My name is Tracy Pateman, I was born in Sydney, Australia. I live on Yaegl Country, Biirrinba, on the banks of the Clarence River in the northern rivers region of north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. I trained in silversmithing and small metals with Johannes Kuhnen and Cinnamon Lee at the Australian National University, School of Art.
I mainly work with metal and fallen wood. I take flexible commissions, and collaborate with other artists in a group called Hopeful Disruptions. Some of my interests: forest ecology, the relationship between humans and other animals, the meeting of cultures through history, time and the nature of memory.
My practice-led research as a PhD candidate with the Australian National University is investigating the possibility of creating hand-scale objects that trigger procedural memory of domestic encounters and a sense of self - feelings of agency, purpose and safety. This research may yield insights for the creation of sensory surfaces in institutional dementia-care settings.
Education:
Bachelor of Science, University of Queensland, 1985
Bachelor of Design Arts (Hons), Australian National University, 2009
Exhibitions
Awards
I mainly work with metal and fallen wood. I take flexible commissions, and collaborate with other artists in a group called Hopeful Disruptions. Some of my interests: forest ecology, the relationship between humans and other animals, the meeting of cultures through history, time and the nature of memory.
My practice-led research as a PhD candidate with the Australian National University is investigating the possibility of creating hand-scale objects that trigger procedural memory of domestic encounters and a sense of self - feelings of agency, purpose and safety. This research may yield insights for the creation of sensory surfaces in institutional dementia-care settings.
Education:
Bachelor of Science, University of Queensland, 1985
Bachelor of Design Arts (Hons), Australian National University, 2009
Exhibitions
- New Jewels, 24 July -18 September 2010, Workshop Bilk, Canberra
- Teawares, 26 June - 25 July 2010, Jam Factory, Adelaide
- Contemporary Australian Silver and Metalworking Exhibition, 6 June 2009 - 8 March 2010, Buda Historic Home and Garden, Castlemaine (and touring venues: Shepparton, Melbourne, Geelong)
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor, 29 September – 12 November 2011, artisan, Brisbane (and touring venues throughout Australia 2011 to 2014)
- What is it with Earrings, 12 - 24 October 2012, Bilk, Canberra
- Chained, 12 April - 18 May 2013, Bilk, Canberra
- Contemporary Australian Silver and Metalwork Award 2013, July 2013, Bendigo Regional Gallery and National Gallery of Victoria
- For Love, 24 July – 22 August 2015, Bilk, Canberra
- Flying, 9 December 2015 – 31 January 2016, Grafton Regional Gallery.
- This is She, 26 March - 23 April 2016, Clarence Valley Plunge Festival, Yamba Pop-Up Hub
- What is it with Earrings? II, 6 May – 10 June 2016, Bilk, Canberra
- Undercurrents, 13 - 22 April 2017, Clarence Valley Plunge Festival, South Grafton Pop-Up
- Hopeful Disruptions: Care for Biirrinba, 15 April – 2 May 2021, Cowper Art Gallery and Studio, Cowper
Awards
- PJ Williams Award for innovative design in gold and silversmithing - hollow-ware, flatware or sculptural objects at the BUDA 2009 10th Biennial Silver Exhibition
- Australian Silver Society Contemporary Silver Award, 2009
- The Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Societies of Melbourne, Emerging Artist Award at the Contemporary Australian Silver and Metalwork Award 2013