The June Meeting

In spite of a cold and wet winter’s evening, a good number of members, including two new members, (Christen-Jo and Julie) enjoyed the June "Show and Tell" meeting which was kindly hosted and held at the home of our President Gillian Govan.

Several members brought work or shared their processes. The presentations were met with enthusiastic, informative discussions and feedback. First time visitor and new member Christen-Jo – Stone was warmly welcomed by the group and outlined her history in creating and teaching creative art, her extensive travels, and more recently her using basket weaving in a sculptural form.

We all agreed, whilst enjoying supper provided by members, that the "show and tell" get-togethers are engaging and an excellent opportunity for us to get to know each other and our practice.

Gillian's Studio

Gillian started the ball rolling by taking us all out to her studio. There she talked about her process of making a work using cold bronze - from casting into the mold, through to finishing. Many members were able to identify with some of the challenges faced with casting and offered solutions.


Yvonne Monik presented a glazed and decorated ceramic pot with an interesting history. This work had been repaired, whilst still green (unfired) after it had been accidentally dropped by a friend of her son’s. Yvonne explained that very often she learns more about a clay body from having to make repairs. She credits this to her pottery teacher who blindfolded her students so they could feel their work through their hands. She plans to present the repaired pot to her son as a wedding present!

Yvonne Monik

Betty Knight has been commissioned to make a bust and is experimenting with a new material for making the mold. So Betty brought the mold of a head, made from hydra stone and talked of the many problems she encountered particularly with a series of small bubbles on the surface. Several members were able to offer suggestions on how to avoid or minimize this issue.

Betty Knight

Andrew Bryant showed off a unique three legged, avant-garde chair, all of his own design which he made from stainless steel, recycled red gum and leather. Several of us found it very comfortable, especially the soft leather seat and back made by his sister.

Andrew Bryant

Valda Cummins and her sculpture made from "scrappy bits" of Huon pine she specially selected in Tasmania. Valda talked about the finishing oils etc. she uses, how she achieves the silky smooth surface, and how she avoids a build up of polish on the surface.

 

Valda Cuming

Jenny Rickards' bear

Jenny Rickards held in her hand a small sculpture carved from Manchurian pear wood in the form of a polar bear which was passed around.

 

Michael Meszaros brought along a work in progress. Both the plaster mold and wax casting of a rock-face together with a tree modelled from wax over a partial copper armature. He talked about the process of creating the original rock face from clay and his manipulation of the wax to enhance the detail to show the strata and rock faults.

 

Michael Meszaros

Gordon Robertson's polishing devises

Gordon Robertson chose to show and explain the use of some special tools and their attachments. Gordon uses these tools for polishing and removing weld burn marks on stainless steel - a material he uses in his sculptures.

 

Thanks to Gordon and Marija for this report.