South Fremantle Artists Present Plasticity at Heathcote Gallery

The exhibition will showcase the work produced by South Fremantle artists Dawn Gamblen and Minaxi May, during their recent six-month residency at the Fremantle Arts Centre.

City of Melville Curator Soula Veyradier said, “Plasticity captures the essence of plastic as a vibrantly colourful material that conveys notions of the artificial and inorganic, while also being undeniably flexible in its use and purpose.”

“The exhibition centres on ideas around collecting, artful display, consumerism, process and the experiential nature of art. The artists create sculptural site-specific arrangements using easily identifiable, found and collected objects in the form of synthetic materials including straws, cups and spray-can lids.”

For Plasticity, Ms Gamblen and Ms May have exploited the inherent qualities and potential of collected objects as items to be stacked, stretched, joined and skillfully generated into forms.

Ms May said, “We both have an affinity for plastic, having previously worked with it in our practices. Plastic was chosen as our medium, not only animated by its suggestive artificiality, its undeniable resilience and flexibility but also the sheer magnitude of plastic as a readily available commonplace consumer item.

“By manipulating the qualities of plastic we can further accentuate and show the beauty of ordinary objects as possible materials for art. Art is no longer just created from art supplies but can be almost any bought or accumulated object that is ingeniously fashioned and arranged.”

Ms Veyradier added, “The artists in this exhibition have an affinity with the sculptural qualities of colour and their combined approach will explore parts of this unusual building in ways that have not been done before. The show promises a playful approach to art-making and visitors will have the opportunity to experience the space in a new way.”

The artists have exhibited extensively around Australia and are involved in public and community art. Their works are represented in numerous public and private collections locally, nationally and overseas.

Ms Gamblen concludes, “In this exhibition we have chosen to manipulate plastic materials including straws, cups, spray can lids, vinyl tape and electrical tape in process driven ways that work with the ingrained qualities of the products. Often inklings of humour and play drive these works.”

“Ultimately, the works in Plasticity are an inspiring merging of two complementary art practices into a wonderland of manipulated multi-coloured and multi-shaped plastics”.

Plasticity will open on Friday, 23 July at 6.00pm until Sunday, 29 August at the Heathcote Museum and Gallery on Duncraig Road, in Applecross. To attend the opening contact: (08) 9364 0155.

On Sunday, 22 August from 2.00pm to 3.00pm the artists will give an informal talk on-site at the exhibition and answer questions from the public.

The Heathcote Museum and Gallery is open Tuesday to Friday from 10.00am to 3.00pm, and weekends from 11.00am to 3.00pm. For more information, call the Gallery on (08) 9364 5666.