Sabbia is thrilled to present this exhibition of new works in glass by New Zealand artist Christine Cathie.
Christine works using the lost wax process in cast glass, a very process-driven technique, and intends to convey evidence of that process in the making of each work by way of softly folding and forming the wax while it’s still warm – using twists, turns and sweeps of curve to achieve a sense of softness and tactility.
This gives scope to work with the light and translucency of the glass – showing the relationship between the soft and malleable wax and the contours of the forms with their shifts of density and contrast in finish.
These new works developed over the past couple of years when for a time after a shift of studio I only had a small kiln in which to fire my works. I was trying to fit in pieces as large as could fit, and the ‘flexed’ forms evolved. Once I had my large kiln up and running it was a natural development to extend to the rippled ribbons.
I am always thinking about my environment and its landscape – growing up in Wellington, holidays in the Marlborough Sounds and now living by the coast in Matakana – the rich colours and deeply sculpted landforms, the changing light in time as it shifts through the lush native bush, and the ripples created by a stream in the sand as it meets the sea.
Christine Cathie, 2024
