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Past Exhibitions

Rural – nine artists from regional South Australia

What happens when you take nine artists from almost every corner of the state and blend them together in Mrs Harris’ Shop?

A terrific exhibition called Rural . . . with a fabulous range of works from glass to paintings, sculpture to jewellery.

Wildflowers Plate RY
Rachel Young’s Wildflower plate

Rural resulted from a series of serendipitous events.  First, there was a visit in April from fifteen regional artists who attended a professional development exercise courtesy of Country Arts SA.  Next, there was an unavoidable (and disappointing) cancellation of the planned November exhibition.  Then, there was an approach to Country Arts SA – would those same artists be interested in an exhibition?

Firm friendships had formed during the intense three days of PD activity and the group maintained contact after returning to their respective far-flung homes.

Now, it feels like a natural conclusion to their alliance – nine of them are exhibiting in Mrs Harris’ Shop.

It was quite an ask – not a long lead time and then of course, there was the tyranny of distance to deal with.

There is a loose ‘theme’ to the exhibition: the artists were asked to provide works that reflected their environment.  That makes for a pretty broad palette, as those environments range from (extreme) outback to the lushness of the green triangle in the south east of the state – and everything in between.

Cindy Durant
Cindy Durant – capturing ‘remote’ with Pebbles on the long beach

Cindy Durant  hails from Penong on the state’s far west coast and for Rural, she has produced work that falls into three categories: kiln formed glass, printed with powdered glass, using screen printing & multiple screen compositions where the images are composed of scenes from her home near Penong and its wonderful beaches; beach inspired kiln formed glass tableware (screen printed and layered glass suitable for food service or decoration) and found object jewellery: pebbles from the beach & gathered shells.

Cindy jewellery
Cindy’s ‘found object’ jewellery

 

Afer The Rain Poached egg daisies RY
After the Rain – poached egg daisies, Rachel Young

Rachel Young is inspired by the vastness and ever changing atmosphere of the arid environment of her home in Roxby Downs.  Not only do the colours, shapes and textures feature in her work – she also uses the rich gold, silver and copper mined at nearby Olympic Dam.  Enjoy her sculpture, jewellery and wall pieces.

Grains of Sand RY
Grains of Sand neckpiece

To the east and a little more into the remote outback (Is there any more remote than the likes of Roxby Downs or Penong? I hear you ask.) and Robyn Finlay is also absorbing the beauty of her environment near the tri-state border – the dirt, the colours and the life.  She loves experimentation and discovery – and using recycled materials, natural dyes and homemade inks.  She’s made tea bag art her own – and we are lucky enough to have two pieces in this exhibition.  Pop in to see, for yourself, just what Robyn can do with a teabag, some natural pigments and even some rust – just beautiful!

Tracks
It’s worth following the Tracks that Robyn Finlay has created

 

Meeting Of the Waters Study 3 Oil and wax on recycled board 57 x 25cm GH
Meeting of the Waters 3 Gaynor Hartvigsen

Closer to the ‘big smoke’ is Gaynor Hartvigsen from Strathalbyn.  Her beautiful works, featuring nearby landscapes, are in oil and wax, mixed media and acrylic, on canvas and (often recycled) board.

Light On The Lagoon sm GH
Light on the lagoon

Not far from Gaynor, is Care Vaughan at Victor Harbor.  Care loves colour – lots of it, big and bold – and this is reflected in her vibrant pieces.

Care Vaughan
Imagine – Care Vaughan, alive with colour

Jacky Charleston hails from Younghusband – her sculptures have a distinct ‘inland’ feel.  Orbs, featuring cut-outs of animals, have certainly roused curiosity and provoked lots of questions.  Jacky’s keeping everyone guessing!

koala orb
Jacky’s mystery orbs – this one, featuring a koala

Back to the water, this time at Meningie, is Rosa Merlino,  who recently attended a Country Arts SA workshop on cyanotypes.  Three of the pieces in the exhibition are produced from Rosa’s paintings and one, from a photograph of everyone’s favourite, pelicans – and she’s given them a special touch by reproducing them as cyanotypes.

Rosa
Out for a stroll – from the original by Rosa Merlino

Head south, and Roz Minion from Lucindale has produced the most delightful botanical pieces in watercolour and gouache on paper.  Their gorgeous colours are attracting lots of attention.

2015 FUNGI RM
Roz Minion’s Fungi

Travel even further south, to the green triangle, where Jennie Matthews from Mount Gambier has created beautiful machine-embroidered pieces.  Her cheery lovebirds have an almost South American feel about them.

Peace offering crop
Peace offering from Jennie Matthews

There’s so much to see in this wonderful exhibition – so much diversity – and it all sits together so beautifully.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see what some of South Australia’s wonderful regional artists are producing.  Some of them are quite established, others feeling their way – but wherever they fit, each has produced something special that makes a visit to Rural well worthwhile.

Rural is showing until Sunday 29 November.  The gallery is open on Saturdays and Sundays 11am – 3pm. Should you be in the area on a week day and would like to see the exhibition, give Jo a call on 0452 614 613 – chances are, she will be open the gallery for you.

 

 

Categories
Past Exhibitions

Alex Valero: Scatter

6_Almagest
Almagest

Scatter is glass artist Alex Valero’s debut solo exhibition.

It is a beautiful exhibition of hot-formed, cut and polished glass pieces that explore the material’s relationship with light.

9_Trajectories detail
Trajectories (detail). Image: Michal Kluvanek

Scatter features in the SALA program for 2015, and, for a whole lot of reasons, it is also part of the South Australian program for National Science Week (15 – 23 August).

8_Trajectories
Trajectories. Image: Michal Kluvanek

It is one of many events in the Science Week program reflecting its theme, Making Waves – the science of light, in this, the International Year of Light.

It is appropriate that Alex’s exhibition is included in the program – his sculptural works are inspired by mathematics and science, especially the material’s capacity to contain light.

beacon copy
Beacon. Image: Daniel Valero

He says ‘Glass has a deep connection with light. As a material, it allows the artist to sculpt light, creating work that emits or reflects light in beautiful ways.’

‘Science opens up new ways to explore nature, and challenges the mind to open itself up to radical ways of seeing the world.  My work responds to the need for new modes of thought as new discoveries take us further and further from the manifest world of everyday experience.’

It’s an exhibition that encourages visitors to explore – just like the way his works explore how this amazing material has been used to tame light for scientific and creative pursuits.

There are no cursory glances and impassive wanderings – the pieces have been examined  from all angles.  There are lots of questions,  and lots of bending, twisting, checking up and down, behind and in front.  The view from every angle adds new dimensions and it’s great to see the unreserved enjoyment from such exploration.

10_Cubed prototype
Cube: a popular piece from ‘Scatter’

Alex studied art at the University of South Australia, where he first encountered glassblowing. Fascinated by the material, and the challenge of working with it, he completed his visual art degree with a specialisation in glass.  Following art school, he completed the Associate Training Program at JamFactory.  For those two years, Alex was immersed in the world of studio glass, learning traditional craft skills and working on production teams.

He currently works from the JamFactory glass studio, where his practice aims to expand the sculptural possibilities of the material, pushing and combining traditional techniques in unconventional ways.

 

If you enjoy glass, and if you enjoy exploring, then this exhibition is a must-see.

Pop in to Mrs Harris’ Shop on any Saturday or Sunday throughout August, chat to the quiet, unassuming and very talented artist – enjoy the beauty that is Alex Valero’s Scatter.

Categories
Past Exhibitions

Lumen: Jaan Andres

JA Comet

What a way to start the year! Our 2015 Fringe exhibition features Adelaide-based Canadian glass maker Jaan Andres in his solo exhibition, Lumen.

After graduating in Fine Arts at Alberta College of Art and Design, Jaan chose Adelaide and the Jam Factory to further his craft. That was in 2009 – and he’s still here, living and working as a glassmaker/designer.

Lumen is Jaan’s third solo exhibition in the past four years – an exhibition he describes as a portfolio of recent developments in his work.

JA bowls

The exhibition is timed to coincide with States of Illumination the 2015 Ausglass Conference in Adelaide in early February. (Ausglass is the foremost body for the promotion of contemporary glass in Australia and conducts a national conference every two years.)

Listen to Jaan’s interview with Stephen Moylan from LinkAdelaide.

Lumen opens on Wednesday 11 February (6 – 8pm) and on Saturdays and Sundays, 11am – 3pm, until 15 March, or by appointment.  Call Jo on 0452 614 613 to arrange special visits.

(Please note that opening night is Wednesday 11 February, which differs from the Fringe program details.  The change accommodates the opening of States of Illumination.)

JA redJA blue

Categories
Past Exhibitions

Piece by piece

elements

Welcome to Piece by Piece, a profusion of colour and representing hours of painstaking work and dedication.

Carol Hill has worked in mosaics since 2001, when she discovered and fell in love with the ancient art.  As well as designing and producing a wide range of mosaics, Carol also shares her love of the art through teaching.

She loves colour – something you can’t help but notice!  Nature in its various forms is her inspiration – from her home by the sea to the birds and animals around her – they all find a place in her works.

Her quirky sense of humour is evident in many of her pieces – and in this exhibition, you’ll find there’s something for everyone.

Carol is happy to take on commissions – should you see something in the exhibition that is no longer available, have a chat with Carol to discuss your special project.

close up mermaid crop

Piece by piece is dedicated to the memory of Carol’s niece, Jessica Bruns, who died last month.

 

 

Categories
Past Exhibitions

Verity Jasmin Burley

Mrs Harris’ Shop welcomes Verity Burley, with True Catalyst, a showcase of her stunning glass ware.

Verity has worked around the world in a variety of glass-making environments – and they’ve all had an impact on her work.

Pop in on Saturdays or Sundays throughout July for the opportunity to meet the artist and spend some time browsing these colourful pieces. Also on show is Verity’s magnificent collection of slides of the Corning Glass Museum.

Fancy a taste?

Thanks China detail

Categories
Past Exhibitions

Mrs Harris’ Shop presents . . .

Welcome to Mrs Harris’ Shop presents . . .

Six artists from the western suburbs of Adelaide. who create and support each other within this community, have come together to mount this fantastic exhibition.

Enjoy the sense of space created by Nina Rantanen’s architecturally inspired works. It’s like being drawn through the wall, or into the sky!

Sun washed

 

Megan O’Hara once stored her newly created canvases in Mrs Harris’ Shop (between incarnations as a workshop and a gallery). It is a delight to now see her works on the walls, celebrating nature and life.

21 trees

And then, there’s the added dimension of glass and jewellery.

Peta Cowen Goh and Dale Roberts will have you spell-bound at the beauty in their glass works: the light plays on them are tantalising!

For some fun jewellery, who can resist Daina Dunda’s cutest little birds, or Kate Fallon’s recycled rings?

Pop in on Saturdays and Sundays between 11am and 3pm. As usual, you will likely meet one of the artists, who love to chat about their work – and that of their fellow artists.

On show until Sunday 9 June on weekends, or by appointment.

Categories
Past Exhibitions

In the mind of the beholder . . .

Welcome to Mrs Harris’ Shop and the Fringe 2013 exhibition.

Here we are: back where we started!

This time last year, we were excited (and will confess, just a little nervous) to be preparing our first exhibition.

The Fringe was such an exciting place to start – it proved to be the perfect launch for Mrs Harris’ Shop.

It’s been a wonderful year and we thank our growing band of supporters.

 

This year, a little less nervous and even more excited, Mrs Harris invited artists to submit works that portrayed an aspect, or aspects, of psychology, for the 2013 Fringe exhibition.

Seven wonderful artists rose to the challenge and we have some fabulous pieces on show. Each artist, of course, has her (they just happen to all be female!) own interpretation of this very broad topic – and now, it’s up to you, the viewer, to enjoy your own interpretation of the individual works.

After all, it’s In the mind of the beholder.

With photographs, paintings, sculpture and glass, there’s a fabulous variety.

So join us, at Mrs Harris’ Shop for a journey inside your own head and perhaps dare to wander into that of the artist. What was she thinking when she created that piece?

Chances are you will meet at least one of the artists when you drop in. They all love chatting about their work and particularly enjoy meeting visitors to the gallery.

  • Deborah Trusson
  • Philippa Robert
  • Anna-Maria Zupancic
  • Suzanne Mustan
  • Jenny Johnson
  • Krystyna Moore
  • Ivana di Stasio

Ivana#1Goddess of the fertile earth

Internal struggle #1

 

 

AMZ shellPER picSM bench