Who is Tom Bass

As part of 2016 Centenary Celebrations of Tom Bass this beautiful film was made to celebrate some of the Public Sculptures created by Tom. Featured are: The P&O Fountain, The AMP Sculpture, Ethos – Civic Square, Canberra, The National Library Lintel Sculpture and The Herald Sculpture.

We acknowledge Tex Whitney Productions for their dedication in making this film and the many friends and independent commentators for their contributions.

We acknowledge the support from:

• The National Film and Sound Archives for Sculptured Seal and Australian Biography 
• The Australian Broadcasting Corporation BC Library Sales for Four Corners 1964 footage  
• Movietone-Cinesound for “Fountains in Sydney” 1964 Newsreel  
• National Library of Australia for Hazel de Berg Audio Recordings – Interview with Tom Bass courtesy of the
• State Library of NSW for Max Dupain photos 
• Peter Miller photos courtesy of Peter Miller Photography

The Life Study

Learn more about the Life Study and why it’s so important. Inspired to take a Life Study class after watching, click here to see what’s on offer.

We acknowledge Tex Whitney Productions for their dedication in making this film, as well as guest teacher Ingrid Morley, the students and model for allowing us to film.

Term Workshops

Learn more about our Term Workshops. Inspired to sign up to a class after watching, click here to see what’s on offer.

We acknowledge Tex Whitney Productions for their dedication in making this film, as well as TBSSS teacher Wendy Black and the Wednesday AM students for allowing us to film.

Tom Bass Becomes a Sculptor

Film by Michael Rubbo shot in Tom Bass’ Broadway Studio

The last night at the Broadway Studio

Film by Michael Rubbo shot in Tom Bass’ Broadway Studio

2018

Collaborations with Nature, guest speaker Jennifer Turpin

Jennifer Turpin is a public artist with over 20 years experience creating kinetic installations engaging water, wind and light as sculptural media. Dynamic and site-specific, the artworks operate at the interface of art, science, nature and the built environment. Activated by nature’s elemental energies, they are rhythmic, responsive and transformative ‘performances’ in the everyday life of the city. Many of the artworks are part of environmental restoration projects. On the large scale works Jennifer collaborates with her artist colleague Michaelie Crawford. Together they work with scientists, engineers and specialist designers to realise their innovative sculptural projects. Jennifer studied with Tom Bass in the 1980s and will present her work and the work she has produced together with Michaelie over the past 20 years under the title “Collaborations with Nature”.

2015

Guest speaker Kim Mahood.

Kim Mahood studied sculpture with Tom Bass in the 1980s, and her sculptures are held in state, territory and regional collections. She is the author of the award-winning non-fiction book Craft for a Dry Lake, and her essays have been published in art, public affairs and literary journals, including the annual collections of Best Australian Essays.

2013

Guest speaker Richard Goodwin

Richard Goodwin is a world recognised and multiple award winning Sculptor and Architect. He is a specialist in art, architecture and urban design. In the late 1970s Goodwin had a studio in Chippendale and he met Tom Bass at his nearby Broadway studio. With a long history of making sculpture in the urban context, Bass played a key role in fathering the difficult relationship sculpture has with architecture. Goodwin said that “the experience of visiting Tom Bass’s studio was humbling and sublime at the same time. “Truth via the body, through the hand, and in the hands of a master.” (Tom Bass Ed Genevieve Carson 2006).

2011

Guest Speaker Deborah Beck

Deborah Beck is an artist, writer, lecturer, historian, collections manager and archivist. The 2011 lecture was held in the historic Cell Block Theatre, National Art School and relayed the history of the National Art School sculpture school from the time of Rayner Hoff through to Tom Bass’ connections with the School as a student and assistant to Lyndon Dadswell. Tom Bass’ contemporaries were discussed as well as his time as a teacher at the NAS.