Winter /Spring Newsletter

Working with the cycles.

It has been a strange time since completing my degree, wondering where to go next, considering other plants that I might want to engage with, and yet as time has gone on, the nettles are drawing me back – back home.

At this time of year the nettles retreat underground, drawing all their living cells down into their roots, a way of conserving energy when resources are scarce. Winter feels similar here too, pulling back into the warmth of the home, a time for solace and quiet reflection before moving back outwards.

The first quarter of the year has begun with a positive focus though. I received the results of my degree and found out that I was awarded a First class honours, I also received the Oppenheim- John Downe’s award at the end of last year which will be funding a course in intaglio printmaking at Double Elephant print workshop, beginning in late February.

Some of my work has been selected to be shown at three group exhibitions:

Curious Spaces : Transitions in Landscape, an exhibition with a group of recent OCA painting graduates. The details are not completely confirmed yet, but it is probable that this will take place in London during the summer.

I have also recently become a member of the Dorset Visual Arts Emerging Group and we have an exhibition scheduled at the Wirth Gallery, Sherborne. The private view is being held on Friday 1st March from 5.30 pm to 7.00pm, if you would like to attend then or another time then please email Lillie, curator in residence at l.ayres@sherborne.com. The Transit sculptural piece alongside two of the smaller string figure drawings will be on show.

I was also delighted to have had my work Signatures I (Votive) selected for the Sustainable Art Open. This is being held at Atkinson Gallery, Milford School, Street from 21st February- 21st March, open Wednesday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm. Seeing the list of other artists, I am feeling quite humbled to be a part of this.

The private view is being held at the gallery on Wednesday 21st February 7.15pm to 8.30pm. If you would like to attend, free tickets are available at eventbrite, just follow the link here:https://sustainable-art-open-private-view.eventbrite.co.uk/

The curators have been busy getting the exhibition space ready. It will be interesting to see the piece in a different environment, other than a church.

Looking at the footage of the install, I can see how faded the piece is now becoming, it feels like it’s coming to the end of its life cycle. This is perhaps a sign to start working with it again, and maybe this will lead to a different incarnation.

The work seems to be following the same cycles as the nettles, a sense of annual decay and rebirth. It will be interesting where this all leads.

Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you all a peaceful and prosperous year ahead.