Bruce Pringle - Metal Sculptor

About

“I am fascinated by the strength and malleability of metal– a material that is used to span rivers and to sew the finest silk.” Bruce Pringle.

Bruce Pringle’s career as an artist began in 1971 in South Africa. Bruce now resides in Byron Bay NSW and Hobart Tasmania.

As a sculptor, Bruce abandons formal constraints, seeking to express his delight in and reverence for nature and the human form.

Through the ancient techniques of blacksmithing, Bruce explores the alchemy of hand, metal and fire. His work is contemporary in design whilst imparting a sense of ritual. Works present the texture, strength and colour of stone, bronze and steel in graceful and fluid lines described as three dimensional calligraphic essays. His functional pieces have a strong sculptural feel, with designs inspired by personal mythologies.

The stainless steel range of utensils reflects the sophistication of the contemporary world whilst maintaining a sense of whimsy in design.

A fascination with ancient metal ornamentation such as the clasp mechanisms of Celtic kilt pins and annular and penannular cloak clasps, have influenced jewellery design. These pieces, forged on a small scale, are objects traditionally giving strength to the wearer.

Bruce’s work has been described as music in metal, with each piece bearing testimony to his skill in combining art with craft in strong and elegant design.

You can download this bio here.

Biography.
(.doc download)

1951 Born Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
1977 Amsterdam, Holland.
1978 Melbourne, Victoria.
1979 Bobin Creek, NSW.
1989 Richmond, Tasmania.
1999 South Hobart, Tasmania.
2003- Present Dynnyrne, Tasmania and Byron Bay, NSW.

EMPLOYMENT
1972-1973 Macrobiotic Restaurant “Tui Ting”, Cape Town. Joint proprietor.
1972-1976 Leather worker
1973 -present Jewellery Designer/Maker.
1978- present Knife maker
1979 “Dingo Creek Knives”
1980 “Bobin Creek Knives”
1995 –present Proprietor “Hammer and Hand” Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart Tasmania.
1980-present Blacksmithing.
2001-present Sculptor. South Hobart Rivulet Workshop Tasmania.
Sculptor. Arts and Industry Estate, Byron Bay.

PRIVATE AND CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
Include
Australia, South Africa, France, USA, Great Britain, Germany.

EXHIBITIONS
1989 “Artists of the Manning” Taree Regional Gallery, NSW.
1990 “Walker Manning Exhibition” Taree Regional Gallery, Taree NSW.
1991 “Earth, Fire and Water” Saddlers Court Gallery, Richmond Tasmania.
“The Design-Makers’ Cooperative Furniture and Ceramics “
“Centenary Exhibition” Launceston Art Society. “Chalmers Gallery, Launceston
“The Design-Makers Co-operative Furniture and Ceramics”Exhibition, Dick Bett Gallery,
Salamanca Place. Cooperative work with Sally McGilvray, ceramicist.
“Real and Forged – Contemporary Australian Metal” the Jam Factory,
Adelaide, South Australia. For the Adelaide Arts Festival.
“Mixed Exhibition” Saddlers Court Gallery Richmond.
1994 “Easter Show”, Handmark Gallery Hobart.
“Phoenix Craft Expo””, Phoenix Arizona, USA in collaboration with Colin Heagney, hot
glass artist.
“OASIS Gift Show Artisans’ Showcase” Phoenix, Arizona. Tasmanian Artists.
1995 Inaugural Tasmanian Knife Show, Long Gallery Hobart.
“Winter Show” Handmark Gallery, Hobart.
“Stone Steel and Fibre” Exhibition, Oast House Fine Art Gallery New Norfolk. Works by
Bruce Pringle and Chanchal Foxen.
1996 “Boxes “ Exhibition, Oast House Gallery New Norfolk.
1997 “On a Whim and a Prayer” Hobart Design Makers Cooperative.
1998 “Handmark Presents” Group Exhibition Handmark Gallery, Hobart.
“Precious Easter” Auction St David’s Cathedral Rooms, Hobart.
1999 “Put Ons” Banana Moon Gallery, Hobart.
“From Forest and Forge” Artisan Gallery West Tamar, Tasmania.
1999-Present Exhibitor: Tasmanian Craft Fair Deloraine, Tasmania
2000 “Kate Ceberano at the Winery” Exhibition Piper Brook Vineyard .
2000-2002 “Tasmania Beyond Imagination” Mannheim, Germany. Sponsored by the Department
of State Development Tasmania.
2003 “Tasmanian Living Artists Exhibition” Masterpiece Gallery, Sandy Bay, Tasmania.
“Confidentially Yours” Peacock Theatre Salamanca Arts Centre. Property design.
Props auctioned in aid of the Australian Heart Foundation.
“Fringe Exhibition” Artifakt Gallery, Deloraine, Tasmania.
2004 “The View From My Window” Waywood Gallery, Byron Bay.
“Trinity Art and Craft Exhibition” Ashmore, Queensland.

COMMISSIONS.

1992 Trophies Royal Hobart Wine Show, Tasmanian Wine Industry.
Most Successful exhibitor: Lindeman Wines Pty Ltd. Most Successful Tasmanian
exhibitor and Tasmanian Fine Wine Distributor Trophy Moorilla Estate Berridale.
Entries included 91 from Tasmanian Wine Makers and 48 from New Zealand.

1993 Public Seating, Chamber of Commerce, Richmond Tasmania.
1995 Coat of Arms, Devonport Magistrates’ Court. Collaboration with
Christine Guilene (hot glass artist).
Friendship Park gates, Elizabeth College Hobart.

1996 Trophies – “Edge of the World” Film Festival.

1997 Stair Railing Salamanca Arts Centre Courtyard.

2002 “The Ondine Awards” trophies for community involvement in the arts in Hobart.

PUBLICATIONS.

1996 “Talent Tasmania - Forging a Reputation”. Article in June/July Natural State News.
Tasmanian Government Publication.
“Metal as Anything” Article November. Good Taste Magazine.
1997 Portfolio No 191, Craft Arts International No 49.
1998 “Who is This?” Feature The Drift Blacksmithing Magazine Edition 42.

GRANTS AND AWARDS.

1998 Tasmanian Government Arts Grant for the development of promotional material and the
Development of interstate marketing strategies.
2000 Winner of the “Craft and Arts International” Tasmanian Craft Fair Award,
Deloraine,Tasmania.

FILM
1994 TV Documentary “Fridge Door”. Profiles of Tasmanian artists Bruce Pringle and
Carol Glass, mosaic artist.
Role as a blacksmith in feature film “Exile” directed by Paul Cox ,
staring Hugo Weaving, Claudia Karvan and Aidan Young.
2000 Role as sheep farmer in “Extinct”, a BBC documentary on Tasmanian Tigers.
2003 Role as bronze artisan in BBC documentary “Stories From the Stone Age”.
Presented by Screen Tasmania for the inaugural
“Roaring Forties Film Festival” Hobart.

COMMUNITY.
1980 Knife Making workshops, Wingham High School “Cultural Expose”.
1981-1982 Visual Art Teacher Bobin Creek Public School
1985-1990 Convenor Annual Bobin Creek Craft Review, Manning Valley, NSW.
1987-1988 Co-producer and Presenter – “PANDORA’S BOX” 2BOB FM Radio, Taree NSW.
1987-1989 “Auction Tasmanica” fundraiser for The Greens. Long Gallery Salamanca Arts Centre Hobart.
1999 Richmond Primary School Parents and Friends Association Fair. Stone carving
demonstration.
2002-2004 Teach the Teacher mentor for Clarence TAFE Design Faculty Staff.
2003 Auction for the Heart Foundation “Peacock Theatre”, Salamanca Arts Centre
Hobart.
2004 Auction Tasmanica” fundraiser for The Greens. Long Gallery Salamanca Arts Centre
Hobart.






	About “I am fascinated by the strength and malleability of metal– a material that is used to span rivers and to sew the finest silk.” Bruce Pringle. Bruce Pringle’s career as an artist began in 1971 in South Africa. Bruce now resides in Byron Bay NSW and Hobart Tasmania. As a sculptor, Bruce abandons formal constraints, seeking to express his delight in and reverence for nature and the human form. Through the ancient techniques of blacksmithing, Bruce explores the alchemy of hand, metal and fire. His work is contemporary in design whilst imparting a sense of ritual. Works present the texture, strength and colour of stone, bronze and steel in graceful and fluid lines described as three dimensional calligraphic essays. His functional pieces have a strong sculptural feel, with designs inspired by personal mythologies. The stainless steel range of utensils reflects the sophistication of the contemporary world whilst maintaining a sense of whimsy in design. A fascination with ancient metal ornamentation such as the clasp mechanisms of Celtic kilt pins and annular and penannular cloak clasps, have influenced jewellery design. These pieces, forged on a small scale, are objects traditionally giving strength to the wearer. Bruce’s work has been described as music in metal, with each piece bearing testimony to his skill in combining art with craft in strong and elegant design. You can download this bio here. Biography. (.doc download) 1951 Born Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 1977 Amsterdam, Holland. 1978 Melbourne, Victoria. 1979 Bobin Creek, NSW. 1989 Richmond, Tasmania. 1999 South Hobart, Tasmania. 2003- Present Dynnyrne, Tasmania and Byron Bay, NSW. EMPLOYMENT 1972-1973 Macrobiotic Restaurant “Tui Ting”, Cape Town. Joint proprietor. 1972-1976 Leather worker 1973 -present Jewellery Designer/Maker. 1978- present Knife maker 1979 “Dingo Creek Knives” 1980 “Bobin Creek Knives” 1995 –present Proprietor “Hammer and Hand” Salamanca Arts Centre, Hobart Tasmania. 1980-present Blacksmithing. 2001-present Sculptor. South Hobart Rivulet Workshop Tasmania. Sculptor. Arts and Industry Estate, Byron Bay. PRIVATE AND CORPORATE COLLECTIONS Include Australia, South Africa, France, USA, Great Britain, Germany. EXHIBITIONS 1989 “Artists of the Manning” Taree Regional Gallery, NSW. 1990 “Walker Manning Exhibition” Taree Regional Gallery, Taree NSW. 1991 “Earth, Fire and Water” Saddlers Court Gallery, Richmond Tasmania. “The Design-Makers’ Cooperative Furniture and Ceramics “ “Centenary Exhibition” Launceston Art Society. “Chalmers Gallery, Launceston “The Design-Makers Co-operative Furniture and Ceramics”Exhibition, Dick Bett Gallery, Salamanca Place. Cooperative work with Sally McGilvray, ceramicist. “Real and Forged – Contemporary Australian Metal” the Jam Factory, Adelaide, South Australia. For the Adelaide Arts Festival. “Mixed Exhibition” Saddlers Court Gallery Richmond. 1994 “Easter Show”, Handmark Gallery Hobart. “Phoenix Craft Expo””, Phoenix Arizona, USA in collaboration with Colin Heagney, hot glass artist. “OASIS Gift Show Artisans’ Showcase” Phoenix, Arizona. Tasmanian Artists. 1995 Inaugural Tasmanian Knife Show, Long Gallery Hobart. “Winter Show” Handmark Gallery, Hobart. “Stone Steel and Fibre” Exhibition, Oast House Fine Art Gallery New Norfolk. Works by Bruce Pringle and Chanchal Foxen. 1996 “Boxes “ Exhibition, Oast House Gallery New Norfolk. 1997 “On a Whim and a Prayer” Hobart Design Makers Cooperative. 1998 “Handmark Presents” Group Exhibition Handmark Gallery, Hobart. “Precious Easter” Auction St David’s Cathedral Rooms, Hobart. 1999 “Put Ons” Banana Moon Gallery, Hobart. “From Forest and Forge” Artisan Gallery West Tamar, Tasmania. 1999-Present Exhibitor: Tasmanian Craft Fair Deloraine, Tasmania 2000 “Kate Ceberano at the Winery” Exhibition Piper Brook Vineyard . 2000-2002 “Tasmania Beyond Imagination” Mannheim, Germany. Sponsored by the Department of State Development Tasmania. 2003 “Tasmanian Living Artists Exhibition” Masterpiece Gallery, Sandy Bay, Tasmania. “Confidentially Yours” Peacock Theatre Salamanca Arts Centre. Property design. Props auctioned in aid of the Australian Heart Foundation. “Fringe Exhibition” Artifakt Gallery, Deloraine, Tasmania. 2004 “The View From My Window” Waywood Gallery, Byron Bay. “Trinity Art and Craft Exhibition” Ashmore, Queensland. COMMISSIONS. 1992 Trophies Royal Hobart Wine Show, Tasmanian Wine Industry. Most Successful exhibitor: Lindeman Wines Pty Ltd. Most Successful Tasmanian exhibitor and Tasmanian Fine Wine Distributor Trophy Moorilla Estate Berridale. Entries included 91 from Tasmanian Wine Makers and 48 from New Zealand. 1993 Public Seating, Chamber of Commerce, Richmond Tasmania. 1995 Coat of Arms, Devonport Magistrates’ Court. Collaboration with Christine Guilene (hot glass artist). Friendship Park gates, Elizabeth College Hobart. 1996 Trophies – “Edge of the World” Film Festival. 1997 Stair Railing Salamanca Arts Centre Courtyard. 2002 “The Ondine Awards” trophies for community involvement in the arts in Hobart. PUBLICATIONS. 1996 “Talent Tasmania - Forging a Reputation”. Article in June/July Natural State News. Tasmanian Government Publication. “Metal as Anything” Article November. Good Taste Magazine. 1997 Portfolio No 191, Craft Arts International No 49. 1998 “Who is This?” Feature The Drift Blacksmithing Magazine Edition 42. GRANTS AND AWARDS. 1998 Tasmanian Government Arts Grant for the development of promotional material and the Development of interstate marketing strategies. 2000 Winner of the “Craft and Arts International” Tasmanian Craft Fair Award, Deloraine,Tasmania. FILM 1994 TV Documentary “Fridge Door”. Profiles of Tasmanian artists Bruce Pringle and Carol Glass, mosaic artist. Role as a blacksmith in feature film “Exile” directed by Paul Cox , staring Hugo Weaving, Claudia Karvan and Aidan Young. 2000 Role as sheep farmer in “Extinct”, a BBC documentary on Tasmanian Tigers. 2003 Role as bronze artisan in BBC documentary “Stories From the Stone Age”. Presented by Screen Tasmania for the inaugural “Roaring Forties Film Festival” Hobart. COMMUNITY. 1980 Knife Making workshops, Wingham High School “Cultural Expose”. 1981-1982 Visual Art Teacher Bobin Creek Public School 1985-1990 Convenor Annual Bobin Creek Craft Review, Manning Valley, NSW. 1987-1988 Co-producer and Presenter – “PANDORA’S BOX” 2BOB FM Radio, Taree NSW. 1987-1989 “Auction Tasmanica” fundraiser for The Greens. Long Gallery Salamanca Arts Centre Hobart. 1999 Richmond Primary School Parents and Friends Association Fair. Stone carving demonstration. 2002-2004 Teach the Teacher mentor for Clarence TAFE Design Faculty Staff. 2003 Auction for the Heart Foundation “Peacock Theatre”, Salamanca Arts Centre Hobart. 2004 Auction Tasmanica” fundraiser for The Greens. Long Gallery Salamanca Arts Centre Hobart.