Making: A Way of Life

MAKING: 

A WAY OF LIFE 

Alison Jackson + Dan Lorrimer 

Craft ACT Craft + Design Centre

MAKING: A WAY OF LIFE 

A collaborative exhibition by Alison Jackson and Dan Lorrimer 

Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre is supported by the ACT 

Government, the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy – an initiative 

of the Australian State and Territory Governments, and the 

Australia Council for the Arts – the Australian Government’s arts 

funding and advisory body. 

CRAFT ACT CRAFT + DESIGN CENTRE 

Tues–Fri 10am–5pm 

Saturdays 12–4pm 

Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, 

Canberra ACT Australia 

+61 2 6262 9333 

www.craftact.org.au 

All works by Alison Jackson and Dan Lorrimer 

All photography by Alison Jackson and Dan Lorrimer 

Cover: Flow Form vases, 2021, stainless steel. 

Page 4-5: Spoon 012, 013, 014, 2021, brass, stainless 

steel. 

Craft ACT Craft + Design Centre 

27 May - 17 July 2021 

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Making: A Way of Life 

Exhibition statement 

Presenting new collaborative work, 

metalsmiths Alison Jackson and Dan 

Lorrimer showcase the development, 

progression and creativity involved in 

producing small batch edition tableware 

objects. 

Blending small-scale production 

techniques with one of a kind artwork 

processes, Alison and Dan will explore the 

skill of the craftsman along with another, 

perhaps rarer skill, the art of production. 

That is, the ability to develop, design, make 

and bring to fruition a collection that is 

repeatable and more widely accessible 

to audiences yet retains the character 

and an element of uniqueness, a hint of 

the makers hand, that a unique artwork 

would hold and is often lacking in massed 

produced products. 

Taking this approach with their making 

has allowed Dan and Alison to create a 

financially sustainable career within the 

industry over the last twelve years. 

Making: A Way of Life is supported by ArtsACT. 

Image: Flow Form vases, 2021, stainless steel, 

brass, patinated. 

Page 8-9: Making: A Way of Life, work in 

progress. 

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Making: A Way of Life 

Exhibition essay: Oliver Smith 

In this exhibition Alison Jackson and Dan 

Lorrimer present outcomes from their 

recent creative collaboration that draws 

on their extensive experience in making 

unique objects and multiples. The work 

can be divided into two lines of enquiry, 

one exploring hollowware and one 

flatware. The result is two new product 

lines that imbue the batch production 

method with the distinctive quality of 

the skilled hand and individuality of the 

singular event of fabrication. 

The collection of vessels in brass and 

stainless steel exudes a sinuous tension. 

These objects are an expression of 

endless variation. Each is a one-off that 

grows out of the production method. At 

the outset of the process the geometric 

logic of a metal cylinder is transformed 

by an elegantly simple, linear stretching 

tool. Repeated pressings at various 

angles and depths transform the circular 

cross section of the tube into a complex 

organic form that evokes associations 

with botany, biology, and the natural 

world. A second stage of pressing 

stretches and flares the base of the 

vessel, returning it to the round, prior 

to a base disc being welded in place. 

A sophisticated finishing sequence is 

then initiated. The outcome is a visually 

pure object whose dynamic sculptural 

form embodies metallic stretching 

and compression. Clustered in a group 

the collection becomes a study in 

common traits coalescing in procreant 

generation. 

The utensils again bring together the 

material vocabulary of stainless steel 

and brass. The junction of these two 

metallic elements is facilitated by 

two neat rivets, a smart and visually 

satisfying cold joining system whose 

radiused form language is echoed 

in the terminals of the sheet-metal 

parts brought together. From this 

consistent intersection the remainder 

becomes a systematic investigation into 

alternatives. The brass handles exist 

in three widths, finished in a myriad of 

lengths. This rhythmic range supports 

the head of each implement where 

difference is even more marked, moving 

beyond modification into a divergent 

family of melodious forms that includes 

familiar and more unconventional items. 

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This lively taxonomy is indicative of a 

table culture where many and varied 

dishes are presented for the diners 

to serve. In the social context of the 

shared meal these totemic utensils are 

snapshots of the animated gestures 

facilitating convivial commune. 

Pleasingly the production systems 

that deliver these two bodies of work 

enable commercially accessible pricepointing 

while still allowing the warmth 

and subtlety of the artisan to enrich 

every item. As partners in life and work 

Alison Jackson and Dan Lorrimer once 

again provide an exemplary model of 

contemporary creative practice in metal. 

Oliver Smith 

Respected silversmith and senior lecturer 

at University of Sydney 

Page 10: Knife 013, Spoon 009, Knife 014, Knife 

015, 2021, brass, stainless steel. 

Page 13: Flow Form vases, 2021, stainless steel, 

brass, patinated. 

Page 14-15: Making: A Way of Life, work in 

progress. 

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Flatware Collection 

Beginning as a fluid hand drawn 

sketch – each form has a playfulness 

and intrigue about it. Brought together 

as a collection by their fine detailing 

in the handle connection point, there 

are infinite possibilities to explore in 

their combinations. Not ever seen as a 

traditional set, but more a collection of 

useful tools for the kitchen for just the 

right thing, we leave it to the viewer to 

ponder their own thoughts and reflections 

of how each could be used. We find 

ourselves instantly drawn to some shapes, 

knowing exactly how it will fit into our 

lives. Others might be more perplexing 

or require more thought – but that is the 

beauty, we all have our own nuances that 

shape our individual daily rituals. 

Finished with a thin layer of wax initially, 

the brass handles will continue to develop 

a deeper patina over time. The rich golden 

tones will slowly darken with time, water 

droplets will leave their speckled marks 

and fingerprints will layer together giving 

a unique depth to the evolving patina. 

We celebrate the beauty of the patina, 

watching it build and change with each 

use, marking memories and character as 

the pieces are used, loved and treasured. 

The bright raw brass colour can be 

returned at any stage with a simple 

cleaning process, detailed in the piece 

care notes. 

Image: Knife 011, Knife 012, Fork 002, 2021, 

brass, stainless steel. 

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Flow Form Vases 

Blending the complexities of custom 

metalworking tooling with our approach 

to making in small batches, we are able to 

celebrate our skills in the art of production. 

Through the design of our specialised 

tooling for the Flow Form Vase, our 

making process is identical for each 

vase – yet, the visual outcome of each 

vase is completely unique each time. This 

means no two vases are ever alike and in 

fact, impossible to replicate – resulting in 

truly distinctive one of a kind pieces that 

celebrate the individual nuances of form 

and finish. 

Image: Flow Form Vases, 2021, brass, patinated 

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Alison Jackson 

Biography 

Alison Jackson is a designer, maker 

and contemporary Silversmith based 

in Braidwood Australia. Completing a 

Gold and Silversmithing degree at the 

Australian National University, Alison holds 

over a decade of artistic and technical 

metal forming expertise. 

Craftsmanship and the way pieces are 

made has always been an influence to 

Alison. From the way two surfaces join 

together, a junction, or the way an edge 

has been finished, it’s all in the details 

of an object. It is the perfection of being 

imperfect and the distinctive nature of 

structures and objects that inspires her. 

By linking the rich history of metal-working 

to present-day artistic practices, Alison 

intertwines her fine hand-crafting skills 

with the experimental nature of design and 

metal forming. 

Image: Making: A Way of Life, work in progress. 

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Dan Lorrimer 

Biography 

Dan Lorrimer is a sculptor, machinist and 

fabricator. With a degree in Sculpture from 

the Australian National University, Dan has 

since diversified his work, significantly 

developing his skills across a wide range 

of technical areas, specialising in metal 

forming. 

Dan’s work is driven by a deep 

understanding of materials, industrial 

processes and a keen sense of exploration 

through making. He works across 

scales in metal, from sculpture, object 

design through to custom prototyping 

and fabrication services. Dan’s thirst for 

learning and developing unique processes 

is woven through all he designs and 

makes, continually striving to refine and 

resolve making processes to be the best 

they can be. 

Dan’s sculpture practice explores notions 

of movement, energy, solidity and illusion 

through minimalist sculptural forms, often 

located between the artificial and natural 

world. 

He has exhibited widely across Australia 

and is currently represented by Flinders 

Lane Gallery Melbourne. 

Image: Making: A Way of Life, work in progress. 

Page 22: Spoon 004, Fork 001, 2021, brass, 

stainless steel. 

Page 25: Knife 002, Knife 003. Spoon 002, 2021, 

brass, stainless steel. 

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List of works - Vases 


1 Flow Form vase #1 (tall), 

2021, brass, patinated, 

40x11x9cm 

$830 

6 Flow Form vase #6 (small), 


20x12x8cm 

$590 

11 Flow Form vase #11 

(medium), 2021, stainless 

steel, patinated, 30x11x9cm 

$560 


(extra-large), 2021, stainless 

steel, 40x14x16cm 

$1,200 



40x12x9cm 

$830 

7 Flow Form vase #7 (small), 


20x11x11cm 

$590 




$560 




$1,200 



40x11x9cm 

$830 


(small), 2021, stainless steel, 

patinated, 20x12x8cm 

$440 




$560 



steel, patinated, 40x16x14cm 

$1,200 


(medium), 2021, brass, 


$710 



20x12x10cm 

$440 


(tall), 2021, stainless steel, 

40x10x10cm 

$680 


(medium), 2021, brass, 


$710 



20x10x10cm 

$440 


(tall), 2021, stainless steel, 


$680 

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List of works - Flatware 


19 Knife 001, 2021, brass, stainless 

steel, 27x5cm 

$165 


steel, 27x4cm 

$165 


steel, 26x4cm 

$165 

27 Spoon 004, 2021, brass, stainless 

steel, 24x6cm 

$165 


steel, patinated, 21x8cm 

$165 


steel, 30x6cm 

$185 


steel, 31x2cm 

$165 

28 Fork 001, 2021, brass, stainless 

steel, 23x5cm 

$165 


steel, patinated, 21x8.5cm 

$165 


steel, 24x6cm 

$165 

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steel, 25x7cm 

$185 

31 Serving Blade 001, 2021, brass, 

stainless steel, 32x7cm 

$230 


steel, 23x9cm 

$165 


steel, 15x2cm 

$165 


steel, 25x7cm 

$185 


steel, 24x3.5cm 

$165 



$165 


steel, 22x4cm 

$165 


steel, 14x4cm 

$165 



$135 

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steel, 19x3cm 

$135 


steel, 29x6cm 

$185 


steel, 21x2cm 

$135 

49 Fork 004, 2021, brass, stainless 

steel, 21x9cm 

$165 


steel, 24x2cm 

$165 


steel, 22x6cm 

$165 


steel, 30x6cm 

$185 


steel, 18x6cm 

$165 


steel, 27x4cm 

$165 


steel, 22x3cm 

$135 


steel, 15x3cm 

$135 


steel, 18x2cm 

$135 

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steel, 12x6cm 

$135 


steel, 12x5cm 

$135 


steel, 13x9cm 

$135 


steel, 12x5cm 

$135 


steel, 12x6cm 

$135 

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Making: A Way of Life

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