Blame Joy! She asked me if I could make a glass chicken!
Joy is one of the members at the Lower Clarence Arts and Crafts Association’s Ferry Park Gallery. Joy made me a wonderful crocheted woolen knee rug that has kept me warm all winter. Joy loved the glass fish that I have at Ferry Park, and asked if I could make a glass chicken for her granddaughter’s birthday. That was fun!
Woolgoolga – known to the locals as Woopi – is approximately 20km north of Coffs Harbour. Friday night was the opening of the Woolgoolga Art Gallery’s annual Lillipilli Exhibition, which runs until 14-October. We went down for the opening – stayed overnight and went into Coffs Harbour the next day.
Woolgoolga Art Gallery is community run gallery, staffed by volunteers. Their Lillipilli Exhibition should be an example to all community galleries on how to run a show. The opening night was just so good – the staff were helpful, food and drink were plentiful, and the art was of a high standard. I had two entries – a new Fishy Fantasy above, and the Fantasy in a Fishbowl.
Saturday morning was a look around Coffs – we checked the shops, bought the groceries, then headed out to the Marina for a stroll around to look at the tourists and locals and to check the shops, including Geoffrey Baker’s Art Gallery, followed by lunch on the deck at the Yacht – looking out over the bay and the Solitary Islands. How good is that!
Another version of my Seascape Fantasy series is off to find a new home! I took this collection of quirky critters to the wonderful Lily at Art Aspects Gallery, Lismore this morning. Lily took it straight to the shop window!
If you are in the neighbourhood, drop in. Support your local gallery!
Fantasy in a fishbowl #3
This fishy piece was awarded a ‘Highly Commended’ at the recent LCACA small works 8×8 exhibition. The piece features a bunch of fantastic fishy critters more or less in a dreamy fishbowl – however a few of the critters are making a break for it!
The exhibition has since ended, and this piece has been updated and remounted onto a solid timber base. This piece is now at Ferry Park Gallery – if you are travelling up the Pacific Highway and passing through Maclean, pull off the highway and take a break while you check out the Ferry Park Gallery.
This piece is the smallest of my ‘Fantasy in a Fishbowl’ series – just 19cm wide by 14cm deep by 23cm high – priced at $285.00.
Fantasy in a Fishbowl
Yesterday afternoon, the ‘Clarence River Women in Art Exhibition kicked off at the Yamba Museum. The exhibition features 60 artists who live and work in the Clarence River valley. The show is the result of a lot of hard work and organisation by Debra Novak, aided and abetted by Bob and Marea Buist. The exhibition runs from 12-December, and runs until 28 January 2018.
I am proud that my ‘Fantasy in a Fishbowl’ is part of this exhibition. The piece is collection of quirky marine critters, mostly contained within a ghostly fishbowl – there are a few escapees…
One of the features of the exhibition will be artwork by earlier women artists from the Clarence Valley, some from the 19th century. These artists recorded people and places that are now historical. The show also features a painting by Lillian Chauvel, the first Australian female artist to exhibit overseas. Incidentally, Lillian Chauvel was the sister of General Sir Henry Chauvel, who led the Desert Mounted Corps at the Battle for Beersheba, where the 4th Light Horse carried the famous charge.
‘Roses’ by Lillian Chauvel
The opening event included performances by two young Clarence Valley singers – the classically trained Michelle Jean Ryan and contemporary singer/songwriter Grace Hickey. It turns out that Michelle’s great-aunt was Margaret Gard, born at Harwood, and better known as Margherita Grandi, a noted operatic mezzo-soprano and diva, who sang at Covent Garden, La Scala and other noted opera houses, who sang in movies such as ‘The Red Shoes’, and who was recorded in in work conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham. That’s a long way from Harwood Island!
Fantasy Seascape
This collection of marine critters is now at Coldstream Gallery, Ulmarra. Enjoy!
Shades of Red Hollows Series
Red Hill Gallery is one of Brisbane’s best galleries. They represent noted Australian painters, sculptors and glass artists.
My work is again available at Red Hill Gallery. If you are in the neighbourhood, take the time to drop in and enjoy!
Detail – Fishbowl Fantasy #1
The ‘Dancing with the Flame’ exhibition at the National Glass Art Gallery in Wagga Wagga has kicked off. And what a collection it is… Great flame worked glass from Australia’s best. Some stunning work!
The exhibition opens today, with the official launch party this evening. The exhibition runs until 20 January 2018.
This juried exhibition celebrates the best of Australian and New Zealand flame worked glass. I was pleased to be invited to be participate in this show. I have six pieces in this show – including my ‘Fishbowl Fantasy #1’. And two of my pieces were used on the cover of the brochure!
Credit to coordinator and driving force Deb Dunkerton and to Curator Michael Scarrone for putting this event together.
If you are travelling up the Hume Highway, take the time to drop into Wagga Wagga and check out the National Glass Art Gallery and the National Glass Art Collection. The National Art Glass Collection is just spectacular and should not be missed. Every serious glass lover must go see!
Mark Eliott, Kathryn Wardill and Alistair Mead on the torches…
Kirra Gallery has hosted the last Flame On Glass gathering. At the end of September 2017, Kirra Gallery will close its doors, and close the doors on an era of Australian Glass Art. The last exhibition to be held at Kirra is the Flame on Glass Exhibition to celebrate the work of Australian contemporary flamed formed glass artists.
For 15 years, Kirra Gallery has brought together Australia’s best to show off this mostly neglected aspect of art glass.
To celebrate (or commemorate) the occasion, Peter Kolinar commissioned Dr Gerry King to write an essay, which was published in this glossy booklet. I am absolutely flattered and stoked that one of my pieces has been included in this high profile collection!
These Seascape Fantasy pieces were something new for me. They were great fun to make, and I love them. But I never expected that anyone would buy them!
This one went to Kirra. Hand carried on the airplane to Melbourne (and I dropped the box as I got out of the taxi at the hotel- nervous moment, but no damage). And it sold. Yasmin from Kirra tells me that it was bought by one of their regular collectors – many thanks to him – perhaps one day, I can thank him in person.
The little brother to this piece that went to Kirra picked up a win in class at the Clarence River Arts Festival, then a few weeks later, sold at Ferry Park Gallery!
So exciting! And unexpected – who would have thought!
So many thanks to all of you lovely people who like my work!
But now, I am working on a new piece for another exhibition – watch this space!
Su Bishop Glass Art 