Creative Reactions

Creative Reactions is a Bristol University project exploring the relationships between science and art. 50 artists and 50 scientists were selected to collaborated on works from sculptures and wood carvings to canvas, digital and performance art.  The resulting work was show at two exhibition, the first at North Gallery (May 2-19), and then at The Island (May 20 – June 1).

I had the great fortune to be paired with Ailsa Naismith, from the School of Earth Sciences, who is focusing her research on Volcan de Fuego, an active stratovolcano in southern Guatemala.

I loved working with Ailsa.  She was enthusiastic and engaging when talking about her subject, clear and patient in her explanations.  Through our conversations, I have created an image of a possible cross section though Fuego volcano.  This has had several iterations with Ailsa noting what is right, and suggesting changes to improve my understanding.

What has surprised me is how different the final image looks from the standard, tidily layered, diagrams you find in books.

Diagrammatic cross section showing how layers of Pyroclastic Flow, Ash, and Lava might build up and interact to create Fuego Volcano in Gutamala.

Talking with Ailsa has sparked numerous.  I have really enjoyed the whole process of collaboration, talking through ideas, thinking hard to grasp new concepts.  I find it interesting that the end result is so different to the image I imagine I would have produced without Ailsa’s contribution.

The Hepworth Print Fair

I am very excited to be taking part in the Hepworth Print Fair in Wakefield (1-3 March).  I visited the fair last year and was extremely impressed by the range and talent of printmaking on show.  I am honoured to be 1/60th of this year’s celebration of print.  If you are in the area, come and say ‘hello’, or make a trip to Wakefield especially for the fair – I am sure it will be worth the drive.

Glowing Rocks

The time I thought would never come is almost here!  A bit more polishing and I will have a final version of my light up pebble.  Depending on which orientation you hold him in, he can display 6 different light patterns.  Due to my aversion to flashing lights, all his transitions are quite slow and subtle, so you have to take your time, hold him steady and let him settle if you want to see a new pattern – this is not a pebble to be rushed.  My favourite is when you hold him upside down, he pulses with light at approximately the same speed as my heart rate.

Below you can see the electronics built by Laurence to make pebble work, along with a flow diagram explaining the different light patterns.

 

Exploring Memories of Landscape in Print

I’ve been working on a new way of creating images in response to landscape. These smaller circle prints are created in a similar way to my big geological circles in that I use a single circle stencil and mask off areas to create the different shapes. I have placed each section of colour in a different position on each print, so although each one in the series is created from the same shapes and colours, each one is unique rather than being part of an edition.

The forms and colours in these prints come from a memory of a walk along the coast near Minehead. I find it very difficult to hold an image of place in my mind, but colours seem to stay put.


Evolution of an Idea

I’ve been emptying photos off my phone and found these. I thought it was interesting to see how an idea developed from seeing these wonderful concrete chunks on a building site in Rome, through to finished pendants. These were a collaboration with the lovely Sarah from Flux and are currently on sale in the gallery on Upper Maudlin Street.

Process & Progress Exhibition

My fellow part time MA Design students and I recently put on a show of work in progress  at UWE.  I found it really interesting to show preparatory work, the work that has actually taken me longest and caused most heart ache, alongside finished pieces – the hideously ugly mould which took me months to make, alongside the carefully polished concrete piece that finally came out of it, eight of the many colour experiments with the finished pebble screenprint which they eventually led to. A really helpful and instructive experience.

Found at Centrespace

Thank you to all who came and saw our show at Centrespace and gave us such fantastic feedback, and thank you to Ruth for being such a joy to show with!

It has been such a boost to talk to people about my work, and for them to understand and appreciate what I am talking about, and not think that I am round the twist for loving maps and wanting to make concrete pebbles.  I don’t think I had appreciated just how valuable the experience of getting work out of my studio space and onto walls where it can be seen and commented on was going to be.  I will do it again (but not until I have had a good long while to recover).

Found

I’m alternating between excitement and terror about the fact that in two weeks I will be putting up a joint exhibition with Ruth Broadway at Centrespace.

I’m out of my comfort zone – it will be the first time that I have shown a large number of my   geological screenprints all together and I am hoping to get my work to a whole new audience.

The private view is from 6.30 to 9pm on Thursday 27th April at Centrespace Gallery.  Everyone is welcome, the more the merrier – especially if you have a thing for maps, rocks, museums, colour, or just a glass of wine and a chat.