Staff Profile
Career Summary
Biography
Brett Alexander's research outputs have been in the form of high quality examples of practice as research. These research outputs have been published in the form of exhibitions at nationally and internationally recognised art, design and craft museums, galleries and festivals. He has been included in seminal publications on textile art and craft both nationally and internationally. He has been commissioned by highly esteemed nationally and internationally recognised curators to produce art work for exhibitions both in Australia and overseas. For example:
British Art Critic Liz Hoggard wrote in The [London] Observer, Sunday February 8, 2004 of Brett Alexander's work:
"I'm standing in front of a washing line hung with grey flannel gymslips embroidered with inflammatory words such as 'sissy' and 'faggot'. Long spindly legs - made from tights weighted down with flipflops - add a surreal quality. The work Playing With Dolls, by Australian artist Brett Alexander is a highlight of a new exhibition 'Boys Who Sew'. Welcome to craft in the twenty-first century." [A quarter page image of Alexander's work accompanied this review]
A recent review of Brett Alexander's research outcomes in Art: The Herald Weekender (Newcastle Herald; October 23, 2004; p.14) is evidence of the recognition, and important contribution, he has made internationally to the reputation of the Fine Art at the University of Newcastle. Art critic Jill Stowell wrote:
"...Brett Alexander is arguable the Hunter [Valley/ Region] artist with the highest international profile. This year alone, his work has been shown to critical acclaim in Slovakia, Geneva and London and is currently touring the British Isles."
and:
"Brett Alexander must be the Hunter-based artist with the most cosmopolitan profile. He has had recent exhibitions in Finland, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery& "[extract from the Newcastle Herald. December 10, 2005, p.14]
Qualifications
- Master of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong, 13/05/1992
- Graduate Diploma of Art, Hunter Institute of Higher Education, 06/05/1989
- Bachelor of Education (Art), Newcastle College of Advanced Education, 02/05/1986
Research
Research keywords
- Craft
- Gender
- Male homosexuality
- Material Studies
- Textiles
Research expertise
Alexander's research focus is in Craft practice: specifically in the areas of fibres, textiles, material studies and paper media, he also uses found, readymade objects and mixed media to create his artworks and installations.
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 190599 | Visual Arts And Crafts Not Elsewhere Classified | 100 |
Awards
Recognition.
| 2006 | Intertwine: Queer Street Midsumma Festival Melbourne 2006 (Australia) Selected to partipate in Australia's largest queer visual arts festival. (Selected by: Ros Abercrombie, Felicity Hardy, Solate Ana Tawale). |
|---|---|
| 2006 | SCYTHIA 6: Sixth International Biennial on Contemporary Textile Art Scythia in cooperation with Kherson Local Lore Museum (Ukraine) Selected to be a keynote speaker and exhibitor in SCYTHIA 6: Sixth International Biennial on Contemporary Textile Art- Exhibition & Conference [Jury: Ludmila Egorova(UA) & Andrew Schneider(UA)]. Was awarded a bronze medal (third prize) in the exhibiton category. |
Invitations
| Craft As Rupture International Association of Hand Paper Makers and Paper Artists Congress Banff 2005, Canada (Conference Paper) | 2005 |
| Biely pozdrav pre Bielorusko [White Greetings for Belarus] Association for Culture, Education and Communication, Belarus (Cultural Presentation at International Cultural Festival) | 2005 |
| 9th Jeonju Paper Culture Festival 2005 Jeollabuk-do Art Hall, Korea, Republic Of (Invited to participate in an international cultural festival) | 2007 |
| Paper Island First International Symposium of Paper Artists, Krapanj Studio Galerije Svetog Kraevana `ibenik., Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska) (Invited to participate in an international symposium and exhibtion) | 2004 |
Teaching
Teaching keywords
- Fibres/ Fiber Art
- Fine Art
- Hand papermaking
- Installtion/ site specific art
- K-6 Visual Arts
- Material Studies
- Paper Art
- Textiles
Teaching expertise
Alexander is a respected academic and his responsibilities include lecturing in Three Dimensional Studies and coordinating the universitys Fibres Textiles Studio and Paper Mill. He is a member of the International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (IAPMA), the European Textile Network (ETN) and other papermaking and textile associations.
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 15 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $72,646 |
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2008 (1 grants)
Crafticulation & Education: International Conference of Craft Science and Craft Education, University of Helsinki, Finland, 23/9/2008 - 26/9/2008$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,500 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0189337 | ||
2007 (2 grants)
Tracing site visual arts research project$25,000
Funding Body: Newcastle Regional Museum
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander, Ms Patricia Adams, Conjoint Associate Professor Allan Chawner, Ms Miranda Lawry, Associate Professor Pam Sinnott, Mr Kris Smith, Doctor Trevor Weekes | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $25,000 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0187997 | ||
6th International Kaunas Art Biennial (Kauno Meno Bienale), National Museum of M.K. Ciurlionis, M Zilinskas Art Gallery (Nepriklausomybes sq. 12, Kaunas, Lithuania), 30/11/2007 - 2/12/2007$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,500 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0188239 | ||
2006 (1 grants)
Scythia 6: 6th International Biennial on Contemporary Textile Art Conference and Exhibition 14-18 June, 2006$2,400
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,400 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:G0186503 | ||
2005 (1 grants)
The Jeonju Paper Culture Festival 2005, 1-8 May 2005$1,335
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,335 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0185378 | ||
2004 (2 grants)
Visit of Prof J Jefferies, from 12 April 2004 to 13 May 2004$2,705
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Visitor Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,705 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0183993 | ||
The International Symposium of Paper Artists Krapanj 2004, 1-10 September 2004$2,400
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,400 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0184495 | ||
2003 (2 grants)
Visit of Ms Annika Ekdahl from 9 October to 23 November 2003$3,625
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Visitor Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $3,625 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0183589 | ||
The 9th International Paper Symposium$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,500 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0183247 | ||
2002 (1 grants)
The 8th International Paper Symposium, Slovak Republic 18 August - 5 September 2002$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,500 | 2002 | 2002 |
| GNo:G0182264 | ||
2000 (2 grants)
Northern Lights: To survey, critically analyse, curate and document conceptually based contemporary Swedish textile art.$10,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,000 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0178910 | ||
The 6th International Paper Symposium, Slovak Republic 14 August - 4 September 2000$2,385
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,385 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0179873 | ||
1999 (1 grants)
'The Invisible Exhibition' - Slovakia, 17-26 September 1999$1,820
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,820 | 1999 | 1999 |
| GNo:G0179053 | ||
1997 (1 grants)
'New Text'. The documentation, through exhibition and recording of contemporary Fibre Art/Textile practice in the Newcastle/Hunter Valley Region.$6,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $6,000 | 1997 | 1997 |
| GNo:G0176655 | ||
1993 (1 grants)
Research into the use of laser and video technology as an epressive tool in the development of visuallanguage in two dimensional and three dimensional art$4,976
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ms Jutta Fedderson, Mr Brett Alexander | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Creative Arts Grant (Defunct) | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $4,976 | 1993 | 1993 |
| GNo:G0173409 | ||
Research Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 2 |
|---|---|
| Total current UoN PhD EFTSL | 0.45 |
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Proposed Completion | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2017 | PhD (Fine Art) | Co-Supervisor | ORI* on Aesthetics and Language of Folding and Technology |
| 2009 | 2011 | PhD (Fine Art) | Co-Supervisor | Lotus Trace III - Cultual Hybrid Identity - A place to call home |
Past Supervision
| Year | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | PhD (Fine Art) | Co-Supervisor | Activating Gay Place: Contexts Associated with the Use of Ultraviolet Lighting and Fibre/Textiles in Immersive Installation |
| 2009 | M Philosophy (Fine Art) | Principal Supervisor | Footprints in the Forest: A Visual Exploration of the Tall Timber Forests of Northern New South Wales |
| 2006 | M Fine Art [R] | Sole Supervisor | Dissecting the Prosthetic |
| 2002 | M Fine Art [R] | Principal Supervisor | Peregrination: A speculation on gender and the environment,as a crucial element In the genesis of personal visual imagery |
| M Fine Art [R] | Co-Supervisor | Memory and Landscape. An eclectic subconscious journey reflected in the symbolism of the cone | |
| M Fine Art [R] | Co-Supervisor | DRAWN THREADS: Placement and Skill as an Integral Part of Visual Expression with particular reference to Family Resonances | |
| M Fine Art [R] | Co-Supervisor | A Privileged Journey |
Brett Alexander
| Work Phone | (02) 4921 6703 |
|---|---|
| Fax | (02) 4921 6909 |
| Brett.Alexander@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Position | Lecturer School of Creative Arts Faculty of Education and Arts |
| Focus Area | Fine Art |
| Office | HC46, Hunter Building, Callaghan University Drive Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia |
| URL: | www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/brett-alexander |
