“Elements Redefined” is at its last destination at Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking, and will end on 20th March 2022.. If you haven’t yet seen the exhibition by chosen Surrey Guild Craftsmen people, exhibiting; jewellery, glass, ceramics, textile, leather and mixed media, then you can visit everyday between 11-4pm. Below is a shot of one of my “Altered Vessel"s”. As the lovely spring is finally here, you might enjoy a glass of the estates’ wine overlooking the beautiful Surrey Hills.
Lene
I am so exicited to be involved in an exhibition at this unique time in history. I was meant to participate in a 10 week travelling exhibition across Surrey venues with the exhibition; “Elements Redefined” with Surrey Guild of Craftsmen. However, due to the Covid pandemic four of our venues have postponed our exhibition till later.
We are incredibly lucky that New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham has decided to honour the original dates and “Elements Redefined” will have its opening on 27th October and will go onto 7th November 2020. Below is more information about the exhibition from the gallery.
“This exhibition will showcase the excellent design and craftsmanship that is the trademark of the work of members of The Surrey Guild of Craftsmen. Guild members are selected professional designer makers of contemporary and traditional applied arts. Their work is distinguished by fine craftsmanship and innovative design.
The Guild aims to raise public awareness of the quality and diversity of the work created by local designer makers through a programme of exhibitions and craft events at venues around the county and beyond. The members also run the Surrey Guild Craft Gallery in Milford, Surrey, where a wide variety of individual members' work can be seen and purchased.
Work will encompass many of the media employed by members including glass, ceramics, textiles, mixed media, leather, jewellery and enamelling.”
“In 2020, Farnham was awarded World Craft City status. Farnham is the first town in England and only the third region in Europe to be given ‘World Craft City’ status. Other European holders of the designation include the Outer Hebrides for Harris tweed and the Danish island of Bornholm, famous for its glass production and pottery using locally worked clay.
The World Crafts Council welcomes Farnham to the network of world craft cities which is a contribution to the UNESCO Creative Cities programme. Only 36 other regions and cities across the globe have been awarded Craft City status.”
Sadly, UCA has decided to terminate all the Artists in Residence recidencies due to the pandemic and keeping with the social distancing. This is very sad as I was just beginning to develop a new body of work and have had to take unfinished and unfired work home to finish at the shared studio at Weybridge Pottery. However, my work tends to be rather large and I cherished the large kilns available at UCA. It is a shame that we were not even able to finish off our work, as for some artists in residence it was their only means to get to a specialised workshop, such as glass blowing furness.
I have enjoyed the short time, meeting amazingly creative students, technicians and tutors. Hopefully, some longlasting creative connections have been established. The positive teaching sessions with BA students and tutorials with MA students have highlighted my love of teaching. I have loved the wonderful facilities working in the ceramics department and hope that I will be able to still access the library for reserach.
Below are two of my larger pieces I had to take away from UCA before they were glaze fired. Luckily I am able to fire them at Major Lester’s Pottery in Weybridge where I am fortunate to be able to develop my creativitiy. I believe they are currently been fired up to 1260˚C and with all luck they will be out by tomorrow evening.
The top one has been altered with dipped plastic baubles lights and the other with a spiky ball. Both are ways I try to express grief through being damaged.
The international project “Empty Bowls” is taking place for the second year on Sunday 17th November at 12.30pm at Woking United Reformed Church, The York Road Project, White Rose Lane, Woking, Surrey (UK). The project’s aim is to fight hunger encouraging artist and art organisations to support homeless people in the community. This is done through creating soup bowls and donating them to the organisation, local people will then be able to support the project through purchasing a handmade bowl served with delicious soup. The bowl is theirs to keep - a piece of art and a reminder that there are many who sleep hungry every night, whose bowl remain empty.
Anamica Chauhan, ceramic artist and tutor has again been the leading figure in making this event happen in collaboration with Woking United Reformed Church, Surrey Adult Learning Centre students, tutors and staff and UK based artists donating bowls to raise money.
#emptybowlswoking
A wonderful experience to exhibit my work "Damaged Goods" at the OXO Tower Gallery during the “CONNECTED” exhibition with “The art makers’ collective”. I had the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people, share my work, the narrative behind it and hear their comments and discuss their involvement in the arts.
The show was well attended showing work by jewellers, textile artists, product designers and ceramicists.
I enjoyed sharing my body of work expressing grief through altered vessels. I used my wedding clothes to set off the exhibition defining the contrast between my married life and the one I had to establish in the aftermath.
It was a pleasure to have an opportunity to meet collectors and art lovers, discuss my work and hear their feedback.
Take a look at these photos of the event.
Just graduated with an MA at UCA, Farnham 20 artists have been chosen to show their work at this prestigious venue. I am excited to participate with “The Makers’ Art Collective” in our exhibition “CONNECTED”.
We will be exhibiting from Wednesday 11th September to 22nd September 2019.
I hope you will be inspired and moved by our exhibition representing the disciplines of jewellery, product design, textile and ceramics .
Work is for sale at the exhibition. Any further inquires please contact me.
You are invited to join me at my MA private view alongside many other fantastic artists and makers at UCA Farnham, Thursday 29th August 5-7pm
I look forward to seeing you.
I am constantly trying to find ways of altering my work in order to express grief successfully. After a tutorial at Farnham UCA with Rebecca Skeels, I found myself excited about purchasing a slingshot. With a little help from my friend Bella we set off to explore how easy or hard it would be to create the perfect impact of violation to my vessel.
We had had too little experience as kids and it proved to be really difficult to master using the slingshot with the tiny ball bearings covered in slip. Often we misfired and in the end we opted for a solution of throwing the stain coloured ball bearings at the object at close range.
Here are some of the results. More or less successful but in reality a very funny experience of trying to express grief with the complications involved.
In trying to express a sense of violation I am throwing a stained ball onto a stoneware thrown vessel. The impact is profound and offers an expression which I would not have been able to achieve through careful planning and prodding.
