Wolverhampton artist statements 2006

Wolverhampton 2006

To contact an artist, email the college with your query

Johanna Wren

- Jewellery, Silversmithing

I enjoy designing and working in silver and silver-plated metal to produce wearable pieces and vessels, I also oxidize and add gold for contrast. My work is often organically influenced focusing on shapes, forms and textures from nature, especially the carnivorous plant the Sundew. Many of my pieces have moveable wires to encourage interaction and gentle movement. Hollow forms are produced by various forming techniques and texture is added to some of my pieces with delicate etched detail. The main forms and textures are kept simple as not to detract from these wires.

Angela Verdon

- Ceramics, Glass

I am working towards a major exhibition in April 2006. The show will feature a focused body of new work primarily in bone china and porcelain, but also incorporating other materials for inlay - notably metal and glass. I have been experimenting with size and scale for the previous twelve months and I plan to futher this exploratory avenue of thinking with the construction of larger forms. My working methods involve plaster moulds, both simple one part drop moulds, waste moulds and more complex multi-piece moulds. In addition I am interested in combining wax and gelflex to build up surface texture and mark making. The resulting one off cast abstract froms are unglazed and burnished to a highly polished finish, which emphasises the inherent tactile properties of the material. It is this integral finishing that is central to the work and how it is perceived.

I have considerable and varied experience of working in tandem with students, and I would look to this access project being a mutually supportive and encouraging learning experience.

Jenny Fergusson

- Textiles

I am a feltmaker, working mostly with merino wool fibres, silk fibres and sheer fabrics. Over the last few years I have been developing methods of producing very fine felted fabrics, some of which are almost see-through. Recent pieces have been given a richly textured surface using a variety of silk fibres and patches of sheer fabrics. I also sometimes add to this using free machine stitch.

As part of a project for an exhibiting group, I have been exploring ways of incorporating printed, photographic imagery into the fine felted fabric. After a variety of trials, using different transfer techniques, I have discovered a method of printing onto sheer fabrics, using the A3 printer with my computer. However, this can produce rather unpredictable results and there are restrictions on size.

For this project I would have two main aims: I would like to take this line of investigation further, exploring a variety of techniques to combine printed design or imagery with handcrafted felt, including the use of laminated and felted-in sheer and other fabrics. I would intend to develop a more focused personal style and body of work, which would encompass both exhibition and commercial applications. To achieve this I would: Undertake a series of workshop trials, investigating processes to produce felted fabrics suitable for digital, and possibly screen, printing. Use digital technology to develop design ideas using combinations of drawn and photographic imagery, leading to a recognisable personal design style. Produce a range of samples aimed at commercial applications for aprinted felt fabric, possibly wall panels for interiors and associated accessories. Produce a series of one-off pieces for exhibition.

Julie Edwards

- Sculpture, Ceramics, Casting - wax, bronze and aluminium, Mould making

It is difficult to define my practice at present because it is currently going through changes. My commissioned based work is influencing strongly the materials I want to use, and the personal ideas I have are slowly influencing the way I want to make public art. I will use the facilities at Wolverhampton to fuse the two ways of working together. Have the chance to experiment, adapt processes to suit the practice. The ideas I want to specifically pursue are the casting of very thin fragile fabrics into constructions/curtain/veils/boxes. How fragile can I make the objects without them breaking the appearance of delicateness is important. I want to pursue the intellectual credibility of the ideas, play the with meanings and develop the concepts behind the work.

I enjoy contrasts, opposites, contrary things. My work often deals with these anomalies. The things I want to specifically make/deal with are the idea of hiding, privacy and peoples fascination with curtains and particularly net curtains. We live in multiple boxes where people hide themselves away beneath nets. They are statements to do with design, fashion, age and reflect the concern that we are being watched.