G Spot Glass in Full View

If you’ve ever driven the ninety-degree bend into or away from Queenscliff Bridge, you’ve no doubt found your eyes magnetically drawn to the naked, blue, scissor-legged, upside-down, roof-breaching wonder of Sallie Portnoy’s G Spot Glass.

Midwest-Canadian-born, yet bona fide Manly local, Sallie’s interdisciplinary artistic talents span glass, clay, bronze, cement, metals, polystyrene, stainless steel, and mixed media, also specialising in the design and fabrication of interior and exterior mosaic floors and walls. A veritable treasure chest of talents at her disposal. Inspired by nature, the female form, words, humour, and philosophical thought, Sallie’s background in ceramics informs her work in glass, which has earned international recognition.

“Art for me is a process of self-actualization where what comes from within, reflected back, offers me a chance to meet myself in a space of my own making. I am excited at how this provides me with a window into the deeper levels of my unconscious.”

Glass casting involves an intricate and lengthy process. “Mostly I cast in simple open moulds. This means I don’t have to use wax that needs melting out but can sculpt a form in clay that I then cover in a plaster mix, turn it over to the open side and pull the clay out,” Sallie says, making it sound far easier than it really is. “I then fill the mould with chunks of glass and melt it in a kiln to 830 degrees. The kiln has to be cooled very slowly so the glass doesn’t break. The work once cooled is taken from the kiln and the plaster is carefully broken off the glass. The glass is then ground and polished over many hours.”

To develop her extensive craft, Sallie first studied ceramics at the University of Manitoba and NSCAD (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, Canada), graduating from COFA with a BA in Ceramics in her 30s. Mostly self-taught in glass, she’s undertaken several workshops at Seattle’s infamous Pilchuck Glass School, where Sallie also taught in 2015, and completed her Masters in Glass at Sydney University’s College of the Arts in 2013. 

Portnoy is involved in community projects, weekend workshops and summer school teaching from her Queenscliff home to all round Australia, Canada, Turkey, and the U.S. The busy schedule and social interactions come as welcome distractions to her solo studio practice. “Where I get my inspiration is a mystery to me. I am often surprised at what I create,” Portnoy says. “I travel a lot – back to North America for family and friends and to as many exotic destinations as possible. My interest has always been in human nature, human form, human psychology, mysticism, ritual, and the mysteries of life.”

Sallie’s pieces will be featured in Artelan’s upcoming group show “In Full View”, showcasing the work of 14 dynamic artists working in sculpture, painting, glass and ceramics.

Founded in 2021 by Northern Beaches local Lynn Westacott, Artelan is a unique online gallery supporting artists and art lovers alike. “I am so proud of our stable of artists, and very excited to launch our first in-person exhibition right here in Manly.”