resume

EDUCATION

1993-95
Master of Creative Arts (Sculpture), University of Wollongong.
1986-87
Associate Diploma Visual Arts (Design in Wood), Canberra School of Art, Australian National University.
1975-79
Bachelor of Science (Honors in Botany), University of New South Wales, Sydney.

EMPLOYMENT

Since 1997
Associate Professor, Chair of Wood/Furniture program, California College of Arts and Crafts, San Francisco, USA.
1994-96
Head of Furniture Design, Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre, Adelaide, South Australia.
1994
Lecturer, Foundation Studies, Canberra School of Art, Australian National University.
1993
Lecturer, School of Industrial Design, Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Canberra.
1992
Lecturer, Foundation Studies, Canberra School of Art, Australian National University.
1988-94
Self-employed furniture designer-maker .
1988
Employee, Finedesign Furniture, Queanbeyan, NSW.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2003-2005
Member of Advisory Board of the For Site Foundation.
Member of Advisory Board of San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design.
2001
Artist in Residence, School of Art, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
1999 - 2001
Member of Advisory Board of the Furniture Society.
1998-9
Member of Board of Trustees of the Furniture Society. Co-chair of the conference committee.
1998
Co-ordinator of Furniture 98: East meets West, the 2nd National Conference of the Furniture Society, San Francisco.
International correspondent for OBJECT magazine, Australia.
1997
Emigrated to the USA.
1996
Peer of the Visual Arts and Craft Board of the Australia Council, the Australian Governmen's arts funding and policy advisory body.
State co-ordinator for Design Australia to be held at Westweek 1997. Pacific Design Centre, Los Angeles.
1995-6
Study tour of USA (4 months) including Residency at the Australia Council's Studio in Greene St., Soho, New York.
1995
Co-ordinator of 'Furniture Design Link'. A federally funded project to establish links between furniture designer-makers and the mainstream furniture manufacturing industry.
1992-3
Member of Visual Arts Committee of the ACT Cultural Council, the ACT State Government's arts policy advisory body.
1991
Churchill Fellowship - Study tour of Japan and the United Kingdom for 7 months.
[In Japan - studied traditional lacquer and woodworking with Prof. Makoto Fujisaki (Kyoto Univ. of Fine Arts) and Mr. Kenkichi Kuroda, and papermaking with 'living national treasure' Mr. Minoru Fujimori]
[In the UK - Studio assistant to Alan Peters OBE and Richard La Trobe-Bateman]
1990
Established the 'Decorative Arts Workshop' furniture design studio near Canberra, with Antoon Meerman and Diane Smith.
1982-83
19 months traveling and working in Japan.

HONORS AND AWARDS

2004
Professional Development Grant, California College of the Arts.
2002
Virginia A. Groote Foundation Award.
2001
Experimental Design Award, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Artist in Residence, School of Art, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
2000
Professional Development Grant, California College of Arts and Crafts.
1999
Professional Development Grant, Visual Arts and Crafts Fund of the Australia Council.
1998
Professional Development Grant, California College of Arts and Crafts.
1994
Professional Development Grant, ACT Arts and Special Events.
1993
Australia Council Residency, Greene Street Studio, New York.
1995-1996
Prototype Award, Australis Cognita, National Furniture Design Competition.
1992
Professional Development Grant, ACT Arts and Special Events.
1990
Traveling Grant, Commonwealth Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Churchill Fellowship, the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.
Individual Grant, the Capital Arts Patrons Organisation (CAPO).
1989
Individual Grant, the Arts Development Board of the ACT Community Development Fund.
1987
Craft Training Grant, the Visual Arts and Craft Board of the Australia Council.

COLLECTIONS

Museum of Arts and Design, New York.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Mint Museum of Craft & Design, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong.
Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.
Library, AGSM, University of NSW, Sydney.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2005
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas.
2003
'Permutations'. John Elder Gallery, New York.
2001
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
'Correspondence'. Plimsol Gallery, Hobart, Australia.
'Empty Vessels'. John Elder Gallery, New York.
1995
'AGROUND' at Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre, Adelaide. Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Canberra. Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong.
1990
Distelfink Gallery, Melbourne.
1989
'Full Circle'. Narek Galleries, Cuppacumbalong, Tharwa, ACT.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

United States

2005
Convergence, Oceanside Museum of Art, San Diego.
Convergence, San Francisco Museum of Craft + Design, San Francisco.
Convergence, SOFA, Chicago.
2004
'Donald Fortescue and Florian Roeper'. Blue Room Gallery, San Francisco.
2002
'..and Also Pattern'. John Elder Gallery, New York.
'New Traditions 2002'. Worcester Center for Crafts, Worcester, MA.
'Chests'. Tercera Gallery, Palo Alto.
2001
'Add/Drop/Add'. Oliver Arts Center, Oakland.
SOFA (Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art), Armory, New York.
'Stools...'. Tercera Gallery, Palo Alto.
2000
'Point of Origin'. Bruce Gallery, CCAC, San Francisco.
'Add/Drop/Add'. Oliver Art Centre.
'Form Follows'. University of California, Davis.
1999
'Add/Drop'. Oliver Arts Center, Oakland.
'The Measure of All Things'. The Great Hall. San Francisco.
1998
John Elder Gallery, New York.
SOFA (Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art), Navy Pier, Chicago.
Collectors of Contemporary Wooden Vessels, Sculpture and Furniture Conference. Parc 55 Hotel, San Francisco.
Furniture '98 - CCAC Student, Faculty and Alumni. Bruce Gallery ,CCAC, San Francisco.
Furniture '98 - Members Gallery. Bruce Gallery, CCAC, San Francisco.
1997
Design Australia. Westweek 1997. Pacific Design Centre, Los Angeles.
1996
SOFA (Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art), Navy Pier, Chicago.
1995
SOFA (Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art), Navy Pier, Chicago.
1994
SOFA (Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art), Navy Pier, Chicago.

International

1998
'The Somatic Object'. Dr. Earl Lu Gallery, Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore.
1997
'The Somatic Object'. National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan.
1994
'Art of the Object'. Craft Australia touring exhibition of South America. Montevideo, Uruguay and Santiago, Brazil. Australia
1997
'The Somatic Object'. Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney.
1996
'New Furniture'. Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre, Adelaide.
Detail Contemporary Furniture Gallery, Melbourne.
'Design '96'. Artists + Industry, Melbourne. South Australia.
'Crucible of Design'. Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre, Adelaide.
'Re: Covering Manhattan'. Correct Exposure, Adelaide.
1995
'Beyond the Spiral Staircase'. Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre, Adelaide.
'Detail 6'. Detail Contemporary Furniture Gallery, Melbourne.
Design '95. Artists + Industry, Melbourne.
'Ektozone; Objects from the outer limits'. Gallery on 7, David Jones, Sydney.
1994
'Celebrate! the Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre. Twenty-one years'. Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre, Adelaide.
'ACT in the Rocks'. Crafts Council Gallery, Canberra; Craftspace Gallery, The Rocks, Sydney.
1993
Executive Office Furniture Incorporating Merino Leather. Narek Galleries, Cuppacumbalong, Tharwa, ACT.
'Crossing Over'. Crafts Council of the ACT Gallery, Canberra. Alice Craft Acquisition 1993. Araluen Craft Centre, Alice Springs.
'The Ethereal Edge'. Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre, Adelaide.
1992
'Addressing the Chair'. Canberra Contemporary Art Space.
'On Tray'. Jam Factory, Adelaide.
Alice Craft Acquisition 1992. Araluen Craft Centre, Alice Springs.
'Furniture of the Boudoir'. David Jones, Canberra.
1991-92
'The Light Fantastic'. Canberra Contemporary Art Space; Distelfink Gallery, Melbourne; Sturt Craft Centre Gallery, Mittagong.
1990
'2nd National Woodwork Exhibition'. Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne.
Annual Exhibition, Woodcraft Guild of the ACT. Crafts Council of the ACT Gallery, Canberra. Qdos Gallery, Lorne, Victoria.
1989
'Craftsmanship in Wood'. Crafts Council of the ACT Gallery, Canberra.
Woodworks. Blaxland Gallery, Sydney.
1988
'Five Years On'. Crafts Council Gallery, The Rocks, Sydney.
'National Woodwork Exhibition'. Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne.
1987
'Canberra School of Art Graduating Students Exhibition'. CSA Gallery, Canberra.
'Appreciating Wood'. Melville Hall, ANU, Canberra. Held in conjunction with the Third National Wood Conference.
'The Canberra Collection 2'. Link Gallery, Canberra Theatre.
'Designer Makers in Wood'. Narek Galleries, Cuppacumbalong, Tharwa, ACT and Goulburn Regional Gallery.
'Woodcraft Revisits the Opera'. Exhibition Hall, Sydney Opera House.
1986
'Beauty and Utility in Wood'. Crafts Council of the ACT Gallery, Canberra.
The Canberra Collection. Meat Market Craft Centre, Melbourne.

MAJOR COMMISSIONS

In the United States

1998. Design Copyright consultant for Owen, Wickersham and Erickson, P.C. San Francisco.

At Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre, 1994-6.

Lectern for the Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong.
Lounge furniture and low tables for Fauldings International Corporate Headquarters, Adelaide.
'Technology Hub' interactive display centre for Primary Industries South Australia.
Restaurant fit-out for Botanic Dining Room, Adelaide. Tables, chairs, waiter's stations and wine racks.
Design of public seating for Rundle Mall, Adelaide. Collaboration with Steve Greive and Assoc. Architects.
Reception area furniture for David Deakin Davies & Co., Solicitors, Adelaide.
Winner of Design Institute of Australia (SA Chapter), Design Award, 1995.
Development of the 'Greef' chair for 'Workspace' and 'Art Images' with Kestie Lane and Martin Murray.

At Decorative Arts Workshop, 1990-4.

Construction of Assembly Table and Speaker's Desk for the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Boardroom Tables for the Meat Research Corporation, Sydney. Including development of Merino leather and testing its potential applications in furniture.
Design of all furniture and fabrication of sanctuary pieces for St. Michael's Parish Church, Kaleen, ACT. DAW collaboration.

At Finedesign, 1988.

Involved in all aspects of the fabrication and installation of the Leader of the Opposition's and the President of the Senate's Suites for the New Parliament House, Canberra.
Refurbishment of the Canberra Theatre Foyer.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Publications

Shifting Foundations: The Collected Papers of the Designing Futures Forum. Craftwest, Australia. 2003.
Kelsey, John & Mastelli, Rick. eds. Furniture Studio: The Heart of the Functional Arts. The Furniture Society. 1999. p.30.
Rowley, Sue. ed. Craft and Contemporary Theory. Allen and Unwin. 1997.
Ioannou, Norris. Master's of Their Craft. Craftsman House. 1997.
Zimmer, Jenny (Ed.). Contemporary Craft Review 1: Collected essays on issues and themes in contemporary craft. Craft Victoria. 1996. pp.21-3.
Cochrane, Grace. The Crafts Movement in Australia: A History. UNSW Press. 1992. pp.399-400.
Artfile, 1992. Craft Arts International. pp. 290-291.

Reviews and articles

Adamson, Glenn. 'Donald Fortescue'. American Craft 61.3. June/July 2001. pp. 56-59.
'Australian furniture design; no pain, no gain'. Monument 13, July 1995. p.96.
Jinman, Richard. 'Home-made has wood on imports'. Weekend Australian, 21 October 1995. p 5.
Outlaw, Anne. 'Re: furnishing memory'. Broadsheet 24.3. Spring '95. p.23.
Fortescue, Christopher. 'Aground - a review'. Object 2.95. Object 1.95. p.2.
Hinchliffe, Meredith. 'Metal and sand mix in design challenges'. Canberra Times, 26 July 1995. p.C9.
Vogue Living. 4.1995. Aug.-Sept. 1995. p.28.
SA Crafts. 2:1995 Radok, Stephanie. 'Memory and the carnivore'. Adelaide Review, June 1995. pp.31-2.
Ioannou, Noris. 'Showing personal view with a room'. Adelaide Advertiser, 26 May 1995. p.21.
SA Crafts. 3; 1994. Hinchliffe, Meredith. 'Beauty and design in the boudoir'. Canberra Times, 11 March 1992. p.26.
'Light sauce', Object, Summer 1992. p.18.
Geissler, Marie. 'Club Fed'. Craft Arts 23, November 1991/ January 1992.
Geissler, Marie. 'Club Fed'. Design Ink 6 , September 1991.
Barron, Sonia. 'Pleasures of finely crafted furniture'. Canberra Times, 29 May 1991. p.25.
Uhlman, Amanda. 'Heavenly pieces of art by precision craftsmen'. Canberra Times, 16 May 1991. p.20.
Leveson, Kenneth. 'Wood works are exercises in pure design'. The Age (Melb.), 7 August 1990.
Collenette, Peter. 'Freedom and a living - the best of two worlds'. The Age (Melb.), 24 July 1990.
Raffan, Richard. 'Design for living'. Craft Arts 19, July/September 1990.
Wallace, Sue-Anne. 'Furniture with natural grace'. The Canberra Times, 27 March 1989.
Australian Woodworker, Nov./Dec. 1988. p.41.
Hinchliffe, Meredith. 'Work of a higher standard'. Canberra Times, 2 December 1987. p.27.
'The whole world in their hands'. Canberra Times, 15 November 1987.

Catalogues

'Experimental Design Award 2001'. San Francisco MOMA. 2001.
'The Somatic Object'. UNSW Press. 1997.
'AGROUND'. 1995.
'Celebrate! Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre. Twenty-one years'. 1994.
'The Art of The Object', Craft Australia. 1994.
'The Light Fantastic'. 1991.

Non-print media

'Imagine', episode 26. SBS TV. 1994.

Published writing

'What does it take to make it in the USA?' in 'Shifting Foundations: The Collected Papers of the Designing Futures Forum'. Craftwest, Australia. 2003.
'Shopping in San Francisco'. Object. 2001.
'The Fire Within - a review'. Object 4.96.
'A Winter's Tale from New York'. Object 3.96.
'The Art of the Maker - a review'. Object 1.95.
' 'For Tomorrow' - seems like only yesterday'. Object 4.93.
'A fresh ride on the sheep's back'. Object 3.93.
'Group Mono Mono; a model for practice?'. Object 2.93.
'A Flowering of the Arts'. Craft Arts 27, 1993.
'Notes from the North: a short series of personal reflections on the current designer-making scene in the UK'. Woodworkers Association of NSW Newsletter, several editions 1992.

LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS

2005
Visiting faculty. 'Building More Form', Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Colorado. Summer 2005.
2004 Visiting faculty. 'Building Form', Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Colorado. Summer 2004.
2001
'Is it Sculpture or is it Furniture?'. Paper presented at Furniture 2001 Conference, Tempe, Arizona.
2000
'Jam Factory - a model for graduate education'. Paper presented at Furniture 2000 Conference, Toronto, Canada.
1999
University of Wisconsin, Madison Wisconsin. Visiting lecturer and critic.
University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia. Visting lecturer and doctoral thesis examiner.
Rhode Island School of Design. Visiting critic.
1998
'Breaking Barriers '98', Saskatchewan Crafts Council. Emma Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada. Invited artist.
San Diego State University. Visiting lecturer and critic.
1995
SOFA, Chicago. Lecture.
Rhode Island School of Design. Visiting lecturer and critic.
Philadelphia University of the Arts. Visiting lecturer.
1991
School for Craftsmen in Wood, Parnham House, UK. Visiting lecturer.
Royal College of Art, London. Visiting lecturer and critic.

CONFERENCES

2005
Furniture 2005. 9th National Conference of the Furniture Society. San Diego. Presenter.2003
Furniture 2003. 7th National Conference of the Furniture Society, Philadelphia.
JMGA Conference. San Francisco.
2002
Designing Futures. Perth, Western Australia. Speaker.
Furniture 2002. 6th National Conference of the Furniture Society, Madison, Wisconsin.
2001
Furniture 2001. 5th National Conference of the Furniture Society. Tempe Arizona. Presenter and panel convenor.
2000
Furniture 2000. 4th National Conference of the Furniture Society, Toronto, Canada. Presenter.
1999
AICAD Symposium on Critique. Corcoran College of Art and Design, Washington D.C.
'Furniture 99: The Circle Unbroken'. The 3rd National Conference of the Furniture Society. Appalachian Center for the Arts. Smithville, Tenessee.
1998
'The 2nd Annual Conference for Collectors of Contemporary Wooden Vessels, Sculpture and Furniture'. San Francisco. Speaker.
'Breaking Barriers 98', Saskatchewan Crafts Council. Emma Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada. Invited artist..
'Furniture 98: East meets West'. 2nd National Conference of the Furniture Society. CCAC, San Francisco and the Oakland Museum of California. Co-ordinator.
1997
'Furniture 97'. 1st National Conference of the Furniture Society. Puchase College, SUNY, New York.
'Beyond Function'. CCAC, San Francisco, California. Convenor. 1996
'Intersections'. National Conference of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA), Adelaide.
1995
'Making Culture'. 2nd National Crafts Conference, Melbourne. Panelist.
1994
'Surround' Conference, Dept. of Interior Design, RMIT, Melbourne.
1992
'Craft 2000', the First National Crafts Conference, Perth.
'Interventions' Conference, University of Wollongong, Wollongong.
1987
2nd National Wood Conference, Canberra.