JANET FIELDHOUSE — EARTH FIRE
11.10.2025—
08.11.2025
In Earth Fire, Torres Strait Islander artist Janet Fieldhouse presents a new body of work, comprising glass and earthenware sculptures that draw on the material culture and social rituals of the Torres Strait Islands.
Developed during a residency at Canberra Glassworks, this new body of work marks a significant evolution in Janet’s practice. Collaborating with the Glassworks team, she incorporated blown and kiln-cast glass into her ongoing investigation of the ‘Charm’ form — a sculptural language she has developed to express cultural memory, protection, and identity. The inclusion of glass, a material, like clay, that is both fired and drawn from the earth, invites a rich dialogue between the mediums. This material synergy gave rise to the exhibition’s title, Earth Fire, symbolising the elemental forces that shape both substance and spirit.
A recurring motif throughout the exhibition is the presence of birds, including the kingfisher, kookaburra, and honeyeater. These birds are not only visual anchors, but also symbolic messengers that connect land, sea, and sky.
Through Earth Fire, Fieldhouse offers a contemporary expression of cultural continuity through an artistic language that honours tradition while forging new paths of meaning. With quiet intensity, her work speaks to identity, resilience, and the enduring power of cultural connection through the transformative potential of materials.
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