JamFactory Icon series at the Gallery
Tom Moore : Abundant Wonder 22 April – 5 June 2022
Hawkesbury Regional Gallery has been fortunate to host a number of the JamFactory ’ s Icon series in recent years . The current exhibition is one that bursts with colour and life , with dream like cartoons in three dimensions , all made from glass .
The artist responsible , Tom Moore , is one of Australia leading glass artists and over the course of his career has carved out a unique and very fun personal style within Australian glass art making . His work is engaging , sophisticated and technically challenging with the resulting hybridised animal / plant sculptures and the fantastical worlds they inhabit bringing joy and happiness to us all .
Gallery director Kath von Witt , states , “ This is one exhibition you definitely do not want to miss . After the past few years of crisis and drama – the art in this show will fill you with joy and , to coin a phrase “ Abundant Wonder ”! If anyone has caught the Netflix series Blown Away you ’ ll know that Tom would definitely win .”
Moore creates complex diorama worlds within which his fanciful plant / animal creatures act and interact . In his creation of a universe that seems as oddly weird as it is beautiful , his artworks
Abundant Wanderer .
are disarmingly playful in their use of storytelling , that covers the pressing social and environmental concerns of our times .
Tom Moore ’ s skills have been refined through an ‘ almost ’ traditional glass blowing apprenticeship , in which techniques are acquired through continuous making , especially through the repetition of productionbased crafting .
To gain a strong technical foundation by spending thousands of hours of making bottles , jugs and vases , Moore ’ s characteristically fantastical creations are inspired by unusual historical objects , such as zoomorphic vessels that combine a functional object and the representation of an animal , and trick glasses that are intentionally confusing and difficult to use .
Reaching back in time to the Renaissance , the golden age of technological advancement in Venetian cane glass techniques , Moore works with a multitude of traditional cane patterns such as ballotini , zanfirico and reticello to create the dancing and colourful patterns within the bodies and appendages of his lifeforms .
An ardent environmentalist , Moore ’ s recent postgraduate studies have caused him to look closely at the environmental impact of glassmaking on the planet as
Flaming Stegasaurus .
well as the causes of climate change as a global concern .
“ Glass has enabled many technological , social and aesthetic benefits . Unfortunately glassmaking also contributes to climate change and environmental degradation . I seek to address the contradiction of utilising a particularly resource-depleting and polluting traditional craft to address troubling ecological issues with hope and humour . Consequently I am not interested in presenting depictions of nature that are simply beautiful ,” he comments .
Tom Moore ’ s children ’ s drawing competition 5 – 12 years olds
Draw your own fanciful creations ! Try your hand at drawing your own glass masterpiece with this exciting Tom Moore ‘ You draw it , he ’ ll make it !’ competition . A competition that makes glassmaking come alive for children .
Here ’ s how it works : All you need to do is draw your idea and tell us about your design . Tom will then choose one drawing at the end of the competition and make the artwork in JamFactory ’ s Glass Studio . The young artist can watch as their drawing evolves in glass via a social media live stream .
During the glass blowing session , Tom will make the work twice . One of the final pieces will be sent to the young artist whilst the other will join the touring exhibition and be displayed alongside the other successful winners !
Draw something from nature , draw something scary and challenging , or draw something other worldly from your imagination .
THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 144 // MAY 2022 31