness, appreciation of handmade craftsmanship and love of nature. Dawn draws inspiration from her own childhood, a more instinctive, playful and simpler time of life. She explores our relationship with the past with childlike qualities of playfulness, intuition and imagination.

EDUCATION:
Dawn studied art history at the University of Queensland, Australia and worked as a tour manager in Europe. Dawn studied art and design at the prestigious Central St Martins College in London. Classical sculpture with teachers who had learnt from the great masters, Sir Anthony Caro & David Hockney. Numerous specialised courses, including: blacksmithing, metal, wire and willow sculpture, flower design and millinery, costume design at National Institute of Dramatic Art, corset making at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art over many years.

ART EDUCATION:
2015: Mentoring by graduate of master sculptor, Marcello Giorgi, Pietrasanta, Lucca
2014: Visual arts support, Clayfield College
2013: NIDA (Costume Design intensive summer school)
2013: Bath (UK) School of Art & Design (one-on-one artist mentoring)
2013: Mentoring session with Phillip Jackson CV (Queen’s sculptor)
2012: Brisbane Institute of Art (Metal Sculpture)
2012/2013: Queensland Art Gallery (Volunteer Tour Guide)
2011: Brisbane Institute of Art (Sculpture II)
2009: Central St Martins College, London (Diploma in Art & Design)
2009: West Dean College, UK (Blacksmithing)
2007 - 2009: Kensington & Chelsea College, UK (Sculpture Diploma) (Teacher taught by Sir Anthony Caro OM)
2001 - 2010: University of Queensland (BA in Art History)

CAREER:
Dawn’s passion in art was heightened in the 1990s when she was a tour leader in Europe, guiding visitors around museums and galleries including the Louvre in Paris, which inspired her to study art history. In 2003 she was devoted to a career as an artist.

AWARDS:
2015: Brisbane City Council, Australia: Shorncliffe Pier Renewal Project
2014: Toowoomba Regional Council, Australia: ‘Best in Show’ Art in garden
2013: Nudgee Art Festival, Australia: ‘Highly commended in open 3D category
2012: Brisbane Botanical Gardens: ‘People’s favourite’ Sculpture for the Senses

MEDIUMS USED IN WORK: Dawn’s figurines are modelled with metal frame, e-poxy-resin, polyvinyl acetate, polyurethane and feature up-cycled antique timber, metal and treasures including Victorian christening gowns, linens, hessian, cotton, laces that are soaked in resin then shaped and hand painted.

SUBJECTS OF WORK:
Dawn's own unique, individual 'wabi-sabi' style has evolved as a result of fusing her learned techniques. Her personal passions are all in evidence in her work which is underpinned by a gentle sense of humour and a slightly whimsical take on a life which mirrors her own: brimming with adventure, travel, and people. Most of Dawn’s works are of females featuring historical references or symbolism and elaborate costume design.

GALLERY EXHIBITIONS:
2015: ‘Backyard Series’, solo exhibition, Brisbane
2014: ‘Echoes of Life’, Graydon gallery, New Farm, Brisbane
2013: ‘Elements’, Percolator Gallery, Paddington, Brisbane
2013: Retrospect Art Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW
2012: Barebones Art Space, Bangalow, NSW

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2015: Brisbane Grammar School, 45th Annual Art Show – “Discover” (invitation only)
2014: Brisbane Grammar School, 44th Annual Art Show – “Sapphire” (invitation only)
2014: Mayo Festival, St Margaret’s, Ascot, Brisbane
2014: Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular
2013: Brisbane Grammar School, 44th Annual Art Show – “Illuminate” (invitation only)
2013: Clayfield College Art Show, “Street 2 Studio”
2013: Nudgee College Art Festival, “Dimensions NC”
2013: Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, Toowoomba
2013: Qld Sculptor Society, “Sculpture for the Senses”, Brisbane
2013: Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular
2012: Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, Toowoomba
2012: Christmas show, Brisbane Institute of Art, Brisbane
2012: Qld Sculptor Society Mt Coot-tha Exhibition, Brisbane
2012: Mayo Festival, St Margaret’s, Ascot, Brisbane
2011: Christmas show, Brisbane Institute of Art, Brisbane
2009: Spaces and Objects, St Martins College of Art & Design, London
2009: Summer School Show, West Dean, UK
2008: Surrey Sculpture Society Spring Show, UK


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