John Waldron
BIO
John Waldron
John Waldron is an artist, curator and co-director of Blue Sky View, a Sunshine Coast based company that develops valued, interesting and engaging projects, exhibitions and events for community, government and the private sector.
For over twenty years John worked as an education officer and gallery director for government and corporation, managing innovative facilities and programs. John has delivered a range of public art projects and curated many social history and visual art exhibitions some of which have toured throughout the country and presented at regional, state and national museums.
John is an active member of the arts and heritage sector. He has held positions such as the Chair of Museum & Gallery Service Queensland and Museums Australia Queensland; as a Board member for The Old Ambulance Station, Nambour; and member of FabLab International.
In 2013 John was nominated a Cultural Champion and added to the Cultural Champions Wall of Fame for his contribution to the Queensland arts and culture sector.
Through Queensland State Government funding, Blue Sky View is developing the Makeway Lab, a ‘makerspace’ for hospitals and people in need, which will provide digital maker programs to assist patient health and healing and the wellbeing of individuals and communities.
https://www.blueskyview.com.au
https://www.blueskyview.com.au/about
ABOUT
With over 30 years experience in the collections sector, Blue Sky View offers a range of research, planning, conservation and exhibition services. We are experienced in working with all levels of government, arts and cultural organisations and public & private agencies.
Services:
Exhibition Curation
Exhibition Design
Public Art Research · Planning · Management
Public Art Conservation
Museum · Gallery Facility Planning · Development
Education · Public Programming
Heritage · Significance Assessment · Reports
Arts · Health Makerspaces · Design · Programming
Organised, conscientious and motivated, Blue Sky View has the expertise to work independently or as part of a team.
TEAM
Projects Manager / Curator: John Waldron
Operations Manager: Susana Waldron
Projects Technician / Timber Specialist: Ross Annels
Projects Fabrication / Metal Specialist: Russell Anderson (subcontractor)
Projects Technician (Conservation): Kieran Hackett (subcontractor)
Projects Technician (Conservation): Jim Martin
Projects Assistant: Lucy Waldron
MAKEWAY LAB · HOSPITAL MAKERSPACE
The Makeway Lab · Hospital Makerspace is a creative health initiative being developed by Blue Sky View and researched by John Waldron through the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
The Makeway Lab provides patient access to innovative technology and participatory programs to improve their health and well being.
The Hospital Makerspace is a mobile facility equipped with digital design and fabrication technology such as, 3D printers, digital scanners and cutters that participant can interact with, to learn and create interesting things.
In 2020 a research project will take place with 15 to 20 dialysis patients on the Sunshine Coast to determine the benefits of the Makeway Lab in the hospital environment.
Art Practice Keywords:
Artist
Artist Role Keywords:
Collaboration/ Collaborator names Keywords:
Collections
Various Private Collections
CV
John Waldron
Relevant Education History
Diploma of Education – Visual Art, Polding College, Sydney
Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies, Deakin University, Geelong
Doctoral Candidate, Creative Industries, QUT (Pending – International examination)
Relevant Employment History
2012 – Director, Blue Sky View (museum, exhibition and public art project management services)
2013 – Director, Makeway Lab (art & health, social innovation initiative)
2004 – 2012 Cultural Heritage and Collections Manager, Sunshine Coast Council
Director, Caloundra Regional Gallery and Noosa Regional Gallery, Sunshine Coast Council
1998 – 2004 Director, Australian Sugar Industry Museum & Sugarama Gallery
1990 – 1998 Education Officer, Campbelltown City Art Gallery
Relevant Professional Membership/Involvement
2016 – Member, Queensland Arts & Health Leadership Group
2016 – 17 Chair, Conference Organising Committee, MA National Conference, Brisbane 2017
2014 – 17 Chair, Museums Australia, Queensland
2013 – Board Member (Volunteer Curator) Old Ambulance Station, Nambour
2012 – 16 Chair, Museum & Gallery Services Queensland
Professional Highlights
Project Management – Public Art
2021 – 24 Public Art Maintenance Program – 193 artworks Brisbane City Council Collection (Project Manager)
2021 – 23 Kai Tak Sports Park – Public Art Program (planning and delivery) Populous/KTSPL (Public Art
Consultant)
2019 – 20 Public Art Maintenance Trial One – 193 artworks Brisbane City Council Collection (Project Manager)
2020 Installation Boonah Scenic Advertising Drop Curtain – Boonah Cultural Centre, Scenic Rim Regional
Council
2020 Removal/ Deaccessioning PA 170 Momentum (2011), Sunshine Coast Council
2019 – Public Art Conservation and Relocation, – Big Feathers by Bronwyn Oliver, Brisbane City Council
Collection (Project Manager)
2019 – Public Art Relocation, Subtropical Treasures by Rhyl Hinwood, Brisbane City Council Collection
(Project Manager)
2019 – 20 Molten by James Muller, Sunshine Coast Regional Council (Project Consultant)
2018 Public Art Conservation and Relocation, Expo 88 Public Artworks – Morning Star by Jon Hudson
Barlow, Brisbane City Council Collection (Project Manager)
2018 Public Art Conservation and Restoration Program, Expo 88 Public Artworks – Plant Form by
Robert Juniper and The Rock by Stephen Killick, Brisbane City Council Collection (Project Manager)
2017 Kirra Eagle, Assessment & Conservation Program. City of Gold Coast Collection (Project Manager)
2016 – 17 Public Art Conservation and Restoration Program, North East Region, Brisbane City Council (Project
Manager)
2015 – artplusplace – A range of public art projects (Curator / Project Manager)
2014 – 16 Living History Program, Brisbane Showgrounds, Lend Lease & RNA (Curator/Project manager)
2014 – 15 Drawn Together, Public Art & Event Program, Caloundra & Beerwah, Sunshine Coast Council (Artist/
Curator)
2013 ASSI 150 SEQ Commemorative Program (Project Coordinator / Curator)
2012 TreeLine, Art, Science, People & the Environment, Sunshine Coast (Project Manager / Curator)
2011 Floating Land, Water Culture, Sunshine Coast Curator / Co-Producer)
2010 TreeLine, Art, Science, People & the Environment, Sunshine Coast (Project Manager / Curator) –
GAMAA winner
2006 Public Art Program, Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk
2011 Noosa Junction Station Public Art Program (Curator)
2010 Andy Goldsworthy, Strangler Cairn, Conondale Range Great Walk. (Curator)
2010 The Bunya, Cooroy by Glen Manning & Kathy Daly. Funded by art+place. (Project Manager)
2009 Bullcock Beach Redevelopment – a community public art project (Project Manager)
Curatorship – Exhibitions
2021 MindMe, Arts and Health, The Old Ambulance Station, Nambour (Curator)
2021 Celebrating the Games, GC2018 Legacy Exhibition, City of Gold Coast (Curator / Exhibition Designer)
2021 Tree Change, Changing Landscapes Changing Views, Landsborough Museum (Curator / Exhibition
Designer)
2021 Sweet Silent Thoughts, Art from the Margins (Curator / Collaborator)
2020 First Wave a virtual exhibition, Old Ambulance Station (Curator)
2019 Peachester Museum, Peachester History Committee (Exhibition Designer)
2017 Magnificent Makers, State Library Queensland (Exhibition Designer)
2017 Freedom Then, Freedom Now, State Library Queensland (Exhibition Designer)
2017 What’s up Sunshine, Noosa Regional Gallery (Curator)
2017 The Newsmakers, Landsborough Museum (Curator)
2017 Glass Houses, Bribie Island Seaside Museum, Moreton Bay Regional Council
2016 Sunshine Coast Environment Photography Awards, Maroochy Botanic Gardens
2016 Australian Surf Photography & Film Awards, Surf World, Gold Coast
2015 Far From This Land, WWI Commemoration, Sunshine Coast, Landsborough Museum
2014 – 16 Living History Program, Brisbane Showgrounds, Lend Lease & RNA
2013 The Australian South Sea Islanders, The State Library of Queensland
2013 Gubbi Gubbi Gun’doo Yang’ga’man, Noosa Regional Gallery
2012 – 17 East Coast Encounter, (National Touring Exhibition) 2015 GAMAA winner
2012 – 13 An Architect’s Eye, The John Mainwaring Collection (National Touring Exhibition)
2010 The Promised Land, The art of Lawrence Daws (National Touring Exhibition)
2008 Across Country, Ken Hinds Cultural Collection (Queensland Touring Exhibition)
2006 Privately Collecting, Ken Hinds Collection (Queensland Touring Exhibition)
2006 Ownership, Wave Hill Walk-off 40th Anniversary – 2007 GAMAA winner
2000 Refined White – Centenary of Federation Project (Touring Exhibition) Supported by Vision of Australia –
Touring Funding. This project celebrated the culture and contribution of the Australian South Sea
Islander people.
Consultation
2021 – 23 Kai Tak Sports Park – Public Art Program (planning and delivery) Populous/KTSPL (Consultant)
2021 Public Art Audit, Sunshine Coast Council (Consultant)
2020 Public Art Assessment, Momentum (2011), Sunshine Coast Council
2019 Significance Statement & Conservation Report, Boonah Scenic Advertising Drop Curtain, Scenic Rim
Regional Council.
2018 Heritage Report, Kingston Butter Factory, Logan City Council
2018 Collection Significance Assessment, Landsborough Museum, Sunshine Coast Council
2015 Connected Collections Queensland, State Library Queensland
2015 Feasibility Plan & Collection Management Plan, Surf World Gold Coast, City of Gold Coast
2014 – 15 Review Bundaberg Art Galleries, Bundaberg Regional Council
2013 Pioneer Wall, Relocation & Reconfiguration, Logan City Council
2013 Feasibility Study, Artspace Mackay, Mackay Regional Council
2013 The Showcase, Project Plan, Mackay Regional Showcase Committee
2006 Bankfoot House Management Plan, Caloundra City Council
Project Management – Public Events
2020 THRIVE Creative Health Forum, The Old Ambulance Station, Nambour (Curator) (Event Postponed)
2018 THRIVE Creative Health Forum, The Old Ambulance Station, Nambour (Curator)
2015 Drawn Together, Public Art & Event Program, Caloundra & Beerwah, Sunshine Coast Council (Artist/
Curator)
2013 ASSI 150 SEQ Commemorative Program, Project Coordinator / Curator
2012 TreeLine, Art, Science, People & the Environment, Project Manager / Curator
2011 Floating Land – Curator / Co-Producer
2010 TreeLine – Project Manager / Curator – GAMAA winner
2006 Public Art Program, Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk