Friday, 10 June 2011 06:35
I've heard about the Light Factory Gallery from so many people and in so many places. I can't believe it's taken me so long to get there. Today was the day. The building is great. It was built in 1973 by Alistair Knox. It has his trademark recycled wood beams and uprights. It was originally a light factory but works beautifully as a gallery due to the enormous clerestory windows and the huge open internal space. There's something about the marriage of Alistair Knox's design and rusted metal. Made in heaven. My first blog was about Justin Purser, metalworker extraordinaire from the Yarra Valley. His work is in evidence here in all of the signage but most spectacularly in the huge metal front doors. (See the details in the three photos below).
The Gallery was opened in August of last year by Margot Tasca. Christine Wrest-Smith is presently exhibiting a series of works called Habitat. Nests beautifully portrayed in paint and charcoal. Of the work Christine says,
"Each nest is a combination of both strength and fragility."
The original house (also built by Alistair Knox), provides the venue for a Tea House and art classes. Access to the Tea House is via a sculpture garden which, as you can see below, also features some of Justin's work.
The Gallery can be found at 21 Brougham Street, Eltham. Check out opening hours, workshops and exhibition details on the website.
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