Thursday 31 October 2019

WATHAURONG GLASS November 2019

WATHAURONG GLASS

November 2019

Art Glass




Detail - slumped glass platter


When an art develops a signature style it secures its place in the visual lexicon – art that is recognizably by a particular ‘hand’ is understood to have achieved that significant position. Wathaurong Glass is just such a creation – somehow, in Geelong, a whole tribe has come together to achieve unique artworks, together, an amazing and inspirational contrast to the often ego-driven individualism of the ‘western’ artworld.

In 1998 the Wathaurong Glass company was formed to express Aboriginal art in glass. The techniques used to produce their products include the use of kiln forming (slumping glass), sandblasting and any other technique felt suitable to achieve a desired result.

Great pride is taken in producing unique artwork with the net result of high quality glass products. Current products include: slumped window and door glass, kitchen and bathroom splashbacks, platters, bowls and corporate gifts, and unique awards and trophies in glass. Wathaurong Glass also works on commercial commissions without cultural connotations such as glass light lenses, corporate logos and kiln formed textured glass.

Located in Geelong, Wathaurong Glass (WG) supplies and arranges delivery of all products Australia wide – an art in itself.

Wathaurong Glass began life when RMIT University and ATSIC came together to address employment opportunities for local people – all employees/co-operative members of WG are indigenous. Mark Edwards has been leading the ‘adventure’ for all 20 years of the group’s existence and when tough times threatened, (and they did), he managed to hold the group together and continue the project which now sees WG as a highly successful small business.




Detail - Slumped glass platter


The name WATHAURONG (wathawurrung or wadda wurrung) is a recognised Aboriginal tribe, comprised of 25 clans. The boundaries of Wathaurong are from Geelong (Victoria), North to Werribee River, North West to Bacchus Marsh, South West to Cressy, South East to Colac, East to Lorne & North back to Geelong encompassing the Bellarine Peninsula.

Wathaurong Glass is a not for profit business owned by the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd which is an Aboriginal community-controlled organization, structured so that the community of Wathaurong and the broader community are the beneficiaries of any profit. Where possible Wathaurong Glass purchases its raw materials from the local community believing this is better for Geelong and the environment (less transport emissions). This sensitive wholistic approach to sourcing and creation is indicative of a fine co-operative ethos such as underpins so much positive and inspirational indigenous thinking and practice and provides a great living example to the young.


WINDOWSPACE BEEAC is privileged to host the fine work of this tribe.





Hand-painted - translucent glass platter



Bush toys in window by BRONWYN RAZEM!

Tuesday 1 October 2019

ANA JENSEN CERAMICS - October




ANA MARIA HERNANDEZ JENSEN

  October 2019
  Various ceramics






Spanish-born potter Ana Maria Hernandez Jensen's ceramics are simple, deceptively so. Simplicity and functionality in perfect tandem make for great design, and beauty. Achieving this duality is not as easy as it looks - Ana Jensen has been hard at work perfecting such balance for many years. 

Her hand-thrown domestic ware, made locally, is indicative of her cultural background which values clean contemporary lines. Jensen performs all aspects of the ceramics process, from forming to firing, to distribution, overseeing all stages to ensure high standards are met consistently.














‘My education in ceramics began in Denmark where I undertook a traineeship as a potter. The emphasis of this training was on production throwing, demanding the development of a high degree of skill on the potter's wheel.The traineeship also took me to England and France, including a time at La Borne pottery village. This gave me exposure to a wide variety of studio practices and methods of firing.’ 

Jensen’s work, to this writer’s eye, has a kinship to that of ceramicist Phil Elson, a North Central Victorian potter who began his career with clay at the CAE around Eltham in 1981. What seems common to each, beyond the simplicity and functionality of their work, is an attachment to place, which makes sense, given the weighty commitment to kiln, supplies and tools in a particular area. Ceramics is generally a grounded practice. Jensen’s Instagram images hint at her appreciation of this factor – the context of her workplace features sheep and sheepdog: the soft and the ceramic come together to create contentment.


In the context of WINDOWSPACE, Jensen’s clear functionality offsets the roving curiosity of Georgia Harvey’s ceramics (see entry for WINDOWSPACE April 2016 - http://windowspace-beeac.blogspot.com/2016/04/2016-3-georgia-harvey-2-30-april-2016.html )
Together, Jensen and Harvey, along with Rex Ashworth (WINDOWSPACE June 2018 - http://windowspace-beeac.blogspot.com/2018/06/bernadette-daly-and-rex-ashworth-june.html  ) - give a comprehensive feel for what constitutes ceramics.


AS

anajensenceramics instagram


CONGRATS Bronwyn Razem CARDINET at Yarra Valley




CONGRATULATIONS 
Bronwyn Razem

on your show at 

KOORIE HERITAGE TRUST CULTURAL CENTRE
Federation Square, City of Melbourne



BRONWYN RAZEM
Camping on Country (2019)

Opening 5 October 2019 @ 2pm




Current to 24 November 2019



_____________________________________

CAROLYN CARDINET IS AT


Yarra Valley Arts | Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition & Awards 2019
Opening and Awards Wine Brunch
Sunday13 October @ 11.30 in Yering Station’s Historic Barn

                
 


Image: Todd Stuart, Levitation, Silicon bronze on granite, 58 x 30 x 50 cm Photo: Robert Anderson



For more information please contact 

Dr Ewen Jarvis
Curator and Exhibition Coordinator
Yering Station Art Gallery
38 Melba Highway
Yarra Glen Vic 3775