Royal South Australian Society of Arts
RSASA Gallery
Level 1 Institute Building
Corner of Kintore Ave., and North Terrace
Sun 28 Feb – Sun 21 Mar 2010
As one enters the RSASA Gallery one cannot help but feel that the beautiful red walls are crying out for breathing space. This Fringe exhibition, however, is a testimony to the growing number of new memberships of all backgrounds, from students to professionals, with the main objective being the love and the making of art. Works in various mediums such as sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, new media, textiles and jewellery are represented.
Young Man Reading by Heather Lorenzon, though small in size by comparison, reminds one of Rodin’s The Thinker. Though different mediums, both exude the powerful essence of being totally consumed by the thought process, one reading, the latter thinking, oblivious to anyone around them or their environment.
Scott Eames continues to show his prolific technique, concentrating more on realistic subjects as compared to the fantastical pursuits of his former style. Though larger than life, Judgement is a bust which, to Eames, has interpreted an inspirational figure, or an admirable person. His expressionistic modulation of the clay is anchored in realism but the artist’s hand and energy is clearly visible.
Wild Weather Over the Flinders, by Phillipa Fletcher, has depicted stylised brush marks in her treatment of the sky, while retaining ‘Steetonesque’ representation of the landscape and use of colour. One could relate this work to a musical piece.
As one would expect, members’ shows always have a rich exploration of different styles and approaches, even when a theme is set, the theme for this exhibition being Edge to Edge. The artists had their own interpretations, exploring the psychological ‘edge to edge’ of journeys, ways of seeing, having fun, and enlightenment, as we see in Lucie Winter’s Transformation, or the psychological interpretation of colour with the simplification of geometric space, as can be seen in John Lacey’s two works, McLaren Vale Patchwork and Autumn Colour, McLaren Vale. Bev Bills continues to explore different mediums with her entry Arms Through Shawl, hand-woven wool, with her other entries, Exploring and Consumed Pathways, both photo print on hand-made paper, a process for which Bills is well known, giving the work an extended interest beyond the image. A fun and clever piece is Amanda Hodgson’s white canvas with a zipper that when opened reveals text. Titled Zipper it appears to be a minimalist work using text to extend the work.
The RSASA Gallery space is versatile, at various times housing interstate touring exhibitions, members’ shows, or rented to artists for their own personal exhibitions.
Reviewed by Gina De Pieri Salvi, Glam Adelaide Visual Arts Critic.
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