Twelve art students from Central Metropolitan College of TAFE and Curtin University employ the theme of 'The Body' to present a mixed bag of art works. Printmaking, painting, sculpture and photo media have been employed to show us the torso and parts of it as object, subject and narrative.

Nina Jean's etched steel plate is a fascinating rendition of dental trauma. Anamorphosis involves a jagged dart of steel finely etched with eye teeth rhythmically spaced, like musical notes, and connected by a cord. We have to appreciate her expertise and presentation, there will be more then one viewer who winces. Thankfully Jean's installation Venuses of Wallflowerdom is more friendly. A collection of identical white ceramic ladies sit in clusters and about the gallery ~ waiting, just waiting. Visitors are encouraged to rearrange the figures and we did move one lonely lady across the room to bring her closer to the group. Good ideas and excellent works.

Debra Gurney too works well in 3D. Her three painted wood sculptures, each with a number for its title, are intriguing. It would appear the artist has carved and joined parts of rungs and turned legs from old chairs to create crawling 'chairmen'. She has neatly finished the joins in each figure so their undulating poses, complete with bends and joints, flow nicely as one continuous piece. Good workmanship is always appreciated.

Matthew Jackson's figure work shows promise but he must watch those proportions. There is a discernable difference between foreshortening and distortion. His mixed media work is weak however the self portrait Rotund is a nice collection of forms. Jackson's paintings are more interesting for their use of the media and mark making as seen best in Undressed #2.

A portrait by Joanna Fellows-Smith entitled Who Me? Dr. Kelly Disworth - Paediatric Anaesthetist shows the artist's clear ability to draw aspects of her sitter, but she can also create a painting that is inviting, interesting and haunting. We wonder if the sitter is covering up or breaking out as this ambiguity is heightened by the use of the oil medium.

Ben Hagley too has solid skills to produce works of interest. However his narrative is more humorous and in a graphic mode. One can't help wondering if the drooling figure on the end of a tether is the art student at this time of the year. Good one.

In all, the works are good with very few cop-outs, unskilled or simple exhibits that come with verbal validation as to why they are Art. Thankfully these two art schools are teaching students how to work with their chosen media and that augers well.