Irvine inspires students at gallery
Victorian Certificate of Education students have gained insight into the work of Canberra artist Lucy Irvine during a Visual Arts induction day at Horsham Regional Art Gallery.
Students from Horsham, Horsham’s St Brigid’s and Casterton colleges attended the day, designed specifically to gain inspiration and prepare for the year ahead.
A day included behind-thescene tours and artist talks to introduce participants to creative and innovative ways of expressing ideas and presenting work.
This year the students viewed Irvine’s Enmeshed exhibition works to gain insight into the working process of a professional artist.
Irvine has established herself as an artist who interconnects craft and art genres.
Initially interested in basketry and vessels, she taught herself weaving techniques that have become increasingly sculptural and site specific.
Her expansive organic forms, made from industrial and utilitarian materials, now make connections between art, design, architecture and geography discourses.
Since arriving from Scotland in 2003, Irvine has studied at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, and is undertaking a practice-led PHD at Australian National University, Canberra.
This year she created site-specific public works for Canberra Airport and Holmesglen TAFE in Melbourne.
In 2016, Irvine represented Australia at the 15th International Triennial of Tapestry, Central Museum of Textiles in Lodz, Poland.
Her work has been included in major survey exhibitions Strung, weaving practices from Australia and Papua New Guinea, Queensland Craft and Design Centre, 2016; the 2015 Australian Tapestry Design Prize for Architects; the National Gallery of Victoria’s Melbourne Now, 2013; and the first Tamworth Textile Triennial, Sensorial Loop, 2011.
Gallery educators helped students explore how art forms and materials affect the meaning of artworks, and explained how historical and cultural contexts influenced artists and their work.