The Taxidermist solo exhibition by Penola based crochet artist Trevor Smith is currently on display at The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre, presenting a new collection of his much-adored crochet sculptures.


The exhibition will be on display until January 28 and assembles a body of sculptural work exploring animals, birds, sea creatures, coral and even wall mounted mammal heads.


Using predominantly pure wool yarn and basic crochet stitches, the supports of the sculptural and wall pieces incorporate various combinations of polystyrene, foam rubber, wire and foamcore.


Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre curatorial team leader Chris Clements said Mr Smith’s latest art collection – The Taxidermist – neatly brings together decades of exploration of soft sculpture into a concise and playful body of work.


“Trevor has masterfully realised pieces transform the world we live into a parallel world of wonder,” Mr Clements said.


Completing a Diploma of Visual Arts at Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education in the early 1980s, Mr Smith is a self-described obsessive maker who has crocheted his way through hundreds of kilometres of yarn in the production of an array of unique flora and fauna creations.


“I am always making something, whether it’s irons and toasters, legs of ham or mounted deer heads, I like to keep busy – but there is no pattern, I could not make the same thing twice if I wanted to,” Mr Smith said.


The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre is running gallery tours for children as part of the City of Mount Gambier School Holiday Program at 10.30am on January 3 and January 9 and 2.30pm on January 25.


The Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre is open from 10am to 5pm weekdays and 10am to 2pm weekends and most public holidays and entry is free.


Bookings are essential and can be made by emailing riddoch@mountgambier.sa.gov.au or contacting The Riddoch on (08) 8721 563.