The Gift Armature - Curated by City of Melbourne

The City of Melbourne introduced a pilot public art project, The 1200 Buildings Commission. The goal of the project was to respond to the energy and sustainability performance of a specific commercial building at 490 Spencer Street in West Melbourne. In particular the artist proposals call envisioned that the project would provide environmental leadership through commercial developments.The Gift Armature proposal was developed by SueAnne Ware and Kate Cullity in collaboration. The art work incorporated the use of salvaged materials and practices of social engagement. A number of options were proposed to engage with the site (building wall, nature and median strip), each incorporating planting (espalier and hedging techniques), and the installation of salvaged mattress armature as support structures for plantings. Further, the armature structure would become a type of calendar marking events such as ANZAC Day, Clean up Australia Day, Earth Hour and the Melbourne Cup Carnival to promote cultural, social and environmental sustainability. Members of the community would be invited to interact with changing displays which would promote positive social and environmental messages. The research contribution of this work is in the sustained engagement of various publics through interactive artworks and educative frameworks. Educating others as to sustainable practices through an art work rather than normative texts or lectures involves lateral, synthesis and spatial experiences and learning through engaging with art works.The design was shortlisted to nine of thirty proposals. Assessment was conducted by an expert selection panel assembled by the City of Melbourne and the proposal was exhibited at Federation Square.