Craft / GR’AFT Lynda Draper, Canberra Glassworks, until October 25. Reviewed by MEREDITH HINCHLIFFE

Lynda Draper is highly regarded as a ceramicist. She has been practising for over 40 years, including seven years as the Head of Ceramics at the National Art School in Sydney.

In this exhibition Draper has incorporated – grafted – glass components into her ceramic forms. Cast glass form a series of bases on which all but one of the ceramic forms sits. They are like rather spindly legs. Appearing from ceramic forms are glass ‘bubbles’, perhaps referring to the way glass can be blown. Pale, gelato coloured ‘balloons’ of glass stand proud of the mostly stark white surfaces of ceramic forms. The surfaces of both the glass and ceramic forms are uneven, bumpy. They have been created with her fingers.

The title of the exhibition GR’AFT reminds us of the horticultural practice of grafting, in which a cutting from one tree or plant is joined to another so that they bind and continue to grow as a single living form. The strength and characteristics of each plant are carried into new growth.

Draper hand-builds her ceramic forms, building them up gradually and carefully, creating a series of seemingly fragile loops, coils, and swirls. During her period of residency at the Canberra Glassworks, where she undertook this work, Draper was also drawn to Carwoola Casting, a lost-wax foundry outside Canberra. Working in bronze has given her a strong form which stands firm – they won’t collapse under the weight above them. As a result, Bloom – being shown in the Smokestack Gallery – twists and winds, holding a translucent white bubble in its loops.

This exhibition shows what can be achieved between three artists – experts in their materials – work together to create new objects.

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