A SPECTACULAR collaboration by a trio of well-known artists opens in the Elliot Gallery at the Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation this evening. Shelly Hamill, Amanda Temple and Gabriela Brunner are to showcase their individual talents in a singular exhibit entitled Body of New Work.

“It all started when I was taking a mosaics class with Gabriela,” Mrs. Hamill said as she explained how she had created a mannequin in the class using the techniques Mrs. Brunner was teaching.

“I had a solo show here at Kaleidoscope in November and I was telling Fiona (Rose Rodriguez-Roberts, Kaleidoscope founder and director) how much of my work had changed from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, how it had become more sculptural. Fiona got excited and thought how wonderful it would be to have a sculptural show in the gallery.”

Body of New Work<$> is the result of that invitation.

“Shelly was due to have an exhibit which she said would be figurative,” explained Ms Temple. “We were chatting one day and I suggested she should have someone do figurative pieces for the walls. And she asked if I’d be interested.”

The well-known photographer said there was a lengthy pause and then on impulse agreed. A moment of panic followed at the thought of filling the large space, however five months later, Ms Temple has amassed a collection of over 30 pieces.

“I’d say probably two-thirds are figurative, the others are abstracts - objects and places that I think other people might not find beautiful or would overlook.”

She gave as an example, a photograph of an oil slick spotted on a road. “It was something people probably just walked by, but I see these things,” she stated. “There are many textured images that are vibrant and ambiguous. I’ve been experimenting with some other processes as well. A lot of the photographs are printed on canvas and then topped with acrylic and a polyutherane coating to give them some texture and make them more painterly.”

The figurative photographs are a varied collection of nudes, featuring a number of processes. Some of the images are untouched, while others have been painted or manipulated and printed on different papers and canvas. There are also a few that are similar to some of her previous work, created by shooting through water. These images seem layered with a multitude of shapes and colours, with the body floating in the bubbles.

Formerly a professional bridal consultant, Mrs. Hamill’s contribution to the exhibit includes three hand-crafted mannequins, their dresses formed out of tiles. A laborious process, the largest - which she has titled Betrothed - has kept her busy since January.

“They start out as regular, fibre-glass mannequins that stop near the pelvis,” she said. “Below that sits an armature, a heavy wire mesh that forms the skirt - you really have to use dressmaker details. You have to think like a seamstress when you’re putting it together.”

A finer mesh is added next which is then covered with concrete, tile and finally grouted.

“I think part of the appeal to me with weddings was always how textural everything was - the flowers, the fabric, the food. It’s very sense oriented.”>Betrothed plays to that fascination, she added.

“I love her. People come in and want to touch her. Everybody wants to see what she feels like. I wanted to do a full-length dress for the third mannequin but the fun thing about her is that she’s made primarily out of tiles people donated to Kaleidoscope.”

The third exhibitor, Mrs. Brunner, was in the fashion industry in Switzerland for about ten years before attending art school in London. She received a degree in pottery, which she found limiting, but did enjoy sculpting clay. She also studied the traditional method of making mosaics.

She has been very involved with the Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation since its beginning and has five sculptures in the show, three of which are from a new series, entitled Fly.

Mrs. Brunner explained her process.

“Ideas just appear. I have many day dreams. Sometimes I see an entire show finished and installed, I just follow that vision.”

The artist described her work as exploratory in nature. Using different materials, she visualises a theme and works until she feels it is finished although she relies on the viewer to interpret the work for themselves.

“I do not really think a lot while creating the pieces but use intuition to guide my hands,” she explained

“They begin with a base to which she attaches a solid wire structure that is bent into form. A moulding paste is applied, sculpted into shape and allowed to dry. After which the piece is sanded and finished.”

Mrs. Brunner had an exhibition at Masterworks titled People of Bermuda, that featured large-scale portraits. The show sold out — rare for an exhibition of portraits. One portrait, of culture doyenne Ruth Thomas, was selected by the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts for the cover of its 2007 brochure and programme.

Mrs. Hamill said she hoped their exhibit would be just as well received.

“We’ve had a very positive response to the invitation. One of the things we really wanted to try to do was to help Fiona, to help Kaleidoscope. To bring a professional, varied show to broaden the appeal of Kaleidoscope, and expose the gallery to a wider audience. Part of the benefit of this particular space is the other facilities in the building. It’s not just an art gallery, it’s an art school, a studio space for artists - it’s a collaborative process. This foundation isn’t surviving solely on commissions received from the sale of artwork. It is a wonderful opportunity for the students who come here to see the different artwork that goes up and down every few weeks.”I>Body of New Work runs at the Elliot Gallery in the Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation through May 1. Hours are 10.30 a.m. through 2 p.m. or by appointment, 236-5963. The gallery is located in the old Elliot school on Parsons Lane and Jubilee Road