''Earth & Sky: New Forms'', Ann Robinson (Milford Galleries Dunedin)
A series of new works by glass-artist Ann Robinson are now on display in Milford Galleries Dunedin.
This exhibition is of particular interest as it features new forms and techniques by the internationally renowned New Zealand-based artist.
Robinson, who is considered an innovator in her field, presents a selection of 12 vase and bowl glass-cast forms that are typical of her practice as they appear deceivingly simplistic.
Signature works, including Ice Bowl #93, Landscape Bowl and Flax Vase #10, are reminders of Robinson's carefully considered artistic process.
Mimicking patterns from nature, these glassworks are undeniably beautiful objects.
New forms are found in the Fern Vases and the Unite Series.
While the vases are especially naturalistic, perhaps the more interesting of the new forms are the four works from the Unite Series.
Each piece of this series is made of two separately cast and coloured pieces that have been joined together by the artist.
The top and bottom halves meet at a horizontal line and with subtle tonal differences they make the land and sky of a landscape.
The complexities of the shapes, line and colours that Robinson forms, familiar or new, are revealed as light enters the objects.
In the front room of the gallery, large windows lend plenty of light that gives life to Robinson's work.
''Important and Unseen'', Colin Wheeler (The Artist's Room)
The Artist's Room is currently showing a charming collection of draught paintings and drawings by an acclaimed North Otago artist, the late Colin Wheeler.
These works, originating from the artist's studio and made without the intention of ever being displayed retain notes, sketches and guidelines that share insight into Wheeler's artistic process.
The draught paintings show the long procedure carried out before the artist would start a final painting, but in Wheeler's case perhaps the most interesting works are his draught drawings, which are notably made with a blue ink ballpoint.
A sketched landscape is interspersed with lengthy notes by Wheeler that describe both the context and aesthetics of the scene.
The notes provide an intimate understanding of Wheeler's thoughts and process as he sketched the image.
Wheeler was known for producing several books on historic sheep stations and among the sketches is an amazing draught labelled by the artist as ''Merinos at Fox's Peak Station 6 March 1974''.
The drawing shows 40 or more sheep bunched and overlapping over two sheets of paper.
The image looks like a crowded sheep pen, but on closer inspection is actually a grouping of anatomical sketches.
Wheeler's paintings were highly sought-after during his six decades as a practising artist.
This exhibition is a rare opportunity to view works in this manner before they enter private collections.
''Southern Light Effect'', Philip Beadle (Gallery De Novo)
Philip Beadle presents the nature of light in the Otago region in his new series of paintings and etchings at Gallery De Novo.
These works are not typical of traditional Otago landscape painting, which is known to be moody with muted colours.
Instead, Beadle celebrates another reality of light in the southern regions by focusing on the lengthy transitional periods of dusk and dawn.
Several familiar Otago scenes are featured in this exhibition.
Sunrise over Aramoana shows the yellow light of the morning sun outlining a docked boat.
The landscape depicted is familiar but the treatment of light creates an especially evocative portrayal by denoting a specific place and time.
Similarly, Early Light from Mt Iron Track represents a locale at a specific time, as the painting shows light that has reached the tip of a snowy mountain range but has not yet made it to the land, water or the base of the mountains.
Beadle does not restrict his explorations in light to traditional landscapes and he represents scenes from around Dunedin, such as the University of Otago and the railway station.
The exhibition also features a series of nudes by Beadle in which light highlights the forms of a human figure.
Each work evokes a feeling of a fleeting moment as Beadle captures a distinct sense of time and space and in doing so exemplifies the transient nature of changing light.
-by Samantha McKegg
