Feathers, Fur, Fins and Friends

Sculpture by Karen Scott-Hoy

KAREN SCOTT-HOY is an interpretative woodcarver, working entirely by hand using age-old techniques, a mallet and chisels, to create in Huon pine original “one-off” works of art. Salvaged, weathered Huon pine has its own unique character and blemishes which enhance rather than detract from the beauty of the finished work as the artist uses the rhythm and flow of the natural wood to give the carving its motion and action. Hence Karen often incorporates the grey oxidized timber, sap and cracks into the finished carving believing that they show, like the swirling golden grain, the struggles that this unique Tasmania timber has undergone during it’s long, slow growth period.  Further, its allows the viewer to see where the wood has been and what it has become. Many of the carvings encourage the viewer to move beyond the fragrance, feel and focus of the sculpture into the realms of his/her own imagination, memories and emotions to find their own story within the carvings.

This exhibition includes both larger carvings to be hung on walls and smaller more intimate and tactile objects, drawing inspiration from the beautiful world of feathers, fur, fins and friends around us!

Karen lives with her husband and two dogs on the beautiful North West Coast of Tasmania.  You can find her work in Off Centre's micro-gallery window from 3rd - 30th January.

Karen Scott-Hoy with her unique Huon pine sculptures

Fish Magic - new sculptures by John Watson

John Watson's school of fish

This January, John Watson's complex, richly decorated ceramic sculptures are featured in our double gallery window together with the work of Jude Maisch (below).  John's dazzling and lifelike fish look ready to swim off with a flick of their tails.  Catch them before they disappear!

Summertime Blues - new work by Jude Maisch

Ceramics by Jude Maisch

Jude Maisch's new work is in the double window in January. She has called this collection "Summertime Blues".

It is a continuation of her "Blue and White" range, with a number of striking patterned platters taking centre stage in the collection. Images of shells and waves hark back to childhood.  Summers of beaches and shell collecting. The floral and abstract motifs are reminiscent of grandmother's tea-sets and patchwork rugs belonging to childhood long and lazy Summers at the shack (long gone).

Platter by Jude Maisch

New works by Kim Foale and NosMos

Cups by Kim Foale

 

Salt bowls by Kim Foale

This December, Off Centre features new work by members Kim Foale and creative team NosMos.  

Kim Foale lives in the hills in the Southern Midlands surrounded by dry sclerophyll forest. Foale takes inspiration from the things she sees every day and uses found objects to make marks in her work. Her limited edition sclerophyll cups have been made using bark from tall blue gums on her property.

"Off with the Fairies", watercolour by Rodney Alexander

NosMos present 'The Birds and the Bees' - original native bird watercolours by Rodney James Alexander and collectable jewellery pieces by Hiedi Limebeer.

Bee brooch in cut black/cream acrylic resin by Hiedi Limebeer

Blackwood wren brooch by Hiedi Limebeer

Free Range: glass by Andrea Harris

The hens are laying well this season.  And what is one to do with all those eggs?

My glass is functional, safe to eat from.   It’s created with a love of the medium – glass lets in light, it lets light pass through, it bends the light as it passes. Glass is a super-cooled form of silica.  A super-cooled liquid is a metastable liquid that has been cooled below its melting point.  Which make glass cool.  Super cool.  Glass.

Late night trading at Off Centre during December

 

This year Off Centre will be open for late night Christmas trading at Salamanca Arts Centre on Friday evenings (7th, 14th and 21st December).  Drop in after work, browse SAC shops and galleries, and enjoy free live music with Rektango in the courtyard.  Only in December, so don't miss it!

Gay McKinnon and Carolyn Toselli

'Cubist Tic Tac Toe', fused polished glass, Gay McKinnon

Ceramic fish platters, Carolyn Toselli

Throughout November, check Off Centre's large gallery window for new glass and ceramics by Gay McKinnon and Carolyn Toselli.  Gay McKinnon's playful glass games, blocks and platters exploit the brilliant colours and tactile qualities of kiln-formed polished glass while referencing the artist's scientific background.  Chromosomes, rock strata, geometric and intracellular forms all feature.  Ceramic artist Carolyn Toselli presents colourful, boldly decorative functional ware, jewellery and animal sculptures. 

Ceramic platter by Carolyn Toselli

Fused glass jewellery by Gay McKinnon