Born in Melbourne in 1959, I can always remember having had a strong connection to the ocean and a deep desire to insure the planet had plenty of trees. I planted my first tree at the age of 4 and to this day have not stopped putting back into the earth.
My love for the ocean also began as a child, during the long and balmy summer holidays spent down on Somers beach, Victoria, where hours would be passed discovering what lay beneath the surface of the water and which exotic creature hid under seaweed encrusted rocks.
Is it any wonder that these two powerful influences have dominated my work for years.
Having been encouraged by an understanding and innovative Art teacher at school, I enrolled in a 4 year design course at Chisholm Institute in 1978……and here began an amazing journey of self expression and discovery.
It wasn’t until the year 2000, when we moved as a family to Phillip Island, that my work began to take on a new dimension. I had discovered an environment at the back door that was then and still is today, my greatest source of inspiration.
As I sit in the studio sometimes and just listen to the roar of the ocean or hear the chatter of a million birds, I think how lucky I am to be able to witness all this from my work bench.
SIAN ADNAM
1959 – Date of Birth1970-1977 Ruyton Girls School, Melbourne
1978-1981 Bachelor of Art, Ceramic Design
Chisholm Institute
1986 Diploma of Education (Tertiary) Hawthorn Institute
1989 Diploma of Education (Secondary) Hawthorn Institute
EMPLOYMENT
1982-1988 Lecturer in Ceramic Design – Chisholm Institute1988-1990 Teaching in various secondary schools, Victoria
1991-1998 Teaching Art & Design – Geelong Grammar School
1999-2000 Teaching Art & Design – Haileybury College, Melbourne
2001-current Teaching Art & Design – Newhaven College, Phillip Island
EXHIBITIONS & COMMISSIONS
1982 “Directions” Group exhibition, Sydney Opera House
1983 “Images” Group exhibition, Georges Gallery, Melbourne
1984 “Women’s 150” Group exhibition, ANZ Bank, Melbourne
1985 “Continuity & Change” , Nanjing, China
1987 Commemorative Ceramic wall plaque, Geelong Grammar School, Vic
1994 Group show, Launch of the American’s Cup, San Diego
1995 Mosaic and Ceramic Mural, Ruyton Girls School Vic
1996 60ft Mosaic path, Geelong Grammar, Vic
1997 Mosaic Tile entrance, Gary Mckewan Gallery, St Kilda, Vic
1997 Mosaic Mural, Clay pots restaurant, St Kilda, Vic
2002 Mosaic Mural, Ruyton Girls School, Vic
2003 Group Show, Manyung Gallery, Vic
2004 Phillip Island Art Show, Vic
2005 Mosaic commission, Ruyton Girls School
2006 Group show Toorak Sculpture Festival, Melbourne
2006 Phillip Island Art Show, Vic
2006 Group show, Toorak Sculpture Festival, Melbourne
2007 Studio swap and workshop, Thassos, Greece
