PERCENT FOR ART SCHEMEGovernment of Western Australia

BULLSBROOK COLLEGE STAGE 2 • 2013

The redevelopment of Bullsbrook College has created additional teaching accommodation within an integrated educational campus. The percent for art commission builds and unifys the link between the primary and secondary schools. The art works incorporates the school’s floral emblem the local leschenaultia flower.

The artist, Tony Pankiw, produced a suite of works as part of his commission. One of the artworks was a wall treatment that surrounded and disguised two existing water tanks in the new science courtyard. Tony also designed a freestanding entrance statement at the college’s entry and a series of markers dotted around the college site.

Pankiw used the water tank shape and the movement of water from ground to tank to gardens, as the theme for this artwork ‘Impeller’. His artwork mimicks the intrinsic circular shapes of the tanks and uses the concept of pumping water. An impeller is used in pumps to propel water through pipes and has a fan that paddles the water at high pressure into the pipes. Using a combination of overlapping corten steel and aluminum sheets, he has produced a work that creates interesting and engaging shadows onto the adjacent panels. Over many years, past students have applied artwork to the surface of the water tanks. These artworks remain visible between gaps in the panels. The artist has designed a clever approach to retain the character and history of the site, whilst providing a contemporary sculpture. The incorporation of stylised leaves in his work, reference the nearby landscape of the Chittering Valley. Surrounding these works are concrete seats, shaded by the existing trees that can be used for teaching and provide a place for students to sit and relax.

At the Chittering Street entrance is a freestanding 3-metre high iconic entry statement constructed from aluminium and painted

steel in the form of a stylised angular Leschenaultia flower. The shadows create a striking effect as one moves along Chittering Street.

To unify the artwork components and create a feeling of pride, a sense of ownership and interest in the artwork, Tony conducted a series of workshops with year 8-10 students to design directional markers that were inspired by Tony’s entry statement artwork. From these, seven designs were selected, fabricated and installed around the College to aid way finding.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Artist: Tony PankiwTitle: ‘Impeller’ Architect: COX HOWLETT & BAILEY WOODLAND Art Coordinator: Alison BarrettPhotography: Tony PankiwClient: Bernadette Jones, PrincipalClient Representative: Toni Tonkin, Department of EducationDTF Project Delivery Manager: Mally Rall, Vernon McQuistan and Henry JaworskiGPS Coordinates: -31.661037o, 116.034410o