Geo D FRANCIS vas
Bellbrae West VIC 3228 AUSTRALIA       e    moongatestudios@bigpond.com     m.    0414 876 383
Gender                                   Male
Status                                    Married 1967 – 4 children / 3 grand children
                               
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Moongate Studios  VIC                 Managing Director – Artist / Sculptor            1978 – Present
Peppers Pottery Geelong VIC     Ceramic production             1975 – 1978
Alcoa Australia Geelong VIC        Rolling Mill Operator            1967 – 1975
Manapuri Power Project  NZ
Matahina Power Project NZ          Hardrock Miner/ Loco Driver            1963 – 1966
State Savings Bank of Victoria     Bank Teller             1960 – 1963

RELATED EXPERIENCES / APPOINTMENTS
Anglesea Studios -  Melbourne Cup Open Weekend        2016 - present 
Contributing writer - The Owner Builder Magazine        2013 - present
Moongate Studios  -  Autumn Open Weekend                    2013
Surf Coast Arts Trail   -  Open Studio Weekend                    2012  - present
Sustainable House Day  -  Open Weekend - house & garden                                2009
Moongate Studios Bellbrae VIC     -   Owner built mud-brick home /studios / gardens               1980 – 2008
G21 Arts Culture & Heritage Pillar Geelong VIC    -  Committee Member - ARTS            2005
Friends of William Buckley  St Leonards VIC     -  Consultant to fund & organise exhibition - Footprints in the Sand       2004
Geelong Sculptors Inc. VIC     -  Concept & Development – Photographic Essay            2002
City of Greater Geelong VIC    -   Arts Board            2002
Immigration Museum Melbourne VIC   -  Cuddas   Lost & Found exhibition  (collaboration)              2001
National Hotel Geelong VIC, - Geelong Gymnastic Centre VIC, - Wool Exchange Night Club Geelong VIC    
Resident Photographer         1990 – 1998
Moontrail  Artist Open Studios Geelong VIC    -  Brochure & Exhibitions                1996
Jazz at the Jail Geelong VIC   -  Co-director               1995
Moongate Magic - Poetry Book self published         1988

RELATED INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES
Ars Incognita - Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi - Nichelino ITALY
Attended and both received Medaglia Mauriziana for Lifetime Achievement in Arts   2017
1st International Painting & Calligraphy Federation Festival & Arts Forum - Suzhou CHINA 
Attended, received Certificate for Art Excellence and address the Forum   2016
2nd International Painting & Calligraphy Festival - Yeosu SOUTH KOREA  
Attended & received Certificate of Merit and addressed the Arts Forum   2016
Attended Award Ceremony International Art contest Chinese Pavilion Milan Expo Italy   2015
Australian Delegation member - 2 week visit to Piedmont Italy / art exhibition            2014
Visioni dall’Australia -  Bra ITALY    Supported Jan’s solo touring exhibition opening             2005

QUALITALY -  Cultural corridor initiated & nurtured by  Moongate Studios & Massimiliano Panero ( Turin),
between Geelong Vic  AUSTRALIA & Turin Piedmont ITALY.   In partnership with Diversitat, Gordon TAFE,
National Wool Museum, City of Greater Geelong VIC ,Piemontese Ass Sydney NSW                                                                                    Italian delegation - 2 week visit to Geelong for over 20 events –
Pako Festa festivities, dinners, tastings, civic receptions and exhibitions            Feb         2004
Australian delegation - 2 week visit to Piedmont for similar experience               June       2004

International Tour2 - 4 months of exhibitions & cultural exchange in Piedmont / Rome Italy
& New York, Montana & Colorado USA            1999

International Tour 1 - 3 months with Jan’s solo exhibitions in Italy & New York USA
Cultural Ambassador for City of Greater Geelong
Invitation to Venice Biennale opening through Australian Embassy Rome
Visits to major galleries in Paris & New York          1997

MEMBERSHIPS
Geelong Sculptors Inc.  Founding President  - Affiliated with Regional Arts Victoria                 2002 -Present
Victorian Association of Sculptors              2001 - Present
Arthouse Collective Inc. Founding  President   - Affiliated with Regional Arts Victoria              2001
Geelong Art Gallery VIC           2000 – Present
Surf Coast Arts  VIC                  2000 - Present
Victorian Artists Society Melbourne VIC - Signatory member             1999 - Present    
Co-founder Through the Keyhole Geelong  VIC  -  Pako Festa Fringe Art exhibition             1996 - 1999
Geelong Arts Society VIC             1985 – 1995
Geelong Ceramic Group  VIC  -  Foundation member              1970 – 1980

AWARDS
​Suzhou CHINA - Merit Certificate for Art Excellence         2016
Yeosu SOUTH KOREA - Merit Certificate for Art Excellence       2016
Vision Australia  VIC  -  Making A Difference  -  Geelong Sculptors  Inc            2009
Accademia Delle Belle Arti Di Cuneo ITALY  -  Honorary Arts Degree         2005
Honorary Citizenship of Piemonte ITALY -  Cultural Development              2005
Victorian Artists Society  -  Signatory               2004

Gartland Sculpture  Acquisitive Geelong VIC               2004
Chelsea Art Show Melbourne VIC - 1st Photography  - Highly commended Sculpture          1995
Geelong Art Society VIC -  Highly commended Abstract                 1992
St Josephs College VIC -  1st Other Medium                1990
Dinkum Aussie Award  -  Selected Published Poetry                 1989
Norlane Festival  -  1st Drawing                 1988

COMPETITIVE PROJECTS / GRANTS
Surf Coast Shire VIC  -  Pipeline - Community & Civic Precinct Sculpture Installation                   2012
1969 Lara Bushfire Memorial Committee VIC - Grass Sculpture / Information Art Panel           2010                       
Geelong Sculptors Inc. / Vision Australia -  Do Touch Sculpture project             2009
City of Greater Geelong VIC -  Short listed Cole Memorial Sculpture VIC                2007
Seabank Estate Development Barwon Heads VIC -  Two Cultures Sculptural Installation – stage 1               2005
City of Greater Geelong VIC -  Skating Gecko            2006
John Landy Field Federation Sculpture Geelong VIC  -  Spirit of Sport & Sporting Panels             2001
City of Greater Geelong VIC  -  The Big Picture               1999

SCULPTURAL COMMISSIONS
MACS Multi Cultural Aged Care Services Geelong Vic -  Walk Trail Art Series   2018
Ridgeway Investments Lorne Vic - Daybreak (painted limestone )   2016
Cheri McIntyre - Aireys Inlet VIC - Beach Babe ( painted steel) 2013
George & Felicity Hampel -     Orb 2 (found objects)
                                                Ms D Meanor  (painted steel)        2013  
Denise Moore collection Queenscliff VIC - Full Bloom (steel)        2012
Eagles Nest gallery Aireys Inlet VIC - Tango Project    (painted galvanized steel & stainless steel)            2011 – 2012
Ridgeway Investments Lorne VIC -  Art Stair Balustrade          2011
Jane Clark Collection Melbourne VIC -  Garden Sculpture           2010
Moonee Ponds Health & Wellbeing Centre Melbourne VIC -  Moontide (limestone / labradorite)        2009
Di Weston Collection Perth WA  -  Heron   (steel)             2006
Austin Wines Sutherlands Creek VIC  -  Little George (bronze)          2005
Stuck on You Geelong VIC  -  La Femme 3  (steel)            2005
Kookla Restaurant St Leonards  VIC  -  Mermaid & signage  (steel)                  2004
St John’s Church  East Malvern VIC  -  Twin Angels (carved timber)                  2003
City of Greater Geelong VIC  -  Carousel Ride (painted steel)                 2002
Le Parisien Restaurant  Geelong VIC  -  Can Can & Art Menu board (painted steel)            2002
Ron Phelan Bowen Memorial Project  -  Healing Hands  (bronze)           2002
Railway Hotel Bannockburn VIC  -  Jazz Duo (steel)             2001
Bazil’s Restaurant Geelong VIC  -  Bazil  (steel)                2001
Fisherman’s Pier Restaurant Geelong VIC  -  Waitress  (steel)         2001
Beach House Restaurant Geelong VIC -  Mermaid  (steel)             2001
Amare Concept Salon Geelong VIC  -  Redhead Twins  (steel)             2001
Eagles Nest Gallery Aireys Inlet VIC  -   Eagles Nest  (steel)              2000

EXHIBITIONS
101 Ryrie Arts Geelong Vic     Sempre Sempre - Retrospective        2018
Moongate Gallery Vic               made sculptures to support Jan's exhibitions  2014 -  present
Swellarts Anglesea VIC                                  Fandangle                 2010
Rathlea by Invitation Newtown VIC             Winter Salon des Artistes                2010
Vision Australia VIC                                        Made to Be Held 4                   2010
Gordon Gallery Geelong VIC                           Regional Artists Retrospective           2009
Twinsilver Gallery VIC                                     Second Look             2007
Moongate Studios                                              Last Waltz at Maidie             2007
Arlington at Wattle Park VIC                           For the Love of Italy            2006
Sacred Moon Gallery VIC                                  Inaugural Exhibition            2004
Potato Shed Arts Drysdale VIC                       Footprints in the Sand            2004
Natural Science Museum Turin ITALY            Qualitaly 2004               2004
Private Soiree DENMARK                                  Geelong to Copenhagen          2004
Gordon Gallery VIC                                             Geelong Regional Artists        2003
Twinsilver Gallery VIC                                         That’s Jazz               2003
Orno Interiors Perth WA                                     Christmas              2002
Ryrie Street Gallery Geelong VIC                       Inaugural Geelong Sculptors          2002  - present    
Geelong Art Gallery VIC                                       Portraits of Sculptors                2002
Blue Room Studios Geelong VIC                         Moontrail 2                2000
Eagles Nest Gallery Aireys Inlet VIC                  Sempre Sempre               2000
Colosseo Room Geelong VIC                               Arte Link 2000              1999      
Soiree Series Piedmont ITALY/ USA                   International Tour 2              1999
Murston House Geelong VIC                               Momenta              1998
Bretts Artworks Geelong VIC                              Through the Keyhole           1998
Six States & Territories AUSTRALIA                   Contemporary National Tour            1997
Bretts Artworks Geelong VIC                              Through the Keyhole               1997
Soho Brasserie Geelong VIC                                Artists & Studios                   1996
Geelong Performing Arts Centre VIC                   Performance Photography             1996
Soho Brasserie Geelong VIC                                On The Wall             1996
Eagles Nest Gallery Aireys Inlet VIC                  Kind Of Blue                 1996
Geelong Art Gallery VIC                                         Postcards            1996
Soho Brasserie Geelong VIC                                Sound Proof             1996
Bretts Artworks Geelong VIC                              Alchemy                 1996
Café t’Go Go Geelong VIC                                    Images of Mood & Memory              1995
Café t’ Go Go Geelong VIC                                   This & That              1995
Bridge Mall Ballarat VIC                                        Excuse me it's not a Pedestrian Show                1994
Ryrie Street Gallery Geelong VIC                         Mainly Black & White                1993