Gazing into The Mirror of Time

Maggi Waddell and Max Cross

Exhibition Dates :
Thursday 5 March – Sunday 15 March 2026
10am – 4pm daily

A woodworker and watercolour artist are reviewing past experiences and successes in their respective practices, in order to develop identified elements through further exploration and application.

Maggi Waddell :

The adventure of being an artist … is that one never knows what is coming next.  A subject stimulates, an intention arises, a technique intrigues, an experiment ensues … and the result may be pleasing … or not. 

Looking back and gathering up the techniques and inspirations where one has been “successful” (maybe surprisingly), urges one onwards to try again. Developing skills that make for pleasing results nudges one on to explore further.  Try this again?  Apply this to a new subject? Change something to improve what worked? Let go control? Options for mark-making seem to accumulate falteringly, but with expanding variety … so pleasant an experiment and so full of surprises.

As a painter, this has definitely been how my paintings have evolved.  For example, loving a technique such as “negative painting”, or enjoying the results of “loose painting”… might lead one to try to combine the two.  Would these work for landscape? or flowers? or abstract? change the brush?  Waste the paper? …hopefully not … but maybe?

Most importantly, part of the adventure is finding inspiration in other’s work … gazing at the beauty and techniques previously made by others fuels the certainty that wonderful things are possible.

In my case, one woman’s paintings inspired me most, & at a tender, formative time in my life … as a young child.  My mother, Sheila Alice Davis, topped the state of Victoria in Art and Design in the final year of her high school. A talent discovered.  In rare, quiet moments, I could ask to see a large manila folder, kept up high in a cupboard.  These were my mother’s drawings and designs.   Perfectly executed in pencil on paper, so carefully stored away. Unfortunately, the silverfish ended up having them for lunch.

But, these drawings and designs touched a passion in me way back at the age of say 9 or 10 yrs of age. I gazed at them adoringly, endlessly.  But it wasn’t until my mother had brought up her 7 children, (almost 30 years later), that Sheila got the chance to develop her talents. She continued watercolour painting into her 80’s. Many of her watercolours hang on my walls, and I gaze at them longing to hear how she made those marks on the paper.

So….when I pick up my brushes, wet the paper (or not), remembering in my movements what memories live there in my fingers and my mind’s eye, of past creations … I am simply pushing the paint-filled brushes into the future … sweeping before them the elements gathered from the past.  Always hoping that this next ‘new’ art work will reflect and speak of the treasures already gained but which are seeking a fresher renewal out onto the paper. A pleasing and joyous experience indeed.      

Max Cross :

I have been working with wood for the past 50 years. Beginning by completing a trade in carpentry and joinery, I developed my construction skills. Working as a tradesman I became interested in design so with some trepidation I commenced a Fine arts degree here in Hobart at the School of Art, majoring in Furniture design and gaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with Honours upon completion. I continued with my own practise for several years. The opportunity to teach came up so shortly after that, I completed a Bachelor of Education where I taught technology related subjects, relevant to my background training.

During my years of teaching I had little time for being a designer and subsequently produced very little work of my own. Now, having finished teaching, I have recommenced my own design practise. It has also been an opportunity to look back on previous projects and reflect on ideas and what influenced my designs.

Living on an island such as Tasmania, we get to see a varied landscape in a relatively short space. The east coast with long sandy beaches attracts locals and tourists alike. Oceans that stretch for miles and the summer heat contrast with the ruggedness and intensity of the west coast. It’s cooler temperature and high rainfall create a different experience.
Tasmania also provides a rich variety in native timber. The colours range from light yellows to dark rich reddish browns. Soft and hard, figured or plain, long, or short grained.
Depending on the design and image I wish to convey, my choice of timber is an integral consideration during the design stage.

This exhibition entitled “Gazing into The Mirror of Time” has afforded me the opportunity to reflect on my design practise. Having been able to revisit my work and create new designs has been a positive experience. My choice of timber and the reason for it is still important and now the chance to explore other materials and ideas is an exciting opportunity to further develop and expand my designs.