University of Central Lancashire   2008/2009

Anna McDade

I entered the AA2A scheme wishing to explore non toxic methods of etching sterling silver and copper in the production of jewellery and other wearable objects. I was interested in incorporating digital imagery onto metal, as I like the idea of the material’s durability and ‘permanence’, combined with the ability to create a wearable object.

I discovered through Photoetch process what linear qualities were achievable, which led me to refine my imagery: this in turn led to an evolution of the images I was producing in two fundamental ways: the way I constructed an image altered to ensure the chemicals had enough surface area to ‘bite’: lines thickened and figurative images simplified. The concept of the work also evolved, I began to think more about the process itself in terms of it environmental ‘friendliness’, and so the images and patterns began to explore ideas of natural forms, in contrast to the very clinical, computerised way in which they were initially produced. There also developed a contrast with the imagery and the objects upon which they were inlaid: concepts based on the freedom of nature (in particular and currently, birds in flight) and the historical significance of jewellery objects indicating ownership and in the most extreme cases, slavery.

Being on the AA2A scheme has allowed me to explore new processes and experiment with materials I had previously been unfamiliar with: experiments with copper, zinc and steel have proved very successful: I am using these materials to produce plates which can be pressed into silver sheet to create a negative image. I have also combined copper with silver using cold connections with great success. I have been able to rig a suitable home studio set up on a smaller scale, allowing me to develop my practice beyond the confines of the University.