Corten Steel makes – Percent for Art Scheme

Greenough Regional Prison – Perimeter Upgrade 2013

When Lump delivered corten sheets to Ric in W.A. we had no idea that they were to become part of a very significant installation. The sheets of corten left Lump in their raw state.

Silver-black and blue-grey with no design, no folds and no intervention. Originally Ric, the assisting project manager called Lump Studio to make an enquiry about materials that would be suitable to withstand being permanently outdoors, exposed to high winds and varying temperatures. At Lump we are huge fans of Corten steel and with many Lump pieces surviving in conditions just like these Bee (our Lump Office Manager) could confidently advocate using 6mm Corten steel sheets for the project Ric was intending.

Ric purchased the 6mm steel sheets that are readily available at Lump, and had them delivered to W.A.  Here, he supplied them to Indigenous artist, Bruce Bradfield. From the raw sheets of steel Bradfield produced a series of six striking panels referencing the natural beauty of the local environment. The artworks are part of the “Percent for Art Commission” for the Perimeter Upgrade to the Greenough Regional Prison. This Prison is located just south of Geraldton.

Bradfield created “Rockface Country” a series of engaging panels that provide a sculptural entrance piece that greets visitors, prisoners and staff at the prison as they drive up to the Prison entrance and Gate House. The pieces honor Yamaji tradition and culture, the values of Bradfield’s mother’s Bardi people and those of the wider community. This work also reflects his connection with land and sea in the Midwest and Kimberley.

Each panel stands 3m tall each with a unique cut out design. The design frames glimpses of the landscape and subsequent panels as you travel past. And the panels as a group form an engaging installation playing on light and shadow as the cut out rock shapes and natural rusted colour of the Corten steel mimic the environment that surrounds them.

After this project was completed, Ric kindly sent us the story detailing the journey of the Corten steel accompanied by the photos below by Peter Dameon. And at Lump we are all thrilled that we were able to provide material that assisted in this very significant project coming to life, and even more so that we were able to hear of the journey after.