Like many others who do not live within walking distance of the beach, I am taking the opportunity to work with my existing collection of found objects. I like the idea of making jewellery but also making art in the form of jewellery. Some of my finds are rusty or delicate and some hold the secrets of untold years in the sea, sent to my bit of coast from who knows where. And some of these pieces are not suitable for wearing so here they are presented as if they could be.
At the weekend, I spent time with the lovely Mary Crabb at the Oxmarket Gallery in Chichcester together with other like minded ladies learning the basics of “looping.” Working with a variety of fine flexible materials, Mary weaves using adapted traditional basketry techniques to form a range of beautiful objects.
The purpose of the workshop was to explore the process of stitching to create a fabric. Mary had brought a huge range of flexible textile materials for us to play with, from fishing wire to rope, from rubber tubing to yarn made from nettles. We experimented with working flat, working in 3D, in the round and from side to side, comparing stitch variations, materials and tension. The aim was to play and to start developing individual items as to how we might use this technique in our own way.
Samples using a variety of materials
I am particularly interested in combining this technique with my found materials. I may use the looping with actual found “yarns” such as fishing line, rope, electrical wire and so on but also combine the found with other yarns using them as a holder or as a mould. More play required! For the time being, I thoroughly enjoyed just exploring what one can do with a length of yarn!
A friend and I decided to visit this last week, lured by the introduction of the Gallery’s website:
“The notion of the found object as artistic material, content and subject-matter provides the inspiration for The Everyday and Extraordinary, an exhibition presenting a Wunderkammer of modern and contemporary artworks drawn from the Arts Council Collection. The show brings together a fusion of materials, processes and innovative ideas, celebrating the physicality of objects in this predominantly digital age.
Found objects or ‘objet trouvé’ provide infinite inspiration for artists. When, in 1913, Marcel Duchamp used a found object in his work, he introduced the term ‘ready-made’ to art. Whether modified, presented in a new context or left unchanged found objects have had an enduring impact on artistic practice, with artists appropriating and transforming objects in many ways to communicate particular ideas or concepts. Surrealists used ‘the everyday’ as an invocation of humour and satire whilst Pop Artists directly appropriated items from popular culture. Techniques of the ready-made continue to engage and inspire contemporary artists today.”
We both like to use found objects in our work so thought this exhibition would be right up our street.
Anya Gallacio’s installation Preserve (Chateau) shown above in its original form, has been deliberately allowed to rot and is now looking very sad. The frame is somewhat misted up and the flowers have died and are dropping out of the base. Stated to be a sombre meditation on the passing of time, it consists of 100 red gerberas sandwiched between the wall and a pane of glass. Preserve Beauty was the paradoxical title of a work in which no attempt is made to conserve the wilting flowers.
I liked Mona Haltom’s sculpture + And – but, like many other exhibits, it does not incorporate found objects. A wooden box is filled with sand. Like a clock, it’s two hands rotate. The serrated hand draws concentric rings in the sand and these are then obliterated when the smooth hand follows. There is something soothing about this repetition.
The above work by Tony Cragg was made in 1978. This does use the found – hundreds of pieces of plastic. As a regular beachcomber, I identified with the fact that there is a horrendous amount of such items to be easily found upon our shores and I can only suppose that forty years ago this work was saying something new. Today I found it too simplistic to be considered a piece of art.
I did like the following exhibits which I photographed together with their notes:
but, overall, my friend and I both considered the exhibition disappointing. Too few exhibits featuring the genuinely found and those that did, were not particularly inspiring. Do let me know what you think!
And finally, we walked along the seafront where we saw two of the five new beach huts installed recently and available to hire. As art installations, I enjoyed them. You can read more about them and view the others by following the link above:
I have recently attended a couple of Alumi days at West Dean College. They have been excellent – two tutors Kate Boucher and Mark Anstee have guided, assisted and otherwise inspire a group of us whilst we work on our own projects. The day starts with a statement of intention and closes with a look at how each of us have got on achieving those objectives – a great opportunity to work with a group of like minded people all working on different projects in different ways. I hope that we have many more opportunities to do this at West Dean.
I have already posted about the first of these days. On the second day, I wanted to explore gesso so started by preparing a host of postcards by adding gesso. This was either left to dry or was scratched and scraped into first. Once day, I added ink and wax and scraped and scratched some more. Here is an example of the outcome:
At the end of the day, I was set two challenges – firstly, to try (for the first time) working with oil paint and the other was to think about working both very small and very large.
I decided to start with very small and an idea was borne! Next year my husband and I will exhibit at the Oxmarket Gallery in Chichester. As he is a photographer, I decided to set about creating a body of work responding to his photography by working in my own way using mixed media but utilising photographic equipment. To date, I have acquired two ancient cameras (the box brownie brings back childhood memories!), a hundred plastic slides, several hundred slide holders and some lovely vintage spools. Paper slide cases are on order and I shall have fun deciding how best to work with all of these. Whilst the objects are not found, I like the ethos of re-using vintage items in a new way. Here is a taster of what I have in mind:
I am creating a quantity of similar pieces to display in groups.
The next challenge – oils. I have just three tubes of oil paint and some cold wax medium. Should be fun!
I plan to experiment with working big at College in July.
Dungeness, at the Southernmost point of Kent, is unique – no boundaries, a desolate landscape with wooden houses, power stations, lighthouses and expansive gravel pits. Yet it possesses a rich and diverse wildlife within the National Nature Reserve in one of the largest shingle landscapes in the world.Dungeness has been designated as a National Nature Reserve (NNR), Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It is home to 600 species of plants which is a third of all plants found in the UK. The National Nature Reserve stretches across Dungeness to encompass the vast RSPB reserve and is intended to help protect the landscape and its wildlife.
My husband and I visited for the first time recently and it is an extraordinary place. As the introduction above states, it is desolate. We were only there for a few hours and will return without our dog so that we can explore the RSPB reserve and spend more time walking. Even if you were only to stay for 5 minutes you would be struck by what a special place this is and I urge you to visit NOW before the changes that are starting get a real grip.
The contrast between the decommissioned nuclear power station and the beautiful flora and fauna is quite shocking. The windswept 468-acre estate, on Romney Marsh, has just 22 properties, mostly converted railway cottages, which are largely owned by fishermen. But change is happening – some of the old wooden property is being replaced by mini “Grand Design” houses. Although the new properties are fitting in well, being a modern version of their predecessors and remaining low-key and modest, I could not help but wonder if the replacements are owned by second home owners. As the owner of two holiday cottages, I cannot be so hypocritical as to condemn this but, in such a small community, I feel that even a few holiday homes would have a massive impact. I note that when the estate was put up for sale in 2015 at £1.5m, the agent said: “It has considerable potential for increased income from tourism on top of the substantial income it already produces.” It is now owned by EDF Energy and a quick search today found 7 holiday homes there.
Before, During and After ….
Having said that, Dungeness is far from ruined and there are few outlets for the tourist to spend his money. Long may it stay that way! So go, take it in, draw, paint, walk, photograph, and enjoy … while you can!
With apologies to my husband, Alan, I could not resist turning a few images into black and white – it so suits the place!
Helen Frost Artist 