Andersch, Joerg The Mercury Sat 14 July, 2007

If You can’t Bite, Don’t Show Your Teeth
Colville Street Art Gallery, Battery Point
Price range $40 to $2750; to July 27

I guess there’s nobody more qualified to talk about dogs and their behaviour than printmaker Deborah Williams. Well, sort of.

Thirty-seven images of some of Australia’s most renowned street breeds are gracing the walls of the Colville Street Gallery. Endearing most of the time, these “man’s best friend” types are rendererd in silhouette on beautifully scrumbled and textured paper, lovingly printed and presented.

Williams has exhibited extensively in major cities and overseas and was a recent participant in the Hobart City Art prize. Having taken dog images to heart in recent years, the artist has evolved a fascinating method of creating those images and fellow printmakers will marvel at the evidence when taking a closer look at her work.

Showing with Williams is sculptor Tricia Swanton. Working with found objects, Swanton fashions creatures and objects from discarded plastic. Her creations are humorous and surprisingly innovative, lending the whole exhibition a novel aura, so you leave the place chuckling.