FITZROY LIBRARY EXHIBITION SPACE
8 December 2007 - 8 February 2008
Land forms, Body forms
Ceramic plaques, landscape plates, fractured landscapes, and sketches
Pyramid Hill - glaze-on-glaze stoneware, 34 x 34cms (1996)
The Main Library Wall
Helen Clancy’s work is quite well suited to display on the bluestone columns separating the windows in this wall. Some of her ceramic works have been mounted on painted rectangular hardboard, thus separating the colours and textures from the bluestone, yet existing in harmony with it. The accompanying ceramic plates hang directly against the same walls. Fractured Landscapes: Domaine Chandon, 39.5cms x 53cms (including mount board), shows six ceramic segments assembled to present a landscape with undulating pastures retreating to distant hills. Helen Clancy has avoided a literal or photographic image, by permitting herself to colour and texture each ‘slice’ of the landscape differently. The pieces retain a necessary congruence through conformity of line and overall restraint in shades of colour. Not Monochromatic, but close. Judicial use of metallic glazing adds vitality through contrast. Balgowrie Vineyard, 40cms x 55cms, six segments this time, showing a more subdued landscape. Keep River, Kimberly, 39cms x 45cms, is monochromatic in shades of green. The overall shape created by the assembly of ‘slices’ in the above art works is kept simple, somewhat oval, thus holding each piece together pleasingly.
Plates. Towards Gembrook National Park, 26cm diameter, Pyramid Hill, 34cm diameter, have painted landscapes to fit their circular shapes; mostly treated with earth colours, but both relieved by vivid blue in mountain and cloud. Other plates in this display feature more of earth colours and monochrome. Dam, Hoddles Creek, 25.5 diameter, shows a departure in style with a more decorative, lighter feel through repeat pattern and colour. A very attractive piece.
Fractured Landscape - Balgowrie Vineyard, raku, 40 cm x 55 cm (2007)
The Corridor Display
Full Frontal, 52cms x 40cms. Raku panel mounted on hardboard. Grey and black with cloth textures. The irregular overall shape containing a human figure placed centrally creates a strong composition. Other panels in this display area deal with the female nude, often humorously, frequently contorted. Displayed with these are many sketches of the female nude.
In all, a large collection of art works showing a great commitment and pleasure in their production. The mounting of this display itself has been a demanding job and has been very well executed.
Review by Anita Sinclair