Relate/Animate glass exhibition at Sabbia Gallery

For the first time in five years Australia’s Sabbia Gallery is hosting an exhibition by Ben Edols and Kathy Elliott called ‘Relate/Animate’ this August.

With an exhibiting career of over 33 years together, and their last show in 2018, Relate/Animate comprises a body of new artworks that draws on a deep understanding of the nature of glass and the markings that can be made to the surface.

As the gallery notes, many artists have found the last few years challenging and Kathy’s words will speak to many:

“Not every exhibition of our work has a story, but this small grouping does. During COVID we lost connection to our work, me more than Ben, but I saw this shift towards the end of 2020.

Because we have hand skills and can harness our ideas we pushed on. Keeping busy was the order of the day and I think we were content to just have a focus.

“What became clear over time was that the work was not meaningful to us, we had lost our way. It wasn’t the first time it had happened, but this was unexpected. In late 2021 I listened to a series of podcasts made by Lisa Cahill from the Australian Design Centre and cried with relief when I listened to Jeff Mincham talk about mid-life dry spells in a creative life. I was so thankful to hear Jeff talk about his experience with this landscape so openly. It gave me a perspective I needed reminding of.

“I needed to trace back and find the last time I felt connected to the work. I found that time and picked up a thread of what I wanted to continue to explore. My other intention was to try and learn something new from each piece. The show is called Relate/Animate because I knew we needed to relate to the work before we could animate the exhibition one piece at a time. Still themes of water, more rocks are coming in. For me they signify the necessary strength we draw on as we face the constant flow of life. The rocks, more than the water, draw my attention these days.”

Relate/Animate will be on show at Sabbia Gallery from 5-26 August 2023. It is open Tuesday – Friday 11am to 6pm and Saturday 11am to 4pm.

Sabbia Gallery is at: Ground Floor, 609 Elizabeth Street, Redfern, NSW 2016, Australia. Website: www.sabbiagallery.com

Image: ‘Billow’ by Ben Edols and Kathy Elliott comprises blown glass and wheel carving. Photo: Greg Piper.