MA Multidisciplinary Print Degree Show
Tonight is the opening of my degree show at the University of West of England's Bower Ashton Campus. It's been a brilliant three years. Made great friends and had access to top-class facilities. The running of the course has been faultless (course leader: Sarah Bodman).
It'll be open Saturday and Sunday (10-6pm). And, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (10-8pm). We're in F Block, 1st floor.
The image on our publicity is by fellow artist and printmaker Maxine Foster.
Check out our Instagram feed for our degree show.
Strong Women
"Strong Women" is the title and theme for an exhibition of printmaking and painting with South African artist Bev Samler. Timed to coincide with 16 Days of Action, it formed a pivot for the events happening in Exeter, UK to mark the campaign to end violence against women and girls around the world.
My central piece was a large monotype print (with watercolour paint and wax crayon) measuring 180cms x 90cms that contemplated a certain kind of feminine energy - one that is cyclical, joyful, dynamic and collaborative. I was helped out by the actors Ruth Mitchell and Michelle Ridings who permitted me to take photos of them to inspire me and work from. Key to the work is this verse from Maya Angelou's poem "Still I Rise"
Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise.
Greenhill Arts Open
Closer to home is Greenhill Arts, situated in Moretonhampstead on Dartmoor, where this summer they have 35 artists to showcase current work.
My piece 'Blue Scarves' is part of the exhibition and I'm looking forward to seeing the other work too. I just got a sneak peak of one or two, when I dropped off my picture, and it looks tantalising!
'Blue Scarves' is one part of a three piece study and reflection on the recent genocide in Cambodia (1975-79). It is a large (80cmx65cm) mixed media piece made from 28 monotypes with ink wash and stitch. These 28 'frames' form part of an animation, which is looped and shows a 360 degree view of a rubber tree plantation in Eastern Cambodia that I visited in January 2017. A partner work "Des Lunettes" is made with monotype, ink wash and burning. Together they are a contemplation on Cambodia's recent genocide which saw over 2 million peoples killed - among those particularly singled out were people wearing glasses (des lunettes) or blue and white checked scarves (a symbol of the Eastern province - considered to be more Vietnamese than Cambodian).
The link to the animation is here.
Center for Book Arts, New York
Wouldn't it be great to nip over to New York to see the summer exhibition at the Center for Book Arts! My printy-animation film "Where the Children Play" is part of their printmaking and animation exhibition.
Also showing are works by: Allison Bianco, Sarah McDermott & Martine Workman, Arron Foster, Bridgit Henry, Catherine Michaelis, Christine Medley, Claire McLaughlin, Claire Baillie-Cloke & Angie Butler, Claire Fouquet & Patty Smith, David Wischer, Devon Damonte, Drew Christie, Elena Fowler, Eliza Evans, Emily Larned, Emily Martin, Emily Alden Foster & Amy Burek, Erin Paulson, H.R. Buechler, Wuon-Gean Ho, Izzy Liberti, Jennifer Linton, Jörg Petri, Judith Poirier, Karen Oremus, Kyle Durrie, Lilli Carré, Lynn Peterfreund, Mary Becker, Melissa Brown, Michael Walsh, Nicholas Price, Poli Marichal, Radha Pandey, Rob Bekuhrs, Ruth Hayes, Sarah Nicholls, Saskia Jetten, Travis Janssen, Troy Patterson, Vanessa Cruz & Sheila Goloborotko, Vera Sebert, Victoria Squire & Louise Evans, Vida Saçic, Vinicius de Aguiar Sanchez and Virginia Wade.
Al Mutanabbi Street Starts Here in Exeter, UK
This short film by Josh Gaunt documents the day of poetry, artist book making and exhibitions in Exeter to remember that Al Mutanabbi Street, Baghdad's historic booksellers' quarter, Start Here. See more about this long-running project here.
Printmaking and Animation Screening
Josh Gaunt - workshopsndocs and syndrome pics - is coming to Exeter to do a screening of printmaking-animations in Exeter Phoenix's new cinema space Studio 74.
On Thursday 19th November it's Double Elephant's Redefining Print symposium. Their programme is rich and continues on past the normal finishing time to include this event with Josh and I. Come to Studio 74, Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter for 4.30-5.30.
Redefining Print
Tickets available here
Redefining Print is the name for Double Elephant’s new 2 year project, which will examine and explore the nature of printmaking today. We LOVE printmaking and we want it to be used and explored by all artists, not just those who are trained and practiced in printmaking. Printmaking has huge life and character and we know there’s massive potential for how printmaking is perceived and utilised.
It’s common that those artists who go to art school, learn something of printmaking there. It’s also common that after art school, without the access to the presses and other equipment, that printmaking fails to remain a viable part of their artist’s practice. Without access to technical support and equipment, it is difficult for contemporary artists to have printmaking as a potential resource for exploration.
Contemporary artists ask questions about the world we live in. They do this through the work they make, both the way they make it (known as ‘process’) and what they make (the ‘output’). Both the process and the output have boundless, limitless possibilities.
So, to explore how we could redefine print, Double Elephant will collaborate with contemporary artists to explore what they think about printmaking, and all of its characteristics including, the community, the customs, the sensory environment (smells, touch etc.)
And.. Da Ta! Our commissioned artists are: Mary Leahy, Bryony Gillard, Clare Thornton and Katy Connor. (Welcome! We can’t wait to meet you!) Alongside these 4 artists we have commissioned a writer, Carolyn Black and a film from artist Volkhardt Muller.
These six artists are the foundations. Their close questioning and exploration will lead the way. Come and join the journey.
Culture Data Projector - a new commission
Culture, Data, Projector is a Fabian’s Film multidisciplinary collaborative project between five Artists/Filmmakers and Met Office Scientists. The aim is to produce a series of five (5 minute) documentary films, which explore the artistic possibilities of using data (digital, electronic and traditional hardcopy archives) as part of a documentary narrative.
I've been exploring the Informatics Lab, a Met Office initiative to look at creative ways to make data useful. They have tons and tons of data and they want to see how it can be useful to us... or me or you. I'm going to be seeing if I can create a series of component animations that 'seem' to interact with their developing 3D visualisation of weather data.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England. Also funded by Exeter City Council.
In collaboration with The Met Office (Exeter), Exeter City Council, Exeter College and the Open Data Institute.
Devon Open Studios 2015
Emma Molony: Sidmouth Tree
Emma Molony: Seashore
For one weekend in September Emma Molony and I are showing and selling original prints. Last time we did this was 5 years ago. We are in the Bomb Shelter in Beer, East Devon. Come and see us!
11th, 12, 13th September 2015
Open 11-6pm each day
Bomb Shelter, Fore Street, Beer, East Devon
Five Women Printmakers
I exhibited a range of prints both from To Have and to Hold and Living On with White Moose Gallery in Barnstaple in April- June this year. The opening event, and the talk at North Devon Arts and the two drypoint demos that I did, were all really well attended. Its a friendly lot up in North Devon and I enjoyed meeting lots of artists and arts supporters.