ARTIST BIO

John Rawson                                 Artist Curriculum Vitae

Born Launceston Tasmania 23/10/1949

Resided in New Zealand from 1978 until 2019

Livelihood – included, cabinet maker machinist; interior fitout super yachts; aluminium fabricator on the superyacht ‘Aquel II’ (Largest sloop in the world at time of construction);estimator (up to $1million contracts), project manager and manager furniture manufacturing industry; classic yacht restoration/boatbuilder;

‘70s and ‘80s a number of years spent working backstage in professional theatre on sound, lighting and set construction/props making.

Musician - I play Blues Harmonica, Participant in Paihia Jazz and Blues Festival New Zealand on 3 occasions.

Woodturner - craft market stalls for many years. Participated in master classes with Richard Raffan and with Dale Nish

Sculpture – Always interested in shaping wood as model planes and boats. Developed skills in this field to make a living as above. Started carving in the theatre with 2 x 2metre tall polystyrene carving of female robed statues as set for a ballet performance by Western Australian Ballet Company circa 1978. I was also carving local stone and work was on display at Freemantle Arts Festival that year.

In the 90s I was privileged to attend a 7day Sculpture Master Class with professor Phillip King https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/name/phillip-king-ppra

Gifted some recycled NZ Kauri planks (300mm x12mm up to 2.7M length) in 2009 I started thinking assemblage/fabrication and produced

2010 ‘Kauri Fish’, which emulates the movement of a school of fish. Exhibited at Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens Exhibition 2011 along with ‘Echelon of Cyclopi’ , a comment on modern surveillance.

2012 ‘Bridging Table’ was exhibited at Harbourview Sculpture Trail, TeAtutu, Auckland

2012/13 ‘Kauri Vanes’ Exhibited at Kaipara Coast

2014    ‘Kauri Flight’ Exhibited at Kaipara Coast

           ‘Turbine Lily’ Exhibited at Harbouview Sculpture Trail. This sculpture achieved runner up for the Peoples Choice award.

For all these exhibitions the curators asked that the submissions relate to the specific area and/or environment.

2020 I was shortlisted and presented my proposal for the Dulap Wilim Hub public artwork in Sunbury

2022 Exhibited 2 photos and a sculpture at Kilmore Art Expo

         Exhibited ‘Echelon of Cyclopi 5 Eyes No1 at Caslemaine Spring Sculpture Prize

         Exhibited “Forecast For February” in the Victorian Branch MAANZ “Fragmentation” exhibition.

2023 Exhibited 5 photos at KIlmore Art Expo

        Exhibited 3 photos at Moonee Valley Artshow. Awarded First Prize best Photograph

Photography - An enthusiastic photographer since the age of eleven. I currently produce a limited edition calendar each year.

The large photos I am currently concentrating on are printed on canvas and measure 900mm x 600mm.

There will be no more than 5 printings of each image in this form.

Links

Turbine Lily             https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10201287097801382&type=3 

Kauri Flight             https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200724707181968&type=3 

Bridging Table         https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2542611326508&type=3

Kauri Vanes            https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2542611326508&type=3

Kauri Fish               https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10212719563805887&type=3

Echelon of Cyclopi   https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1432523134997&type=3