Biography
2000
Stage One Calligraphy Course
2001
Calligraphy Exhibition at Porstmouth Library
2004
Production Backdrops
2005
ABC Foundation, Universtiy of Portsmouth
2005
Started my Fine Art Degree at The University of Plymouth
2007
Hearts Capital Exhibition
I am currently studying Fine Art at The University of Plymouth. I have spent all of my life lving in the South of England. I have many fond memories of family holidays down in Falmouth in Cornwall, where i spent many glorious summer days on my Grandparents boat. This has been my main inspiration in all of my work,
to portray a freedom,
'to get lost in the moment'.
I completed a Foundation at Distinction level at The University of Portsmouth, this was the place where i learnt to express myself through Art.
Art is a great subject, it is so broad.
There are no limitatons.
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing" Helen Keller
Exhibitions - Gallery Guide Links |
| |
Exhibitions - Full Listings |
| May 2001 | |
Portsmouth Library - Calligraphy |
| June 2005 | |
Aspex Gallery - Caravan Gallery - Jan Williams and Chris Teasdale |
| May 2005 | |
The University of Portsmouth - Foudation Exhibition |
| May 2007 | |
The Univsrsity of Plymouth - Hearts Capital |
| June 2008 | |
The Univsrsity of Plymouth - Degree Show |
| August 2008 | |
Elsewhere at Paintworks Bristol |
Statement
After completing my Foundation at The University of Portsmouth I decided that within my degree I still wanted to produce work where i could explore myself as a female artist in the 21st Century.
The work that I am producing for my degree is mainly installations and sculptures. I have enjoyed all the theories that I have learnt from my degree, such as Feminism, Psychoanalysis, Semiotics and currently Genealogy.
However, throughout all my time as an artist i have never abandoned my sketchbook and pen, for those moments of inspiration!
Lilith
Lilith
In the Jewish Talmud, Lilith was Adams first wife. Both Adam and Lilith were made from the earth, opposed to Eve being made from the earth and one of Adams Ribs. Lilith demanded to be treated as an equal. Adam and Lilith argued about equality, as Adam believed that Lilith was only fit enough to be in the bottom position, but Lilith would not lie beneath him. Adam bade three angels to find Lilith and bring her back to him. When Lilith refused, God punished her by commanding that she slay one hundred of her Lilin (children) each day.
Within Lilith, i deliberatly placed the centre image above so as a perciever you would have to look up, thus being beneath Lilith. I deliberatly placed a mirror directly underneath with a crochet Lily on top. Crochet and other needle crafts were regarded as craft rather than art and was also associated with the second sex (females). By making the perciever have to bend over to view the crochet lily i encompased a health hinderance; constricting the lungs of space which is one of the aspects of needlework being physically damaging to the body.
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Freuds, Love of dad, hatred towards Mother was explored by myself within 'Psychoanalysis.'
It was 25 years since my parents were on their Honeymoon in New York. However times have changed it wasn't Mum and Dad who went, It was Dad and Me. I took my parents honeymoon photos out with me. I sat in exactly the same spot that my Mother sat 25 years ago.
Within those 25 years things have happened, times have changed.
New york has been affected by one of the biggest terrorist attacks in history. Even though the two towers no longer exist, and the skyline of New York has changed dramatically, Icons and Symbols have replaced the towers. The towers only exist now as a symbol of what was once there.
And my parents marriage had ended. Husband and wife. Dad and Mum. Father and daughter.
Knots
Knots
Knots; is a wedding dress/parachute. The desire to want to look up at the wedding dress from underneath is extremely symbolic, especially as it is that of a wedding dress which connotes purity and virginity. From above marriage denotes the joining of two people, adding another connection to the family tree. This dress is mine, it’s my family. It can’t be worn by anyone else.
This wedding dress/parachute is created from old wedding dresses. I have deconstructed and reconstructed the wedding dress. Each family member has its own panel in the dress/parachute. I used a circle at the top with a diameter of 8 inches, 8 is a symbol for infinity, portraying the infinity of my family tree. I used traditional French seams that you would find on wedding dresses and parachutes. I have not hemmed the end of the wedding dress as my family tree continues to grow. During the Great War, material was rationed; it wasn’t uncommon to see wedding dresses made from parachutes! There is still one in The Victoria and Albert in London.
Not coming from a textile background I found this extremely hard, but with practice and determination I have progressed and I am extremely proud of this final piece. I have always been interested in textiles, it is a love, hate relationship, but I feel inspired by it, I want to love it, but I don’t feel that I have enough knowledge and experience in the textile field. Within ‘Subversive Stitch’ by Roszika Parker she comments that ‘embroidery was never regarded as an art, but as a craft, mainly due to its association with the second sex (female).” However, I have always been inspired by my Grandmothers talent of crochet and other ‘female craft’ works. My Grandmothers passion for the craft has given me much inspiration to continue this exploration of textiles.
Knots from the exterior portrays my family history, I started this research since my last assessment when I was asked, “Was this the furthest I could go?!” In January I was on 24 family members. To date I am now on 532! I am speaking to ‘kissing cousins’ all around the world. This has been probably my most amazing experience. Not only has my family expanded but it has caused my own initial family to become more interested in their own history. My Deconstruction of my relationship between me and my father has caused a reconstruction of my whole family through this huge interest into research of our family.
Maybe this wedding dress/parachute has saved my own family!
