15 October - 3 November 2015
about the exhibition
Canberra glass artist Ruth Oliphant has always been intrigued by the way impressions of a destination are filtered through memory and experience. In previous years, she has drawn from imagery inspired by specific places such as the streetscapes and architecture of Sydney and Cairo. Her current body of work explores the way in which the changing light throughout the day interacts with the built environment to mark the passage of time. As Ruth explains, “It is a momentary yet constant reminder that we are in a continual state of change. Windows have always played an important role in my work and, in this exhibition, they act as the threshold between the inside and outside world. They also represent a metaphoric gateway between my inner and outer worlds and how both are constantly changing, much like the light during the day.” Ruth uses a variety of hot and cold glass working techniques to create her pieces such as carving, fusing, engraving and applying glass powders.
Ruth Oliphant commenced her studies in architecture before changing to a Bachelor of Arts/Visual, majoring in glass, at the ANU Institute of the Arts in Canberra, graduating with Honours in 2008. She has already received significant recognition for her work,being a finalist in the Ranamok Glass Prize in 2007 and 2008, receiving the Ranamok People’s Choice Award in 2008, Embassy of Spain Award in 2008, Vicki Torr Memorial Prize in 2009 and an Australia Awards Endeavour Fellowship for 2014. Ruth has completed several residencies with her most recent in 2014 at the Berlin Glas e.V in Germany and Bullseye Glass Company, USA. This year, she has participated in the Artist-in-Schools Program, an initiative of the Australia Council for the Arts in partnership with artsACT and the ACT Education and Training Directorate.
