Shortlisted for Welsh Artist of the Year

Just had a letter saying that I have been shortlisted for the Welsh Artist of the Year competition & exhibition for my submission of a Resonate 'Loose Threads' sculpture. The exhibition is at St David's Hall in Cardiff from the 22nd June - 26th July 2008. The winners will be announced at the opening on the 22nd June - keep your fingers crossed for me!

UK and Las Vegas exhibitions update!

I have a lot of work out in exhibitions over the next month or two..... so if you are wanting to see (and buy!) some work in the flesh...... here's where you can track it down:

• Wales Millennium Centre - 'Heritage' a group exhibition by a selection of members from the Makers Guild in Wales. This exhibition opened on the 14th April and continues to the 16th June. I have five 'Loose Threads' wall panels on show here.
  
• PARKart will be presenting a series of my 'Resonate' sculptures at Grand Designs, Interiors Hall, stand no. L330 in London from the 3rd-11th May. I am going to be on the stand from 2-5pm on the 7th May. This is one of the five pieces they will be exhibiting:

• Fibre Art Wales group show at Banbury Art Gallery and Museum from the 7th May - 22nd June. These are the five 'Convergence' sculptures that will be exhibited:

• From the 15th - 17th May you can find me at HD Expo in Las Vegas! This is a largest hotel design trade show in the US, and I am exhibiting my Resonate wall panels and sculptures on the International Business Wales stand number 873. Hope to see you there!
  
• Inspires Art Gallery in Oxford. From the 17th of May, a selection new Resonate sculptures will exhibited alongside prints by Terry Frost, Peter Blake and Sandra Blow.
  
• From the 22nd May, you will be able to see my 'Grid Weave' work that has been shortlisted for a Wesley Barrell Craft Award at the Wesley Barrell London flagship store. It will then tour around the country before finishing at an exhibition at Origin, the Crafts Council show at Somerset House in October where the winner will be announced.

There are lots more shows in the pipeline - will keep you posted!

British Craft Trade Fair

Just got back from a busy few days up in Harrogate where I was exhibiting alongside other members of the Makers Guild of Wales at the British Craft Trade Fair. Had a very positive response from lots of galleries which will hopefully materialise into lots of exhibitions over the next few months....

Pleasingly these brand new black and gold designs were particularly well received....

Wesley Barrell Craft Awards

Great news: I have just learnt that I have been shortlisted for the Wesley Barrell Craft Awards in the Textiles for Interiors category for the work entitled 'Grid Weave: chocolate.' (Picture below.)

It will be included in an exhibition at the Wesley Barrell flagship store in London which will then tour around the country, finishing at Origin, the Crafts Council show at Somerset House in October when the winner will be announced. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

http://www.wesley-barrell.co.uk/

busy busy busy.....

I need to apologise first for not keeping very up date with my blogging activity.... have been so busy recently, I even had to miss out on my Easter break.... get the violins out eh?!

So what's been keeping me occupied?

Primarily, it has been the very exciting commission to 'respond to the Iron Trials in the World Heritage Site centred around Blaenavon in the South Wales Valleys, and to make initial proposals for public art ideas'. There was huge time pressure to get this work done, hence no Easter respite. This is an extremely new way for me to think about my work, but obviously an amazing opportunity to start thinking about translating my artworks to become applicable for the outdoor environment.

I came up with several proposals focusing on two sites - 'The Gap' on Broad Street in Blaenavon, and the Garn Lakes just outside the town. The two images show my very basic digital simulations for two of the ideas. At this point in the commission process, it was about demonstrating the way I would plan to tackle the project, the likely aesthetics, materials and processes.

Both the images show a development of my 'Loose Threads' acrylic encapsulated process - by Garn Lake it would be a large block with the threads echoing the contours of the land behind - surreal window or doorway into the landscape. In 'The Gap', a continuous panel would stretch around the three walls, which would be dramatically back lit to enhance the colour. This would be complimented by central stone seating which would incorporate glass inserts to make a visual link to the wall panels.

The presentation was given last Friday to a packed room of all the interested parties, from the Arts Council, local Council, residents, landscape architects etc. Perhaps one of my most nerve racking experiences! Nevertheless, my ideas seemed to generate a lot interest, and so hopefully something will be selected to move forward with.

Aside from that commission, amongst many other things, I have been finalising my 'Woven Structure' chapter for a book entitled Smart Clothes and Wearable Technology to be published by Woodhead - date tbc. Also I am busily preparing for the British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate which opens this Sunday. Hope to perhaps see you there!