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PROFILE OF THE ARTIST

Mary-Ann Gaelic grew up in the small Northland village of Dargaville, an early seafaring port during the pioneer days of New Zealand. An avid reader, the artist has long been a fan of the McCaffrey Dragonrider series, and almost 20 years ago started a love affair with dragons that has culminated with her new direction in sculpture.

Although drawn to art in its many forms during her school years, Mary-Ann has only recently returned to explore the possibilities of clay. Now based in the foothills of the Auckland Waitakeres, Mary-Ann works with her sister Wendy creating native geckos and frogs, birds, dolphins, seals and penguins for art galleries throughout New Zealand. Mary-Ann has established a reputation as New Zealand's 'lizard lady' producing evocative forms and shapes with her native reptiles.

Concentrating on raku firing, Mary-Ann and Wendy developed a depth of colour and hue never before produced by this method. This experimental work involved the combination of different clays and led Mary-Ann into her dragon series, working with "paper clay" to hand shape the delicate wings and give a feeling of movement to the form and line of the dragon's body.

"There is a mood with the dragons. They come alive in my hands as I shape their form and make them a physical reality. The delicate balance of their paper thin wings contrasting the composition of the body is important in giving these mythical creatures a sense of life. These are not the caricatures, and I have had the amusing experience of being told that my dragons are "too realistic!"

Each piece is unique with a lustre built into the glaze that adds depth and texture. Raku firing always provides an element of surprise - even for the sculptor!."