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" – Jane Gavan

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.

Key Publications

Reservoir Series, Craft Arts International No 44, 1998
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.

Exhibitions

PALIMPSEST SCIENCE AND ART SYMPOSIUM, Mildura, Victoria, 2003

SOLO EXHIBITION - of New Work at the Galerie Sarver in Paris France, 2001

LONGER THAN LIFE - Stills Gallery, Sydney, 1999

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

OPENING EXHIBITION for Ipswich Global Arts Link Museum, Queensland Australia, 1999

CHICAGO - with Glass ArtistsÕ Gallery, Chicago, 1998

VOIR SERIES solo show at the Glass Artists Gallery, 1998

LASS PRIZE GLASS ARTISTS ArtistsÕ 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

BRISBANE CITY GALLERY - Brisbane and Studio 1818 Denver, USA, 1997.

FINALIST EXHIBITION - Lake Macquarie City Sculpture Acquisition, 1996

COMMISIONS - 1999 Westin Hotel, No 1 Martin Place, Sydney NSW, 1997

Awards

New Work Grant from the Visual Arts and Crafts Board of Australia, 1999
Project for completion in 2000.
Promotional Grant from NAVA for solo exhibition Reservoir Series, 1998
RFC Glass prize finalist with two works, 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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