Stoneware clay and porcelain, Glazes
H45cm, W36cm, D20cm
The work Winter to Spring addresses the theme Seasonal Shifts as metaphor for the cycle of life
The work is representative of the maturing woman as she moves through the seasons of her life, physically and emotionally and the symbiotic relationship between creatures and the natural environment; all in a delicate state of flux. The placement of the bird and floral accoutrements is meant to provoke a feeling of interaction and dependency. I used porcelain flowers to evoke delicacy and tried to emphasize the interactive relationship between humankind and the environment by placing the dove in close proximity to the woman’s head each bending towards the other.
To evoke the idea of a shift I developed two different Oribe glazes with wood ash at the junction to facilitate the dramatic transition between the two colour areas thereby asking the viewer to consider the idea
Harbinger of Spring II - Heather Stewart
Living and working at Moriac I have been a practising artist for 40 years . My art school training culminated in a PhD. in the history, theory and practise of art after which I collaborated with a colleague to create the registered training organisation, Brougham Art School ; delivering art education in Geelong for 10 years. I retired from teaching art in 2009 to concentrate on my multidisciplinary practice.
I have exhibited widely concentrating on painting and drawing but more latterly have found sculptural form holds more opportunities in the realisation of my creative ideas. The female form has featured continuously throughout my practice as a subject whereas thematically I am drawn to changing perceptions of normality.
This overarching theme is incorporated in the visual language itself, expressed through diversity of techniques, at times the incongruity of sculptural accoutrements and fanciful spatial representations and narratives. My life long romance with drawing underpins all my work.