Performance glass art at auction

SINUOUS: Amid a display of Phil's glass art are (from left) Kathy Cunningham, Phil Stokes and Sarah Williams. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS

On the second Sunday of Artists Open Studios in Whanganui, there is an event that all art lovers look forward to with anticipation and interest.
On Saturday, April 1, at Glassworks in Rutland St, there is an auction of some of the work of Whanganui's most talented artists, or, as the website puts it, "a limited collection of pieces that represent the diversity, creativity and skill of Whanganui artists to raise funds for Artists Open Studios".
Artists represented will be Frances Stachl, Angela Tracy Tier, Rita Dibert, Katie Brown, Lyndsay Patterson, Carmen Simmonds, Philip Stokes, Leonie Sharp, Ivan Vostinar, Barbara Bullock, Catherine Macdonald, Emma Cunningham, Prakash Patel, Emma Camden and Jack Marsden Mayer. Mediums involved include jewellery, photography, painting, glass, ceramics, mixed media, printmaking and driftwood sculpture.
Their work will be auctioned under the hammer of auctioneer Annie Gilroy.
As well as a stunning array of art on which to bid, Australasian glass artist Philip Stokes will produce a work "on the spot", which will be included in the auction.
"I have something in mind, a notion," says Phil. "I am thinking at this stage of a large platter, because in the final moment when it spins out it's quite theatrical. I'm open to suggestions."
Phil says the piece would take between 30 and 40 minutes to create with a team of four or five people.
Using light from the furnaces plus a few added lighting effects, Phil hopes that as performance art it will be quite dramatic. The theatre aspect is important.
"One of the things that drew me to glass blowing is you had to make your cues, your timing is really important and you had to work cohesively with an ensemble. So all the studios I've had over the years have had that as a mainstay of the way we present things, that it is somewhat of a performance, but it is an interactive experience for the audience."
Like some of his larger works, the team is essential.
"It really is a choreography, and the joy of having that choreography nice and tight really ensures that things go safely and there's synchronicity when everyone's on cue." A central row of overhead lights will be removed for the occasion.
"That will mean we can have a smoke machine, we'll have a couple of big torches, so as we go for the crescendo we'll have other non-essential elements that will really add spice to it," says Phil.
Phil's work, along with that of other artists, is on display at Glassworks gallery.
As well as large works reminiscent of fish bowls with added rooms, he has glass art in various styles, some sinuous, based on muscles and sinews of the body, as well as more architecturally inclined forms, some of which can be found in prestigious locations around the world, such as in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong, and the Sheraton Hotel in Xiamen, China amongst many others.
Phil completed a Bachelor of Applied Arts with Honours in 2000 at Monash University, Melbourne, and has had his own studio since 2002. Now he is excited to be a part of the Whanganui arts community. Phil lives in Whanganui and Melbourne throughout the year.
The auction is on Saturday, April 1, from 6-8.30pm. Tickets are $65 and wine, nibbles and entertainment are included.
"The big thing about the event is that we have looked at a limited number of live auction pieces, some silent auction pieces and one raffle," says Kathy Cunningham, chief executive of the Whanganui Events Trust. "So it's a nice way for everyone to feel included into Artists Open Studios."
Tickets are available by emailing ceo@eventswanganui.com