‘Material Reverie’ is a major group exhibition that explores the rich variety of materials contemporary Australian artists use in their practice. Natural fibres, minerals, discarded everyday objects and household items are foraged and upcycled to create new forms that depart from their inherent purpose.
Artists throughout history have created tools, mark making techniques and methods of production to capture their impressions of the world. Using traditional weaving, sculpture and carving techniques, alongside more contemporary approaches to design, collage and painting, the source materials are given new meaning and beauty.
‘Material Reverie’ celebrates the transformative potential of the relationship between imagination and craftsmanship. This exhibition features artworks from the Town Hall Gallery Collection.
Featuring: Robert Brown, Teelah George, Dana Harris, Lou Hubbard, Shigemi Iwama, Cassie Leatham, Jahnne Pasco-White and Louise Saxton.
‘Material Reverie’ is on display at Town Hall Gallery from 20 January to 9 April 2022.
Download the catalogue
![Large piece of material hanging from ceiling in a gallery. It is covered in pale threads.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/1.%20Teelah%20George%2C%20%E2%80%98Wall%20Piece%E2%80%99%20%28front%20view%29%2C%202017-18%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=GvIh6veq)
![Strands of thread sewn in lines onto linen.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/2.%20Teelah%20George%2C%20detail%20from%20%E2%80%98Wall%20Piece%E2%80%99%2C%202017-18%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=Ke-vLXjM)
![Woven native grass, edged with feathers.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/3.%20Cassie%20Leatham%20-%20detail%20from%20Healing%20mat%20-%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=GGqDjHo4)
![Small textured pot with a lid. Shells are visible, emerging from the sides of the pot.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/4.%20Cassie%20Leatham%20-%20Midden%20pot%20-%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=-JTXjFwy)
![Stacks of plastic chairs that have teeth and eyes to look like dinosaurs.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/5.%20Lou%20Hubbard%2C%20detail%20of%20%26%23039%3BWalkers%20with%20Dinosaurs%26%23039%3B%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?itok=CIDHCBeL)
![A smoker with lightbulbs placed on top to look like eyes. Above the smoker is a clothes horse with fluro green material hung on it like a curtain, and cleanly cut at various lengths.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/6.%20Lou%20Hubbard%2C%20%E2%80%98Smoker%20%28toy%20crematory%29%E2%80%99%2C%202020%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=fHBjo4vb)
![An arrangement of car hub caps that have been painted with bright colours and patterns.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/7.%20Robert%20Brown%2C%20detail%20from%20%E2%80%98Hub%20caps%20from%20my%20walks%E2%80%99%2C%202021%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=1MKBpChT)
![3 panels of canvas with raw cut edges. The canvas is painted with natural dyes, and collaged fabric and paper, also dyed.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/8.%20Jahnne%20Pasco-White%2C%20%E2%80%98Making%20Kin%E2%80%99%2C%202020%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=kG2o-tVi)
![The Detail of canvas painted with natural dyes, and collaged fabric and paper, also dyed.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/9.%20Jahnne%20Pasco-White%2C%20detail%20from%20%E2%80%98Making%20Kin%E2%80%99%2C%202020%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=84CZpfxV)
![12 rectangular frames in varying dimension. Each one containing a knitted rectangle with tassels.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/10.%20Dana%20Harris%2C%20%E2%80%98Cura%20et%20industria%E2%80%99%2C%202017%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=gSe-O5Td)
![A steel circle with knitted cotton stretched across it like a web. Pattern of the knitting is grid-like.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/11.%20Dana%20Harris%2C%20%E2%80%98Grid%203000%E2%80%99%2C%202016%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=9bycIIHk)
![A stone vessel. Rounded at the bottom, and square and triangular at the top.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/12.%20Shigemi%20Iwama%2C%20%E2%80%98Helcyon%E2%80%99%2C%201992%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.png?h=c74750f6&itok=Jsg0Ce9X)
![Teardrop shaped stone vessel.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/13.%20Shigemi%20Iwama%2C%20%E2%80%98Musing%20I%E2%80%99%2C%201994%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=k7WoNL97)
![Circles of lace embroidered with reclaimed needlework of flowers and birds.](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-01/14.%20Louise%20Saxton%2C%20detail%20from%20%E2%80%98Wall%20Garden%E2%80%99%2C%202016-2017%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=iDWu3w76)
Exhibition photography
Browse the exhibition by scrolling through the image carousel below.
![Installation view of Material Reverie at Town Hall Gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/1.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=EPZVqfLn)
![Installation view of Material Reverie at Town Hall Gallery, including material rugs, bags and jewellery hung on the wall](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/2.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=dT8d4kic)
![Installation view of Material Reverie at Town Hall Gallery, including 3 mugs made with shells](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/3.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=F587eVk9)
![Installation view of Material Reverie at Town Hall Gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/4.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=25ZZN9iH)
![Installation view of Material Reverie at Town Hall Gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/5.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=YloLPZPE)
![Installation view of Material Reverie at Town Hall Gallery, including scarves in frames hung on the wall](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/6.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=ddJ00jm8)
![Installation view of Material Reverie at Town Hall Gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/7.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=14NAzNji)
![String wrapped around a frame - part of the Material Reverie exhibition at Town Hall Gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/8.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=408e62b6&itok=6Ji96-66)
![Installation view of Material Reverie at Town Hall Gallery, including sculptures and artworks hung on the wall](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/9.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=x6BRNQ0y)
![Two sculptures as part of the Material Reverie exhibition at Town Hall Gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/10.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=qKk78bMS)
![Installation view of Material Reverie at Town Hall Gallery, including a lamp, chair, television and plant made from different materials](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/11.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=xVueG6eh)
![Installation view of Material Reverie at Town Hall Gallery, including different artworks hung on the wall](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/12.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=q77UB7c_)
![Material flower bouquets as part of the Material Reverie at Town Hall Gallery](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/13.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=wO2_EFX3)
![Installation view of Material Reverie at Town Hall Gallery, including a lamp, chair, television and plant made from different materials](/sites/default/files/styles/council_photo_gallery_small/public/2022-02/14.%20Installation%20view%20of%20%E2%80%98Material%20Reverie%E2%80%99%20at%20Town%20Hall%20Gallery%20-%201200%20x%20675%20px.jpg?h=c74750f6&itok=nHoIWZpR)