Friday 26 April 2013

Object 1. Hammerstone







  
 






Following on with the theme of the ‘archaeological stone tool artefact’, ‘Hammerstone’ is a small, highly polished piece of Purbeck Marble fixed upon a Portland Limestone base.
 
 
 
  'Hammerstone', 2013. Dimensions: 13 cm x 29.5 cm x 10 cm


Monday 22 April 2013

Black Axe




The origins of this small carving has been the product of cutting and reusing a small part of a larger stone to then form part of another composition. This idea was not successful and the evolution of the stone took on another guise. Before finally deciding on its purpose the journey of the stone reminded me of the apocryphal story of 'Washington's Axe' or 'My Grandfathers Axe' which is where the title originates. This is a paradoxical story about the famous axe which belonged to George Washington and how its handle and head had been replaced several times by a variety of owners, therefore bringing into question if the object still held the same identity, value and meaning. This has started me thinking about working on a series of small carvings, which I will show over the next few weeks titled 'Objects of Desire'. These carvings will be in a variety of different stones and may suggest that they are components from other artefacts.






   'Black Axe', 2013. Dimensions: 13 cm x 8.5 cm x 24 cm 

Monday 15 April 2013

Time for Reflection

After 18 months of Post Graduate Cert. in Learning and Teaching in the Creative Arts at UCA, I can finally submit my portfolio and get back to getting my hands dirty or dusty!!
News of an exciting new commission to follow!!

The Lost World

 
Just returned from a truly amazing 'first' visit to Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum. Nothing quite prepares you for the gripping sites and the impact the story has on you. The aspect that makes it such an experience is the intimacy you have with the abandoned city. However, with an influx of 2 million tourists every year the fragile ruins are undergoing an extensive conservation programme to maintain this extraordinary world.