Fine works by Chandler
IN THE GALLERIES By David Dolan

The Advertiser, 4th April 1979

When Ian Chandler obtained a few months' leave from his lecturing job at the SA School of Art in 1978, he did not jump on the first plane out of the country.

Instead, he retired to his studio and produced a series of paintings distinctly different from any he had done before.

In these works, now on show at the Bonython Gallery, there is no trace of the hare-edge style of Chandler's 1975-77 "colour structures." The paint surface is rich, textured and mottled.

Although the stylistic break looks dramatic, it was not sudden. For some time Chandler had been working in pastels on pictures which preserved something of the smooth surface qualities of the "color structures" bur essayed the forms and colors to be used in these latest oils.

They can be described as semi-abstract. The subject-matter is the gum tree, particularly its bark and foliage seen close-up.

This exhibition ought to be compulsory viewing for all the embarrassing imitators of the great Heysen who think they have a monopoly on the eucalypt. It might make them realize how stale their vision has become.

Chandler has always been an artist of admirable technical ability, with total control over his materials - and by materials I mean light and space and color, not just brushes and paint. This series shows that he is also an artist with a remarkable range of sentiment and style.

Also at Bonython's, and every bit as good as Chandler's paintings, are the ceramics of Tim Moorehead. Unlike many superficially similar pieces, they do not depend on jokes to win our attention, yet they have whimsy.

Simon Biggs has tightened up his painting since he showed early last year at Zygon (now defunct). In his current exhibition, at Adelaide Fine Art and Graphics, he has limited his area of concentration to permutations of geometric shapes and colors.

In marked contrast to Bigg's formal exercises are the personal and romantic prints of Christine Forsyth, at the same venue. Also at AFA&G is a late Henry Moore print; not hanging, but available for inspection on request.

The Cherryvilly Studio Gallery is a restored stable building with facilities for making, s well as marketing, ceramics and fabric crafts.

The current exhibition of work by resident artists-craftspeople includes pottery by Henri Luijckx and Jeff Mincham, weavings by Jose Luijckx and sculpture by Sandy and Barry Taylor-Smith. Many of these items have been shown recently elsewhere, some mire that once.