When mattresses make art

Castlemaine artist Frank Veldze at the Northern Arts Hotel with some of his newly installed sculptural art made from the innerspring steel of mattresses. Photo: Eve Lamb

If only mattresses could talk….
On second thoughts, perhaps it’s best they don’t.
Nevertheless, at Castlemaine’s Northern Arts Hotel mattresses with mysterious pasts have begun making an engaging statement.
Local artist Frank Veldze is a dab hand at using the recycled innerspring metallic cores of pre-loved mattresses to fashion stylish art works.
The pieces he creates have featured in prominent places like Sydney’s Sculpture by the Sea exhibition, chic private gardens on the Prom and the Peninsula, Sydney International Airport, and a public park in Moreland Street, Melbourne where City of Maribyrnong Council recently purchased one of the unique sculptures previously exhibited at Castlemaine’s Lot 19.
Now, new owner of Castlemaine’s Northern Arts Hotel, Maggie Fooke, has commissioned Frank to install some of his sculptural mattress work at the Barker Street front of the local accommodation establishment.
Frank has spent the past few weeks busily installing the work and soon ornamental grape vines will be planted, using the innerspring coils as creative climbing frames. Read more in today’s Mail 06.11.20…

Eve Lamb
Journalist and photographer Eve Lamb has a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) degree from Deakin University and a Master of Arts (Professional Writing) from Deakin University. She has worked for many regional newspapers including the Hamilton Spectator and the Warrnambool Standard, and has also worked for metro daily, The Hobart Mercury, and The Sunday Tasmanian. Eve has also contributed to various magazines including Australian Cyclist.