For this cutting edge new work, created especially for the Margaret Carnegie Gallery exhibition space, visitors will be treated to an amazing interactive water installation that exists as a sculpture, a musical instrument, and an interactive light, video and sound environment.

With Almost an Embrace, Vic McEwan transforms the gallery into a wonderland, allowing people to engage with water in a way that encourages connection and playfulness.

Video and sound fill the space in response to the viewer’s actions and the flow of hundreds of litres of water.

Almost an Embrace entices visitors to engage with arms outstretched, and the viewer is the missing link – your interaction with the water is required to close the circuit and spring the installation into life.

Vic McEwan is a new media artist, composer, producer and artistic director whose work traverses his diverse interests in landscape, community, remote spaces and collaboration across artforms.

Vic was recently announced as the inaugural recipient of the Arts NSW Regional Arts Fellowship for 2014-16.

This award will see Vic make several trips to the United Kingdom to work at Liverpool Children’s Hospital, creating sound works dealing with reduction in trauma. Vic will also be Artist-in-Residence at the National Museum of Australia in 2015.

Vic McEwan is also the artistic director of The Cad Factory, an artist-led organisation based in the Riverina, which creates an international program of new, immersive and experimental work guided by authentic exchange, ethical principles, people and place.

Almost an Embrace will be open to the public until Sunday, March 1, 2015.

For those of you who will lament the conclusion of Designing Craft/Crafting Design: 40 Years of JamFactory we have a treat in store for you.

JamFactory is pleased to launch the Icon series with Stephen Bowers: Beyond Bravura the first in the series of solo exhibitions celebrating the achievements of South Australia’s most outstanding and influential craft and design practitioners.

For over 35 years Stephen Bowers has been creating works that fire the imagination, combining intellect and inventiveness with skills and traditions that stretch back thousands of years. Bowers creates images and stories on ceramic surfaces that blend art historical references with Australiana motifs and icons from popular culture.

Stephen Bowers: Beyond Bravura will open on Saturday, February 7 in the Links Gallery.

Fused: A journey from artists in the National Art Glass Collection explores the unique and diverse cultures that continue to shape our community, and highlights the wealth of expertise and tradition that these skilled migrants have brought with them.

The artists whose works and stories are highlighted in this exhibition have played an integral part in the development of studio and art glass practice in this country.

It is in no small measure thanks to these artists that Australian art glass has achieved its international acclaim, and its widespread popularity across the nation.

Each week for the duration of this spectacular exhibition, we will be featuring one of the wonderful artists whose work is included in the exhibition.

Today it is Stephen Procter whose legacy of teaching and legacy to ongoing development of students is still resonating.

Fused: A journey from artists in the National Art Glass Collection

Feature artist: Stephen Procter

Cultural background: Both parents were born in England

Place of origin: West Sussex, England

Start of migration journey: London, England 1992

Place of arrival in Australia: Sydney, NSW 1992

First home in Australia: Red Hill, Canberra, ACT

First job in Australia: 1992 Head of Glass Workshop, Canberra School of Art, ANU

Other jobs in Australia: Freelance artist

Any glass related objects that were brought over? Brought over a whole container with his entire studio set up from England, which included two lathes, an engraver, flatbed, and a multitude of tools

For more on Stephen Procters’ story please visit www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/art-gallery/exhibitions/exhibitions-2014 or come in and read his story and see the work within the exhibition.

Main Gallery

* NEXT: Inspiration: WWAG 1975-2015 – February 14 to April 5

* NEXT: ABC Open – February 14 to April 5

Links Gallery

* NEXT: Stephen Bowers – February 7 to March 22

National Art Glass Gallery

* Fused: A journey from artists in the National Art Glass Collection – Until March 8

Margaret Carnegie Gallery

* Vic McEwan: Almost an Embrace – Until March 1

E3 art space

KaPOW! Kids and Print Outreach Workshops display – Until February 6 LAST WEEK

Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm

Sunday 10am to 2pm

Closed Mondays

Wagga Art Gallery is a cultural facility of Wagga City Council