hook & eye

Unchanged (inside and out) since my first visit in 1990 as a first year student at Derby University. Brings back memories of a 19 year old self.

magnetic

We had a steady morning and a busy afternoon in the learning studios this Sunday. As I meet and greet folk I'm near to the cutting & sticking table and get to observe children's fascination with our magnetic wall - this tot was happily moving magnets from one piece of paper to the other.

Was delighted that a couple of adults without children got to 'have a go' with the felt making process. One woman thanked me, saying 'We don't have a family so never get to participate in these activities'. Couldn't agree more, was so happy that adults without children could expand their learning with us, with me. 

art & social connections

The IYP (Integrated Youth Programme) have changed their name to the ACS (Art & Social Connections). This is their statement:

We are a group of young people who meet every Friday at The Hepworth Wakefield.

We enjoy being creative together, building skills and developing confidence and friendships.

We hope that in the future, we will use the knowledge and experience gained to help us find exciting opportunities.

a stitch in time

The Hepworth Prize for Sculpture is part of the galleries 5th anniversary celebrations and is named in honour of Barbara Hepworth. Working with young people last Friday we considered and participated with David Madalla's A Stitch in Time and created our own textile responses that shared something about our lives today. The group voted for their favourite sculpture and Phillida Barlow was the young peoples choice. 

we are many

My embroideries were well received at the UK's inaugural gathering for childless women in Solihull on the 29th-30th October 2016.

Branch, 2016

Hand embroidery on handkerchief that belonged to my aunt

Polyester thread, cotton

the mothership

Edit 18/06/17 
Due to my mum's illness and subsequent death in May I was unable to partake of this residency.  

I'm very excited to share that in June 2017 I'll be artist in residence at The Mothership, Dorset. The residency provides an opportunity for contemporary artists working in any media to work on a project of their choosing. The live/work studio is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, located on the edge of an ancient woodland. 

My idea involves landscape, personal history and song. During my residency I'll walk the woodland and explore the village, building a heartfelt relationship with the location. I'm keen to work with a local person who can read music, to learn folk songs collected from village residents during the last century. Songs and tunes collected from the village are kept in the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library in Cecil Sharp House, London. As well as the song, the singers and music makers names are recorded, can I find these people in the graveyard? Do their decedents live in the village? Does anyone recognise the tunes I'll bring back? Could the village residents teach me songs passed down through their families? I intend to sing these songs to the ancient woodland, the graves, sharing my findings with the wider community. I wonder at the sparks this could ignite. 

pop-up pages

Pop-up Pages - my workshop at the De La Warr Pavilion on the 26th October. Inspired by Peter Blake: Alphabets, Letters & Numbers we folded & cut paper to create pop up initials & words.

 H is for Harper

 Inspired by Peter Blake

 Pop-up initials & names

Musical youth

among the stars

Among the Stars - my workshop at the De La Warr Pavilion on the 25th October. We created floating, flying artworks - zooming paper planes, spinning paper helicopters & inflatable tetrahedrons, inspired by Fiona Banner's Full Stops and Ha Ha's. 

 Diamonds & Ha Ha

 Bird & Ha Ha

 Helicopters

Sea air inflated tetrahedrons 

dot dot dot

Dot Dot Dot - my workshop at the De La Warr Pavilion on the 24th October. Working alongside a group of charming & inventive children who shared thoughtful responses & created beautiful sculpture.

 Spinning full stop!

 Platonic solid sculpture

 Fiona Banner: Buoys Boys & the children's responses

 "I've learnt about making 3D shapes"

"I've learnt how to make a sphere"

drawing them in

STEAM Powered Big Draw weekend at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea!

During the weekend of the 22nd/23rd October we welcomed 270 participants of all ages into the studio & invited them to explore science, technology, engineering, art & maths. There were happy faces as inspired folk made & drew in seriously inventive ways. 

 Studio & view finder inspired by Fiona Banner's Ha Ha

 Pen robot

 Pen robot & spinning pens

Icosahedron still life slow geometry