one night.....two openings.....

And it was that big - as both exhibitions were fantastic and of such a high quality, that I came home exhausted and excited by what I had seen....

Giles' pieces at Sabbia....

The red glass pieces really stand out and work as little accents to the sea of neutral colours...

Amazing texture within each little murrini tile...

The first exhibition of the night was Connected Journeys - a solo show by Giles Bettison at Sabbia gallery. I arrived early so I could take some pics and get a good good look at each glass piece with all its intricate detailing and complex yet subtle colourings....

If you know alittle about the Australian glass - you will know that Giles has been an important individual in the wave of contemporary artists' within the glass scene.... For the last few years he has been recognised for his proficiency of the Italian 'Murrini' technique - which is the making of tiny glass tiles that are fused together to make one piece.

Giles lived in New York for a number of years and earned an international reputation for his craft before moving back to South Australia to continue his studio practice and raise a young family....

I loved this new solo show... It is edited, understated + technically amazing .... He knows who he is as a person and what his glass practice+ aesthetic is all about...

Connected Journeys is at Sabbia gallery until Oct 3rd...

After leaving Sabbia just as people were arriving to sip their wine...

I was off and running....
Up and around the corner...

to The Australian Museum for the official opening of Menagerie... which is a 4 year collaborative project by Object gallery+ The Australian Museum. Curated by Brian Parkes+ Nicole Foreshaw this exhibition is an amazing initiative - opening up an area of Aboriginal art that is rarely seen or known about.

Menagerie: a word meaning the display of caged animals especially for exhibition ... is exactly what this show is about... the exhibition of sculpted animals by 33 Aboriginal artists' from around the country and Torres Strait Islands...

The collection displays an array of different cultural stories and traditions - making every artwork unique and exciting to view .....Through the materials used and the colours explored these 2 shows - at Object and The Aust. museum discover some rich histories from this ancient country...

Patrick Kunoth Pwerle, Thipe (Yellow Bird), 2008, wood (bean tree) and acrylic paint....

One of my favourite sections of Menagerie was the video documentary that accompanied the works... Broken up into 5 minute vignettes, the doco talked to some of the artists' in the exhibition while they sourced materials and made their sculptures.... at the same time capturing the beautiful lands from each they come...

And you know me... I love a good story and these stories carry with them so much heart, warmth, and texture that I stayed for the whole 20 minute loop while the opening was happening around me!!!

The weaving of coloured Pandanus....

I am yet to see the Object gallery component of the show but I am so excited to delve further into this exhibition.... which is truly special...

Its on at both spaces until Nov 15th when it will then tour the country for a couple of years...

So - yes- a big night but an inspiring one!

Have a great weekend and if youre about the Surry Hill area on Saturday...The markets are on ...!