7 – 24 February 2019
about the exhibition
“one three seven” brings together the work of five highly respected and internationally recognised contemporary glass artists – Alexandra Chambers, Mel Douglas, Benjamin Edols & Kathy Elliott and Tom Rowney. There is an extraordinary depth of glass-making experience within this small Canberra trained group, collectively 137 years. Each artist presents new work exploring the possibilities of this versatile medium. The perfection and complexity of their traditional glass making skills is often combined with innovative cold working processes extending the glass beyond its initial form. This show highlights the thriving Australian contemporary glass making community, and in particular, displaying the technical and conceptual prowess of these modern masters.
The distinctive style of Benjamin Edols and Kathy Elliott is historically informed by, yet not limited to, traditional approaches. Their current work sees water and waves reflected in exquisitely crafted vessels with pieces ranging from restrained urn forms to more decorative ancient Chinese silhouettes with black lip wraps and feet, carved over a sea of gentle silver leaf. Some works use a combination of cane work across the vessel with carved imagery of tumbling waves to present the impression of a chaotic windswept ocean. Their extraordinary skill, combined with a contemporary vision, allows them to create works of great beauty with a unique aesthetic. Benjamin Edols and Kathy Elliott both trained at the Canberra School of Art under the guidance of former glass workshop head, Klaus Moje. Together, they have exhibited widely in Australia, as well as showing in Japan and the USA. Their work is represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Queensland Art Gallery, Powerhouse Museum, Art Gallery of South Australia, Artbank, Museum of Arts and Design (New York), Corning Museum of Glass (New York) and Victoria and Albert Museum (London).
