Fire, Water and Air
Phil Irish, Jane Adeney, Robin Hesse
August 28 – October 31, 2010
Reception: September 12, 2 – 4 p.m.
Artist talk with Phil Irish at 1:00 p.m.

The exhibition Fire Water and Air includes three artists who independently work in fired clay, painting and drawing. The theme of the show asks the question; if the elements of fire, water and air that sustain humans can be articulated through symbolism and artistic endeavour - could the spiritual realm be exposed? Jane Adeney uses smoke fired clay, lights, water and sound to create sculptural installations that transform hard material into a state of mind. The metamorphosis in Adeney’s work inspires contemplation and sets the stage for a meditative experience. Her ceramic containers reflect the process of ritual and probe the mysteries inherent in the elements of nature and spirit.
Jane Adeney is a Hamilton artist who has been exhibiting her work in solo and group shows for the past 30 years. She studied art at McMaster University, Mohawk College, The Burlington Art Center and the Dundas Valley School of Art. This year she had a solo exhibition at The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, and was awarded a grant from the
Canada Council.

Fire
Jane Adeney, Font, smoke fired clay, findings, water, water pumps, Plexiglas,
75 x 175 x 175 cm

Phil Irish works with the idea of multiple experiences along the Grand River. Irish requests and receives maps from strangers that express an emotional, secret or noteworthy experience that they have had in a particular place. Irish follows the maps and visits these same places where he takes notes, illustrates and draws his own experiences. Later in the studio he imbeds the original maps into oil paintings that he builds up from these two points of view. These paintings on exhibit relate to the theme of water, usually the Grand River. Representation and abstraction often collide in Irish’s work with his rich brush work and documentary approach.
Phil Irish graduated in Fine Art from the University of Guelph and lives in Elora, Ontario. He has had ten years of solo exhibitions including the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Cambridge Galleries, Latcham Gallery, and Robert Langen Gallery Wilfrid Laurier University. Irish has been a recipient of grants from the Ontario Arts Council including a Mid Career project grant. His work is in collections at the City of Kitchener, Centre d’exposition de Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec and the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, Guelph among others.

Water
Phil Irish, Water Wheel, oil on panel, 100 x 100 cm

Robin Hesse describes her work as being about the poetry and drama of the sky at night. Using a telescope for a closer observation of the celestial bodies, Hesse adds some knowledge of physics with her sensitive use of charcoal and graphite to render an interpretation of the sky as a metaphor for human behaviour. Hesse’s handling of her materials is thoughtful and gentle as she expresses the third element in this themed exhibition - Air.
Robin Hesse graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design as well as the University of Guelph. She has had many group exhibitions and solo exhibitions at the Burlington Art Centre, Latcham Public Art Gallery among others. Her work is in public collections including the Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery, and the Art Gallery of Peel. Hesse lives in Richmond Hill.

Air
Robin Hesse, graphite on Mylar, 27 x 27 cm

This exhibition is made possible through the support of the City of Brantford, the members of Glenhyrst Art Gallery and through the Ontario Arts Council.