Dr Robert Wellington has joined the new Centre for Art History and Art Theory. Dr Wellington, from Sydney, is an art historian and lecturer.

Dr Wellington’s research includes:

• French art
• Print culture
• images of war
• and a special interest in the role of material culture in history making and cross-cultural exchange

Alison Alder comes to the School of Art in the role of Head Printmedia and Drawing.MS Alder was previously Director of Megalo Print Studio + Gallery. An alumnus of the Printmedia and Drawing Workshop, Ms Alder has worked in a number of significant arts organisations around the country including Redback Graphix and in Aboriginal organisations in Northern Territory and Western Australia. Ms Alder is in major Australian public cultural collections and has won a significant number of Australia art awards.

Ms Alder’s research includes:

• The art of printmaking as a social and political activator
• The Australian landscape: nostalgia and mythology

Dr Rowan Conroy arrived in June to undertake a lecturing position in Photography and Media Arts. Dr Conroy is an exhibiting artist and worked for a number of cultural institutions in publication projects. Dr Conroy, from Sydney Australia brings a new range of research specialisation to the School of Art.

His research includes:

• Documentation of ancient and modern, rural and urban architecture and detritus as a means to reflect upon the archaeology of the present
• Organic patterns and self-organisation of the urban landscape

Peter Alwast was appointed Lecturer in the Painting Workshop in February, coming to the School of Art from Brisbane. Mr Alwast is known for his video work, painting and drawing internationally having participated in residencies in New York and Hong Kong.

Mr Alwast’s research includes:

• Investigating the relationships between abstraction and figuration
• 3D video animation, photography, printing, drawing and installation
• Relationship between the materiality of painting and virtual dematerialised spaces and objects

Sean Booth joins the team in the Furniture workshop as the new Technical Officer in the highly successful Digital Fabrication Lab.

He has previously been employed as production assistant for Artillion, as a special project officer responsible for CAD design, welding, jig fabrication and installation of public art works. He has previously worked for the National Museum of Australia, Newcastle Museum and internationally renowned manufacturer Fink Design. Sean Booth is a contemporary metal smith utilising a variety of materials in his practice. 

Dr Rohan Nicol, alumni of the Gold and Silversmithing Workshop and in June 2014 returns to the Workshop as the newly appointed Head having lectured in Design Arts and Foundation at the School of Art.

Dr Nicol’s research includes:

• Domestic table objects and their function as social , cultural, economic, political and technological settings
• Domestic lighting design
• Limited production techniques for commercialisation

Dr Alison Munro extends her current role as a Lecturer in the Textiles Workshop by undertaking the School of Art Graduate Coursework Convenor position.

Dr Munro’s research includes:

• Practice-led research in print, drawing and textile-based media
• Art/science interdisciplinary research particularly related to patterns, codes, mapping and measurement
• Craft and design theory

Dr Raquel Ormella is taking on the position of Honours Convenor in addition to her Lecturing role in the Painting Workshop.

Dr Ormella’s research includes:

• Contemporary art installation
• Intersection of art and activism
• Critical reflexivity in contemporary art
• Self-examination in regards to political consciousness and social action

Nik Rubenis has been appointed to Lecturer in the Furniture Workshop having recently served in the role of sessional staff member and technical officer and. Mr Rubenis is a PhD Candidate at the School and has been involved with the creation of the new Digital fabrication Lab.

Mr Rubenis has been employed across many aspects of the furniture and design sectors. This has included high scale manufacture; computer aided design and computer aided manufacture (CAD/CAM); commercial cabinetry’ production and fine furniture making.

Mr Rubenis’ research includes:

• CAD and CAM Design
• Flat pack design
• Cross over between contemporary and heirloom furniture design and manufacture