Back in June I left our rural surroundings for a couple of days to attend a conference at Whitechapel Gallery. The focus of the conference concerned artists working in rural locations.
The Rural Assembly introduced artists from around the world, notably Taiwan, USA, Norway and UK. The conference surveyed the experiences, challenges and rewards of creative practice in rural places.
To share what I’ve learnt from these artists I’m organising an event on Saturday 12th October: an informal get together for artists, curators and others involved in rural arts. As well as talking about the conference we’ll be discussing the experiences and rewards of working in Herefordshire and the Marches in these challenging times.
The event is free of charge and takes place at Brampton Bryan Village Hall, SY7 ODH on Saturday 12th October, from 11.00am – 2pm. Coffee and cakes on arrival. Please bring lunch to share. Walk in Brampton Bryan Park 2pm – 3.30pm optional.
With thanks to Great Place Herefordshire’s Go & See Bursary for funding this event, and my attendance at the Rural Assembly Whitechapel Gallery, London.
Along with three other graduates from Hereford College of Arts I have been selected for New Art West Midlands 2017, a multi-site exhibition showcasing graduate work from Art Colleges across the region. My work will be exhibited at Wolverhampton Art Gallery from February to May. I decorate and engineer delicate dressmakers’ pattern paper to form ‘garments’ which explore the effects of human displacement and upheaval.
I’ve had a great week at The Old School Arts Open Studios as part of Shropshire Hills Arts Week. Open Studios are a good way to showcase work, meet the public and other creatives and sell work too. I have met some really interesting people and had constructive conversations about the direction my work might go next. Thanks for all the great feedback.
Last spring in the run up to my degree show I was interviewed by a-n for the Degree Show Guide and now, one year on I have been sharing my experiences with a-n once more. This time reflecting on the changes to my practice and dividing my time between the studio and work with art organisation The Sidney Nolan Trust and with Hereford College of Arts. http://www.a-n.co.uk/news/a-n-degree-shows-guide-2016-just-published-and-biggest-yet
This year I have been making work about upheaval and change in response to the refugee crisis in Europe. I’m working with paper form, drawing and stitch. My work is on show at galleries across the region, currently at The Apple Store Gallery in Hereford as part of the artists network Framework. Painting by Catherine Wynne-Paton. Photograph courtesy of Nicci Jedrzejczak.
As part of the Ludlow Fringe Festival The Paradox of Order questioned ‘why do we seek order in our lives?.’
The Paradox of Order is an ongoing researched based project conceived and run by London based artist Teresa Albor and involving several artists and poets ( a parallel ‘museum’ took place in London at the same time). About the artists and poets. A temporary museum was set up in Ludlow Library and Museum Resource Centre where found objects and those donated by members of the public were cleaned labelled and displayed in cabinet alongside museum artefacts.
Artists and poets were invited to take part in this process – performative in nature – to re-arrange the objects and to contribute creative responses. Poems were written, talks given, drawings made and a sound recording created in Ludlow town Square in response to a vintage Austin 6
The collaboration has led to interesting and surprising connections – you can follow the progress of this project here – The Paradox of Order
The Degree Show was a fantastic experience for us all and very well received. The starting point for my work was drawing from where I explored the use of a variety of other mediums to express ideas about memory and identity.
I was thrilled to be awarded Student of The Year Prize and The Contextual Studies Prize.
Each year a-n The Artists Information Company produces a guide to showcase the degree shows around the UK. I’m delighted to have been included in this years guide with a full page image of my work and an illustrated interview in which I explain to editor Chris Sharratt the thinking behind my work and plans after graduation.
About the Guide “50-page Degree Shows Guide 2015 featuring more than 75 forthcoming shows across the UK, plus perspectives from artists, curators, academics and graduating students on what artist Bob and Roberta Smith refers to as an “incredible rite of passage”.” (The a-n website) www.a-n.co.uk/about/about-a-n
Myself and six graduates funded a group show Paperfields at RKB Gallery London. We were kindly hosted by BK Burt Paper in Southwark and supported by Hereford College of Arts, Impact Print, Oliver’s Cider, Ross Cider, Franks Biscuits and Tyrrells.
We showed new work with paper and had a fantastic experience meeting hundreds of visitors to the show.
