Art of Campus Winners: Oliver White & Bailey Donovan

Art on Campus, USASA’s annual student art competition, saw an incredible 48 entries this year. You’ve probably already wandered past the outdoor mural at City West Campus (considering it’s been there since the beginning of August). But, you may not know that the exhibition is also part of the 2019 SALA Festival, and the two winning artists aren’t the typical brush and easel type of guys.

We spoke to the two talented individuals; Oliver White, 3D imagemaker and Verse’s very own graphic designer, and Bailey Donovan, an emerging glassblower who’s been honing his skills at Adelaide’s state of the art JamFactory studio.

Winner of the Industry Vote: OLIVER WHITE

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you’re studying?

My name is Oliver White and I’m currently in my second year of studying a Bachelor of Design (Communication Design). I grew up in Mildura, Victoria, and have lived in Adelaide for nearly four years.

What led you to get into imagemaking and graphic design?

Coming across from product design, I started to become a little obsessed with all the various graphic design solutions you see today. A lot of the excitement was around the fact that people were working in these areas for a living.

I come from a background in rural Australia where it seems to be admirable to be working extremely hard in a job you absolutely hate, and that’s your adult life sorted – with goals such as getting married, having kids and a house as things to strive for.

This new area really excited me, especially in the way that it could fulfil purposes in a way other than just financially. But, the possibility of income was still an important factor.

What inspires the subject matter behind your work?

I think at first, I was overwhelmingly inspired by what others were creating inside the same program that I use. There’s such a high ceiling of possibilities inside 3D that it’s hard to figure out what exactly you want to build. I think gradually I’m becoming more influenced by things that I’m seeing and reading about in person, as well as things I’m wanting to see.

Do you explore any other art forms?

Writing music and shooting film would probably be my favourite outlets right now because they (sort of) get me away from the computer.

How does it feel to win the 2019 Art on Campus Industry Vote?

It feels very flattering. I think as a UniSA student I’m really privileged to be able to participate in the Art on Campus exhibit and to win the Industry Vote is a great push forward for future motivation in the field.

To see more of Oliver’s work, find him on Instagram @oj.white

Winner of the Student Vote: BAILEY DONOVAN

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you’re studying?

I’m 21 and in my final year of a Bachelor of Contemporary Art. I have chosen to specialise in glassblown art. This has led me to study glassblowing techniques abroad at the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, and closer to home at Adelaide’s own JamFactory.

What led you to get into glassblowing?

I originally went to art school interested in painting. But after just one afternoon of getting to play around with the molten hot goo I threw away my brush and easel and traded it in for a blowing pipe and parchoffi. I’ve been hooked ever since. Being able to control such a beautiful material and bend it to your will is unlike anything else.

What inspires the subject matter behind your work?

The series that this work is from is inspired by the Venetian glassblowing technique of murrine and the fluid nature of molten glass. The murrine technique is used to create thin lines of glass colour that dance around the glass vessel as if blown by the wind, giving the appearance of grass, or brushstrokes. In making the compositions on my vessels I look to Australian landscapes and abstract landscape painters for inspiration.

Do you explore any other art forms?

I work in ceramics on occasion as I am very captivated by the history and concept of the vessel, but my main passion will always be glass.

How does it feel to win the 2019 Art on Campus Student Vote?

I am incredibly grateful to everyone who voted for me and to USASA for organising such a fun exhibition. The visual arts industry and especially art prizes are very dominated by painting and 2D artworks; so I take my win as a win for the whole craft-based art community.

To see more of Bailey’s work, go to baileydonovanglass.com or find him on Instagram @baileydonovanglass

Interviews by Annabel Bowles