Susanna Freymark
More than 150 people filled the Roxy Gallery last night, Friday, September 19 for the launch of Playing with Leaves.
Leather artist Mario Sanchez spent months making leather leaves for artworks and for people to play with in whatever way they wished.
Read about Mario’s process in making Playing with Leaves.
Roxy Council Art and Culture officer Kate McGain said she had never seen such a large crowd at the Roxy.
People sipped wine, enjoyed the view from the balcony and played with leaves.
There were many ways viewers were invited to interact with Mario’s artworks.
One was turning the handle of a tiny ball machine until a number popped out. That number correlated to a butterfly made out of five leather leaves and framed on the wall. You could then purchase the artwork.
Apparently, behind each butterfly frame there is a handwritten message from the artist.
There were masks, sculptures, brooches, leaves in large frame.
Elena Marie dressed in a leather outfit made by Mario moved through the crowd adding a theatrical element to the evening. She is a student of Mario’s.
Mario said it took more than four months to make the leather leaves — each with its own details and so realistic that they didn’t look like leather.
Below are photos from the opening night. The exhibition runs until October 26, upstairs at the Roxy Gallery, Summerland Way, Kyogle.
