Jane Gavan

SCA is the best choice for visual artists to develop their skills and understandings towards being a professional artist because it gives each student an opportunity to join a community of practicing artists from foundation year onwards. The self directed learning philosophy enables each student to follow their dreams from an early stage in their learning. To borrow the words of a current student at SCA we "work hard and think about what we do".

Research

Through her studio practice and commitment to student learning in the Visual Arts, Jane Gavan has been interested in exploring the parameters of contemporary object design and making. Her national and international experience brings an informed, broad and interdisciplinary understanding of the role of glass as a material in object art and design.

Jane's knowledge of traditional and contemporary making in glass and other materials and her interests in light, space and visual communication combine to form a multidisciplinary practice in teaching and learning, where an emphasis on formal and conceptual concerns are mediated through appropriate processes and materials.

Jane's works usually project to project exploring and developing both formal design and conceptually based work in glass and other media. Jane is currently interested in ideas about colours, specifically fluorescent pink. There can be surprise, shock, negative or reserved reaction to this colour by some people. Jane works on the notion of identification of people and colours as an ongoing process, using herself at the test case.

Jane also researches this colour in relation to objects and their worth as consumable items according to colour. This particular pink is used in the luxury, toy and inexpensive disposable plastic item category simultaneously.

Other current projects include research into the controlled devitrification of glass as a surface effect, the structure and effects of photonics and biofluorescence explored through glass, and the development of a series of forms of glass beads and wire that have a blown glass interiors.

Exhibitions

Palimpsest Science and Art Symposium, Mildura, Victoria, 2003

Solo Exhibition, New Work at the Galerie Sarver, Paris, France, 2001

Convergence 2000, Group show of international glass sculpture at the Marta Hewett Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, 2000

Opening Exhibiton, Ipswich Global Arts Link Museum, Queensland Australia, 1999

Longer Than Life, Stills Gallery, Sydney, 1999

Chicago, Glass Artists Gallery, Chicago, 1998

Voir Series, Glass Artists Gallery, Chicago, 1998

Lass Prize Glass Artists Artists Gallery and touring to Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; Craft Victoria, Melbourne; Perth Galleries, Perth; Brisbane City Gallery; Brisbane and Studio 1818 Denver, USA, 1997

Commissions, Westin Hotel, No 1 Martin Place, Sydney, 1997

Finalist Exhibition, Lake Macquarie City Sculpture Acquisition, 1996

Publications

Jane Gavan Artist Profile, Our House Magazine, September, 1999

Channel 9, Our House Program, profile, 15 September 1999

Jane Gavan Artist Profile, Vogue Living, September 1998

Reservoir Series, Craft Arts International No 44, 1998

Awards and Grants

New Work Grant, Visual Arts and Crafts Board, Australia Council, 1999

Promotional Grant, NAVA, 1998

RFC Glass prize finalist, 1998

Winner RFC Glass Prize Peoples Choice Award, 1997

Finalist in Lake Macquarie Sculpture Acquisition Exhibition, 1996

Winner Inaugural ANZ Glass Prize, 1998

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