John Wooller

Copyright  © 2004 Pollock Gallery

Abstract Sculpture in Jarrah Burl Wood & Bronze 

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Tears on the Silk Tree Blossoms Jarrah Burl,granite 48 cm
Renaissance Jarrah Burl ,granite 106 cm
Shadow Pond Jarrah Burl ,granite 73 cm
Sailing on Cherry Blossoms Jarrah Burl . 43 cm
Cultivating Bridges Jarrah burl,bronze, granite . 44 cm
A Melancholy Hermit Jarrah burl, granite . 52 cm
A Cloistered Heart Jarrah burl, . 48 cm
Counterpoise Jarrah Burl Wood 60 cm
Partners in Dreams Jarrah Burl ,bronze,granite 48 cm
Labrynth Jarrah Burl Wood & Bronze 65 x 25 cm square
Steps to the Labrynth Jarrah Burl Wood & Bronze 55 x 15 cm square
At the Heart of the Labrynth Jarrah Burl Wood, Bronze & Granite 50 x 20 cm
Wisdom in the Stones Redgum,gold leaf . 56 cm
Rising Through Light Redgum. 60 cm
Carbon Family Jarrah burl,copper & granite . 25 – 72 cm
Regeneration Cypress, granite . 105 cm

John Wooller

Artist’s Statement

The pieces in this exhibition are the tangible expressions of selected ideas over the last fifteen months. Some are grouped around a specific theme, others stand alone, but all are linked by the common idea of journey and exploration, and reflections on new discoveries.

The three sculptures Labyrinth, Steps to the Labyrinth and At the Heart of the Labyrinth, are selected from a small series that explores the nature of any journey with its turns and twists, steps retraced and the possibility of being, at least temporarily, lost. At the heart of all journeys is the traveller, before and after the journey, changed by the experience.

The centuries-old tradition of Japanese poets travelling extensively throughout the land, writing poems along the way, is the source of nine pieces. Each piece is abstracted from the poet’s reflections.

Tears on Silk Tree Blossoms is taken from the legend in which tears on the long eye-lashes of a princess are likened to raindrops on the slender elements of silk tree blossoms.

In Shadow Pond, the water of a lake enfolds a young woman who, crossed in love, drowns herself. Her broken mirror can be seen at the bottom of the rippling pond only when viewers look through their own shadows cast on the surface.

On the far bank of a lake are cherry trees in full bloom. A passing boat, and its inverted reflection, appears to be Sailing on Cherry Blossoms.

Two pieces, Regeneration and Cultivating Bridges, are inspired by the tale of a twin-trunked pine tree which instantly regenerates after regular felling to make bridge piers.

A Melancholy Hermit, the quintessential anti-traveller, seeks solitude in one of a number of caves in order to undertake a journey of spiritual contemplation.

At the centre of a temple is a devotee’s Cloistered Heart.

Wisdom in the Stones represents the insight gained by the traveller in understanding the past.

We are invited to experience enlightenment through spiritual contemplation in Rising through Light, which alludes to life’s journey.

Counterpoise conveys the notion of reflection, an interaction between the past and the present.

To journey with another evokes the shared experience of Partners in Dreams.

The longest life journey has been made by its elemental building blocks. A living being carries atoms of carbon. The Carbon Family undertake this journey.

At the end of one journey the traveller, spiritually enriched, anticipates the next; Renaissance.

John Wooller CV

Abstract Sculpture in Jarrah Burl Wood & Bronze

Collections: Represented in corporate and private collections in Australia, USA, Canada and Scotland.

Exhibitions: Pollock Gallery, Melbourne, 2004

Galeria Aniela, Kangaroo Valley, NSW, 2003

Windows on Church, Melbourne, 2000

Manyung Gallery, Mount Eliza, Victoria, 2000

Goya Galleries, Melbourne, 2000

Red HIll Gallery 141, Red Hill, Vic, 1999

Manyung Gallery, Mount Eliza, Victoria, 1999

Customs Wharf Gallery, Williamstown, Vic, 1999

Yarra Sculpture Space, Melbourne, 1998

Creations Gallery, PhIladelphIa, USA, 1998

The Forest Gallery, Batemans Bay, NSW, 1996

Turning Plus, Arizona, USA, 1996

Galleria Aniela, Kangaroo Valley, NSW, 1996 .

Porters Gallery, Sydney, 1995

Holdsworth Galleries, Sydney, 1995

National Sculpture Forum, Canberra, 1995 ~~

The Forest Gallery, Batemans Bay, 1994

Challenge V, Touring USA 1994-1997

Association of Sculptors of Victoria Annual Exhibition, 1993, 1994, 1996

Contemporary Art Society of Victoria, April 1993; October 1993

Australian Wood Design Exhibition, 1993, 1994, 1995

Victorian Woodworkers Association 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

Awards: Consistent winner of sculpture awards including the William Hoggan Thomas Memorial A ward and the Mabel Pryde Memorial Prize in the Annual Exhibition of the Association of Sculptors of Victoria, 1996, Victorian Woodworkers Association and The Australian Wood Design Exhibition

Bibliograph: Reviews of work inctude:-

Masters of their Craft, Noris Ioannou, Craftsman House, 1997

Wood Dreaming, Terry Martin, Angus and Robertson, 1996

Arts Gippsland

Craft Arts International

Australian Wood Review

American Woodworker

Craft Victoria

Membership: Association of Sculptors of Victoria, Australia

Education: Bachelor of Science, RAF, Farnborough, England

Master of Engineering Science, Monash University, Australia