Naturalist inspired glass works

Buller Still Life Group (2012 to 2013) consisting of (from left) Resolution Island Bowl, Takahe Book, Stephens Island Urn and Kowhaiwhai Jug, features in ''Mike Crawford: The Bird Collector'' in Milford Galleries Queenstown on February 9 to March 6. Photo supplied.

Mike Crawford: The Bird Collector'' features 10 remarkable glass sculptures, most created and sold as pairs, senior art consultant Maurice Watson said.

The works were ''graceful and elegant and have a narrative behind them, that is Mike's interest in Walter Buller, an ornithologist, naturalist and collector'' of the 19th century which ''adds irony and poignancy'' to the works.

Mr Watson said the Napier-based artist was an ''apprentice to ultimate cast-glass artist'' Ann Robinson for six years. Crawford graduated with a bachelor of design degree, majoring in sculpture, from Unitec School of Design in Auckland. He was a finalist in the Ranamok Australian and New Zealand glass prize in 2006.

His work features in the public collections of Te Papa, the Dowse Art Museum and Waikato Museum, as well as private collections in New Zealand, Australia and North America.

Crawford's Moa Bowl was selected for the applied arts and design exhibition ''Talente'' in Munich, Germany, in 2010.''

The Bird Collector'', on the ground floor of Milford Galleries, coincides with ''Sally Smith: No Boundaries'' upstairs. Smith crafted eight delicate bronze sculptures, with the natural world and time as themes.

The artist was raised on Waiheke Island, where she lives today with her partner, sculptor Chris Bailey, and her two sons. She graduated from Auckland University with a bachelor of architecture degree in 1993 and ran her own architectural practice before deciding to concentrate on her art career in 2010.

Both artists will attend the free public launch of their debut solo exhibitions in the gallery on Church Lane on Friday from 5.30pm. All are invited.