 www.thors.com.au/mixing-room-gallery Thor’s Hammer is pleased to present Aggregate: Perspectives in Recycled Glass, an exhibition featuring innovative works by Ngaio Fitzpatrick, Matthew Curtis, Jacqueline Knight, Thor Diesendorf and Small Impact Studio founders, Gina Fairley and Scott Chaseling.
As one of the most energy-intensive and extensively utilised building and manufacturing materials, glass needs a circular solution. Aggregate: Perspectives in Recycled Glass explores material reuse innovations, showcasing a collection of works by local artists and makers that utilise recycled glass in both utilitarian and aesthetic ways. The collection of exhibited works makes use of a variety of recycled glass forms, including televisions screens, window glass and bottles; and encompasses sculpture, installation, objects and small-scale production pieces. Drawing together each artists' perspectives on responding to a changing environment through the intentional reuse and beautification of existing materials, the exhibition showcases a number of collaborative works, including between Canberra glass artist Jacqueline Knight and Thor’s Hammer founder, Thor Diesendorf. Such collaborative works between artists exemplify the power of knowledge and resource sharing in responding to both entrenched and emerging environmental problems, mirroring the need for functional cooperation in the hotshop (glass workshop). They also give us reason to think critically about the role of recycled materials in art and what this might mean for artwork of the future. Aggregate: Perspectives in Recycled Glass is showing at the Mixing Room Gallery at Thor's Hammer in Griffith (Canberra) from 15 September until 28 October, 2023. Image by Waratah Lahy of Matthew Curtis recycled glass and LVL PAIRED EXHIBITION MATTHEW CURTIS & HARRIET SCHWARZROCK Till 15th October 2023 JUST AS PAIRED ELEMENTS EVOKE A SENSE OF BALANCE AND CONTRAST, THE ARTISTIC PRACTICES OF CURTIS AND SCHWARZROCK COMPLEMENT AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER. WITH THEIR SHARED FAMILY LIFE AND DYNAMIC CONTEMPORARY GLASS STUDIO, THEIRS IS AN INTRINSIC PARTNERSHIP.IMAGE: MATTHEW CURTIS, EDGE, 2023 co Suki&Hugh Gallery www.sukihugh.com.au/  I installed ARC in the foyer of the Canberra Glassworks for Defining Moments, a joint exhibition with Harriet Schwarzrock. I am fascinated by the exquisite architecture of organic cellular structures. These forms and pairs of delicate formations reflects upon the complexity of growth. Another aspect of this work is the material language of steel and glass: that of our built world, with the engineered frame constraining these almost fluid glass elements. The amorphous curves expose the structure of organic growth. On closer inspection each element is similar but not identical to the next, the whole becomes reliant on the sympathetic pliability between the intersecting forms. This work affords an exploration on continuity. With the contrasting convex and concave surfaces providing different aspects to investigate the structure of these delicate elements. My entry for the inaugural Hindmarsh Prize was shortlisted and will be exhibited in the Fitters Workshop in June. Glacial Blue Paired Section blown glass, cut, fused, carved, stainless steel frame 2016 23 x 59 x 10 cm (Image: RLDI)  From the Canberra Glassworks website: Matthew Curtis made an outstanding contribution as the Canberra Glassworks inaugural Creative Fellow. His work is highly regarded and exhibited locally and overseas. This much sought-after opportunity, which drew interest from glass artists across Australia and around the world, provided Matthew with a dedicated studio space at the world-class Canberra Glassworks facility for 12 months from 1 February 2015. He also received a cash stipend of AUD$20,000 which was supported by Canberra Glassworks and donations to a special public fund, the Canberra Glassworks Foundation. Matthew was provided with free access to the facilities and equipment with very few limitations for the term of the Creative Fellowship. “It was a privilege to be able to make a dynamic contribution to the ongoing growth of the Glassworks, whilst also facilitating developments within my own practice,” said Matthew. Below, some work from 2015, with much of the work made during the Creative Fellowship at the Canberra Glassworks. I begin sketching with chalk on the ground; this is a part I really enjoy. Making these preliminary impermanent sketches allows a certain freedom. Working through ideas for forms and exploring geometric elements. Puzzling together in two-dimensions, whilst tussling over interpreting these as three-dimensional forms. This then leads on to technical drawings and maquettes. Through all of the steps the ideas are sharpened and refined. The work I make is often constructed from individual elements, crafted from molten glass. Here the geometric components are fused into a partial hemisphere. The cell-like elements form an organic yet architecturally inspired structure. With multiple imperfect lenses distorting and magnifying our experience. This work continues the development of sculptural objects, using multiple glass elements to build larger tensile forms. The process of making the glass elements is pared back. The individual yet incrementally similar elements are amassed. Then fused into these simplified geometric forms, or set into these architecturally inspired stainless armatures. The objects describe intersecting and vanishing lines. Whilst the sheltered spaces beckon, defined by the glass facets and molten edges in these arching and reaching forms. This work draws upon an ongoing fascination with the structure and architecture of biological growth. Where the scaffolding of similar cellular forms describe fascinating and complex structures. |
