J Shed

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Fremantle-Australia

The J Shed perspective on the report created by the "Cultural Development Working Group" of the City of Fremantle has resulted in a situation where we are faced with not being able to renew our leases on a professional 5 to 10 year basis. This could potentially close our operations and force us to move and potentially destroy the Arthur's Head precinct. Other issues concerning this please read below.

  • We have found from our perspective this whole process set in motion by the "Cultural Development Working Group" of Fremantle Council to have been lacking in transparency and might we add in our opinion an under researched document.
  • The Cultural committee never spoke to us during their research process. Some members of the Fremantle Council came through J Shed early this year, also never spoke to us about this.
  • Artsource, of whom we have been members for 20 years, never told us about the process and only spoke to us after we discovered by accident that they were actually writing the recommendations based on the cultural committees report that would be put to council for vote.

Link: Cultural Development Working Group-City of Fremantle

Peter Zuvela

Report Prepared for the Review of the Arthurs Head Arts Precinct

Document by Jenny Dawson (Ceramic Artist)[1] and Greg James (working document /draft only/yet to be completed October 2011).

Jenny Dawson and Greg James welcome this opportunity to be involved in the process of consultation that contribute to decisions about policy that is now being developed for the use of these spaces and the criteria and priorities that will be implemented. We are excited about the prospects of revitalisation of the area for the town of Fremantle and look forward to being part of the plans. No maintenance has been done on the roads and paths surrounding the studios for many years.

History of the J Shed

J Shed was established as working artists studios involved in semi industrial processes in 1992. Fremantle Council provided an upgrade and offered long leases to compensate for financial outlays and set up costs incurred by tenants. The studios are not lined and the eaves are not sealed from external weather.

General History of the Arts Practise of Jenny Dawson and Greg James

Jenny Dawson Ceramic Artist-Wellard (photo by Peter Zuvela)

Jenny Dawson and Greg James are two of the founding artists of the J Shed (Arthur Kalamaris-Sculptor was also one of the first at J Shed). They have provided stable and reliable tenancies at the J Shed paying full market value rents for their studios. Their arts businesses have been able to grow over time and infiltrate the fabric of Fremantle culture and society.[2][3] This was the intent and spirit that initially resulted in these premises being established. J Shed is a unique and very rare example of what can be achieved on a semi-industrial basis with co-operation between professional practising artists and Fremantle Council initiatives and co-operation. Two very significant public artworks that have been produced from J Shed include the statue of Bon Scott, reported to be one of the most visited artworks in Australia and the Memorial to the Nyoongar warrior Yagan (in collaboration with Sandra Hill, Nyoongar visual artist and Elder) Unfortunately not all of the spaces at the J Shed have been used so productively.

The fact that Council have undertaken no maintenance on this heritage listed building has led to a general feeling of a rundown and underused space. Studios 2 and 3 who have continued to run cultural activities and inject much needed finance into the Fremantle economy through the flow through of their endeavours to conduct small businesses within the arts industry. The whole term of their residency at J Shed neither artist have resorted to government funding, grants or subsidised projects. They have achieved what they have, operated as viable small businesses, totally self funded.

The lack off maintenance by City of Fremantle has become a serious issue down at the J Shed
The lack off maintenance by City of Fremantle has become a serious issue down at the J Shed

Note:

  • Tenants entered into commercial renting arrangements with council.
  • Total fit out of studios was undertaken by tenants at their expense with all electricity, connection of water and plumbing, light fittings, connection of power, internal fittings including kitchen facilities, toilets, sinks, shelving, floor coverings, external doors and sky lights installed by the tenants.
  • The terms of the lease require the tenants to remove all of these fittings when they depart leaving the bare shell as was rented at the commencement of tenancy.
  • For the last 10 years tenants have paid full market valuations on their leased properties assessed by a council appointed assessor annually.
  • Tenants occupying the units are registered small business operators working within the arts industry who are totally self funded and not subsidised by government or arts grants.
  • Tenants have met safety and health regulations by providing at their expense.
  • Fire extinguishers serviced 3 monthly, disabled access, toilet facilities for visitors.
  • In the last ten years no maintenance has been done on the building by council leading to serious deterioration of the external walls, doors, gutters and down pipes.
  • No maintenance has been done on the roads and paths surrounding the studios.
  • No external lighting has been installed at either end of the building.
  • No signage or location maps have been installed.
Yagan Memorial: Completed Walls photo by Peter Zuvela

A summary of activities running from Unit 3, J Shed

A summary of activities running from Unit 3 and contracts and work projections being undertaken by Jenny Dawson (Ceramic artist) and Peter Zuvela (Photographer) trading from J Shed as “J Shed Art Studio” September 2011.

Unit 3, J Shed Ceramic Art Studio has acquired a project for the Maddington Station upgrade with the Perth Transport Authority which needs to be completed (working with students from Yulebrook Aboriginal College).

A contract with Landcorp for the revitalisation of South Hedland with a mentoring of Indigenous artists from the regions/time line 18 months (contract worth $244,000 with more than half of this budget flowing back into Fremantle as contractors wages and material costs). A contract for ceramic tiled artworks in Mount Tom Price with Rio Tinto which will span 12 months production time. (Interpreting and producing screen printed images for the Eastern Guruma people.) Peter's photography activities (Unit 3) openly supports many businesses in the West End Fremantle including Valentines Camera House, Bitches Brew Framing, Officeworks, Port Stationery and Jacksons Drawing Supplies. His students frequenting Bathers Beach and the West End.

Peter Zuvela currently conducts from the J Shed photography [4] classes three to four times a week and is booked to exhibit students work well into next year. Some of these classes cater for FIFO participants. Peter Zuvela also established Foto Freo Tours which run weekly on Saturday mornings through famous Sydney photographer Alfonso Calero.[5] Peter is also conducting:

  • Yearly photography and culture tours to Korcula (Fremantle’s sister city) and the Croatian Islands
  • Peter will be holding his second solo show of his photography at Kidogo as part of Foto Freo 2012 with his exhibition titled “In search of the Ancestors”

Unit 3 also currently provides temporary work space for other artists with an artist in residence program that has hosted a number of overseas artists recently and currently hosts:

  • Rob Dawkins-Jeweler
  • Wendy Hermon-Painter
  • Carmel Coyne-Painter

UNIT 2 & 3 Activates and Projects Currently Running and Projections

Greg James

Greg James (Unit 2) is currently short listed for the Busselton Settlement Project. If selected Greg will be producing six life size figurative works for the Busselton Cultural precinct over the next three or four years (contract worth $600,000 to $700,000).

Greg is currently negotiating a contract to create a large figurative work including Five 1.5 life size soldiers commemorating the Stretcher Bearers of WWI. This work will take three to four years to complete and is to be located at the entrance for the Australian War Museum in Canberra (contract worth $1,500,000). Greg is currently negotiating to create an additional work in the “Iris Series” to be located in the front garden of Fothergills B&B in Ord Street Fremantle. Greg James Sculpture Studio Gallery[6] is showing Drawings and Sculpture by Greg James until 14th September. “WET” an exhibition of photographs responding to that theme by ten Photographers will open on September 18th and run until 23rd October. The J Shed Exhibition will open on 20th November and run until the 1st January 2012. This will be followed by another photographic exhibition featuring works by Peter Zuvela’s students from 20th to 29th.

Again the gallery will present a Fotofreo Fringe exhibition featuring John Austin,[7] a highly respected photographer and previous resident of Fremantle.

Jenny Dawson-Ceramic Artist/Designer

Greg James Sculpture Gallery

(B.Ed Sts/ Grad Dip Crafts/ BA Arts/ Dip Teaching)

  • Established J SHED CERAMIC ART STUDIOS 1992
  • Public Artist/Designer
  • Indigenous Mentoring and collaboration
  • Exhibiting Ceramic Artist
  • Public Art Projects
  • Artist in Residence Program offered to Visiting artists/local and overseas

Peter Zuvela-Photographer

(Advanced Dip Photography)

  • Freelance photographer and teacher
  • Established J Shed Foto Club 2010
  • Photography tours to Korcula (Croatia)
  • Teacher Fremantle Art Centre[8]
  • Photography Tours of Fremantle and Bathers Beach Precinct
  • Classes in photography from J Shed
  • Exhibiting art photographer

Employ and Subcontracted in 2011

Viktor Eszenyi (Tiler/stone mason), Sandra Hill (Indigenous Artist/Elder/Consultant), Sandra Black (Ceramic Technologist), Vince Bajada (Studio Assistant/Install team), Ivan Zuvela (Tiler/Boat Builder/Install Team), Jan Jensen (Metal Worker), Tony Pankiw (Metal Artist/Collaboration), Needham Engineering (Metal Fabrication) and ArtCom (Fabrication).

Local Business Supported Though Our Projects

  • Kennards Hire
  • Studio Red Dust
  • Churchills colour Labs
  • Fitzgeralds
  • Valentines Camera House
  • Fine Art Framers
  • Bitches Brew
  • Printline
  • Office Works
  • Art Ref
  • Swan Hardware
  • Bunnings
  • McDougalls Reprographics
  • Gary Zeck clay manufacture
  • Potters Market
  • Port Stationery
  • Fremantle Post Office
  • ANZ and National Banks Fremantle
  • Fiberglass and resin Sales
  • World Wide timbers
  • Jacksons Drawing Supplies

Contact

JENNY DAWSON (Ceramic Artist) B Ed Sts, BA Crafts, Dip Teaching, Post graduate Fine Arts

Jenny Dawson trading as J Shed Ceramic Art Studio

  • Address: Unit 3, J Shed Fleet-Street Fremantle
  • Email: jennydawsonjshed@yahoo.com.au
  • Web Site: www.jennydawson.com.
  • Facebook: J Shed Art Studio
  • M: 041 7911 078
  • Studio: +61 (08) 9430 7900

References

  1. ^ British Library Direct
  2. ^ Australian Ceramics Volume 45 No. 3 - Nov 2006 Focus Western Australia
  3. ^ Greg James-www.jahroc.com.au
    • "Greg James has established himself as a leading Western Australian figurative sculptor. His numerous public sculptures have become landmarks throughout Perth and Fremantle. These highly skilled works are made in a variety of materials including steel, plaster and bronze."
  4. ^ Photographic Courses www.peterzuvela.com
  5. ^ www.photographytravel.net
  6. ^ www.gregjamessculpture.com
  7. ^ John Austin-www.jbaphoto.com.au
  8. ^ Fremantle Art Centre (tutors) www.fac.org.au

External links

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