Robert J Sidor

Artist’s Statement
Heavily influenced by bronze age metal art using traditional handmade techniques to exploring what
3d computer design and machining can achieve in a small workshop, i turn my hand to many projects and repairs.

From bringing a neglected object or machine back to life,
to incorporating new tech into old objects, i like the challenge.

My sculpture is repurposed mechanical/farm/household elements to breathe new life into Australian nostalgia objects.

The philosophy of recycling objects is ingrained into my works ,
some works take time before the right part can be found to match.

My jewellery is meant to be worn, it adds to the art of the body, the psyche, your identity, with Celtic genes to influence my hands.
Biography
Robert J Sidor grew up in regional N.S.W with a start in agriculture- gravitating to fabrication.

He has moonlighted as a roadie, entertainer, hot dog stand operator, sound and lighting operator,
film guru and has supported many local events with technical support.

Robert's family has strong art tendencies, his Mother Cheryl A Clark was a past Downlands art exhibitor in paint and doll making.
His brother Michael was a local master jeweller where they both explored fabrication outside the constrains
of commercialism as a passion.

Arriving in Toowoomba in 1990, he started with basic tools and persistence marketing at the
old Queens park market run by Di Thorley to then study visual art at Toowoomba Tafe up to Ass Diploma.

Robert decided to put everything into practice in 1998 and completed the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme and established an art gallery/ jewellery workshop called 'Art U Wear', making custom jewellery and sculpture with local artists works and clothing exhibited with us for a few short but exciting years before his son Bohdan was born.

Returning to the daily grind in a factory to feed the family, Robert kept his passion alive in sculpture and jewellery making over the next 20 years with a body of custom works in private hands.

The next chapter sees Robert full time in his studio fabricating from a pool of upcycled material to continue the quest to find the balance between form and function.
Influences
William Marshall (grandfather) AWA technician.
CNC machining, blacksmithing, electrical integration, kinetic sculpture.
Celtic, bronze age jewellery and metalsmithing.
Steve Weis, Andrew McDonald, Evan Hollis.
R.I.P James McDonald-Bio-Mecha, Jack Atley-Design-Film, Jeff Johnson-Robotics-spirituality.
World Wide Web of Art.
Exhibitions
1987 Riverina Theatre Company 'Tail of two cities' Musician
1996 Toowoomba TAFE, 'Oh the artwork ate my Dog' Sculpture
2001 Toowoomba carnival of flowers, Carnival float
2012 Downlands art exhibition, Sculpture
2013 Move mountains music festival, Sound, Film
2014 Toowoomba regional Art Gallery 'Off the grid' The Grid works in progress, Film
2015 Arts council Toowoomba 'I love Toowoomba because', Film
Website
www.r-j-s.biz