Wendy has had a studio based practice in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia for over 20 years. She draws from her background in Printmaking and Sculpture, using processes that include glassblowing, engraving, sand carving and casting in lead crystal, bronze and aluminium. Wendy is eloquent in the expression of her ideas, working with the qualities of the materials in subtle and powerful ways. Being ideas driven, she is adept at moving between three dimensional and two dimensional fields equally at home with sculptural installations or a single vessel. She has an abiding interest in what we humans have in common – regardless of culture, race or religious beliefs, “I’m looking for the connecting place where we can recognise our sameness not our difference”. This interest has led her to artist residencies in China, New Zealand and India.
Wendy works from her studio in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. She has exhibited internationally throughout Asia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and Australia. Her work is represented in private and public collections including the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Gallery of Australia, Australian National Art Glass Collection, Australian National University Collection, and Museum of Australian Democracy.
“I‘m interested in what we humans have in common - regardless of culture, race, or religious beliefs. I’m looking for the connecting place where we can recognise our sameness. Experiences of home and land; sense of belonging; food; work; ritual; stories; myths; all feed my curiosity and influence what I make and what material I use to make it with. It matters deeply to me that my work is accessible to people from different walks of life and that they can bring their own meanings to it.”
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For more information about Wendy’s practice you might like to take a look at the following links;
Take a tour of the FUSE Glass Prize, click on the link below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRZuOKetUqU&feature=emb_share
A short, informative, 4 minute YouTube video taken in my studio where I discuss the concepts behind some work and talk you through the many processes involved in the creation of just one cast glass piece. Only 4 minutes, everyone should know how much work is involved!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eReZKlwdfAo
Link to the website of exhibition GLASS:art design architecture. Touring 2015-2018
http://glass-exhibition.jamfactory.com.au/
Catalogue essay by Una Rey for exhibition, Heartland, held at the Art Gallery of South Australia 2013
http://www.unarey.com.au/uploads/5/1/8/5/5185625/wendy_fairclough_agsa_rey.pdf
Artwork photo credits;
All artwork photography Grant Hancock
Except for the following;
'Quiet Industry II' Anna Medlin
'Breach' Robert Little
'Order' and 'Clothe' Craig Arnold
'With my Food basket...' Richard Wotton