Matto sketching with chalk and the hounds...

A snapshot of some of the behind the scenes work in developing the 'between stillness and movement' project for exhibition at the Canberra Glassworks. Jan 24th- 25th march 2018.
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In working with hot glass, I attribute the molten fluidity of the making, to present ideas of balance and poise within the finished forms. Within the development of my work, I have been loosely scribing text, as fluid fronds and subtly legible tendrils. As a glass blower I feel an affinity with the fluidity of the material, and more recently, have been drawn to the scale, the historical and scientific links within flame working. I would be interested in using this opportunity to develop my skills in the hot shop, with flame working and to further enable experimentation with neon. I would participate in skills development, experimentation, construction and contemplation.
 
I have been invigorated by the possibilities of making objects and elements as vessels with tendrils of light. I have been exploiting the sympathetic use of cold cathode/neon illumination within sculptural forms. Having had the great fortune to learn the basic skills of neon tube bending, with Richard Wheater, at the Glassworks to produce internally lit glass neon forms. An experience I am excited to expand upon.
 
The work I am pursuing is shifting focus to the lines of handwriting, hand-made lines, drawn in space, exploring and embodying the themes of circulation, diffusion and interconnection. The introduction of neon elements has led to experimenting with suspending the vibrant pulse and emotional intention of the ‘handwritten’ neon text within larger blown forms. This creates an almost unending thread of sinuous reflections within the void of the larger form. I encase language and ideas whilst revealing and obfuscating its own reflections within the forms. These illuminated lines, arch and form text, mark an exploration between stillness and the pulse and sinew of life, to explore presence. 

For some light relief and serious silliness with friends!!! Netty and Adam and Louis slip and slide, thanks Mel D for the happy snaps!

On the road and then in the air, off to Chicago, for another exciting year at SOFA www.sofaexpo.com/ with Habatat Gallery www.habatat.com/ I am looking forward to meeting up with old friends and seeing beautiful Chicago.

Congratulations to our Art Group Creative Fellow, Harriet Schwarzrock, for her win on Tuesday night at the 2017 Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Art Awards.
Harriet shared the major prize for her work, flexible, with another local artist, Suzanne Moss and her painting, Flowers for a room of one’s own, pictured with the judges.

​www.canberraglassworks.com/artists/studio-artists/creative-fellow/

​www.australiacouncil.gov.au/

​enlightencanberra.com.au/

Matthew has been busily working on new pieces, produced from smaller element and components of glass. Producing an hybrid overlay of cellular membranes referencing the structures of our built environment.