Sam Mitchell-Fin and Mark Wotherspoon

XX Mon. YYYY

"Priori Bound: and what's left behind" is the mysterious title to a collaborative exhibition between these two Australian artists which has just finished its run at Kaleidoscope Gallery in Dank Street, Waterloo.

I've been following Wotherspoon's work for some time. He was one of the Founding Directors of ESP Gallery in Marrickville and I've been impressed not only by his prodigious output but by his inquisitiveness and sense of integrity that he brings to his arts practice. The recycling of glass from old cathode-ray TV screens was pretty interesting, though sometimes with mixed results in terms of aesthetics. The same could be said of his explorations with leadlight construction techinique; a certain 'clunkiness' sometimes prevailed.

However the work in Priori Bound pushes beyond previous limitations, taking the idea of three-dimensional leadlight (or copper-foil to be precise) to an entirely new level. These works are among the most successful experimental glass works that I have yet seen. The incorporation of mirror as a backing within the picture frame is inspirational and the use of a white frame with lots of clear glass and judicious bright colour provides a pristine quality to the whole. The glass construction leaps out of the frame and commands attention.

As Founding Director of Platform 72 (Darlinghurst) and Kaleidoscope, this is Sam Mitchell-Fin's first solo show in his own space. Apparently there was some angst to overcome in order for this to happen (an emotion I am all-too-familiar with, having run my own ARI in Lane Cove for some 13yrs)

I've not yet spoken with either artist concerning this body of work but I can see that the collaboration has been extremely fruitful. There was only one actual major work in which the two artists collaborated, "Nude Ascending Self with Light", but the whole exhibition hung together well with the pieces speaking to each other and the leadlight work often reflecting the neon.

The three figure sculptures above are by Mark Wotherspoon. "Visualisation" is a construction of copper tubing, an interesting extension of the sorts of techniques employed in leadlighting but with voids where there would be glass. The glass components are the cast head and pillow: the intention here is clear. Less immediately clear is the meaning behind the glass construction bursting from the heads of the dark, brooding figures on plinths. These are cast in recycled TV screen glass, looking very un-glass-like and on first impression what are intended as 'auras' appear as a kind of improbable head-dress.

It all becomes clear of course once you read the titles and statements and Wotherspoon is to be congratulated in attempting to render into sculpture something so intangible.

Wayne Pearson's Post-Graduate Exhibition

XX Mon. YYYY

After 3 years of sustained effort, experimentation, trial and error (but mostly success) Wayne Pearson has produced an astounding collection of portraits of some of the leading figures in the Australian studio glass scene. A group of almost 40 collectors, curators, practitioners and gallerists now grace the walls of one of the main exhibition spaces at Sydney College of the Arts Rozelle campus.

Wayne first interviewed all of his subjects and during the interview Marina his wife took photographs for reference. Wayne says that the interviews were an integral part of the whole process and very much governed the form of the final portrait. It was a fascinating process to be a part of. As well as these narrative works, his doctorate also explored the non-subjective, amorphous nature of glass where the material itself carries meaning, or rather allows the viewer to fall into the work and create his own narrative .

The surface of these pieces was particular seductive and was only finally resolved in the past few months with the help of Bridgett Thomas, a fellow student. Each form was ground with a wet pumice paste and scouring cloth to achieve a beautiful satin finish. Light is captured within the form and the veiwer finds himself dwelling there, lost for long moments.