So, it been such a busy time, I hadn't realised that so much time had passed since my last update! I guess I should start in chronological order then!
Visiting Milan with UK Young Artists
In October I went to Milan with a group of other artists through UK Young Artists. We flew late in October for the Biennial of Young Artists from Europe and the Mediterranean (BJCEM) opening and stayed there for the opening weekend. We were able to see performances from installation and visual artists from around Europe. It was such a great experience to meet other artists, and get to see other art disciplines. I'm so used to visiting ceramic and craft exhibitions it was an inspirational trip where I learnt a lot about how to market myself in the art world. Here's the Minimus Maximus Collection installed in Milan:
We had the opportunity to visit other parts of Milan too, I visited the Museo del Novecento which had a great cubist collection. I was able to sketch here for hours! There was also a temporary exhibition there which was small rooms in which the viewer could enter, that would warp reality with lasers, lights and platforms on the floor. We were also able to visit the sights of Milan, such as Duomo Cathedral, and various parks around the city.
Here is one of the other artists' work from the UK that represented the photography category, Sam Laughlin.
And here is his website:
http://www.samlaughlin.co.uk/
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Made by Hand, Cardiff City Hall, October.
I exhibited at the Made by Hand Fair in October-November and for the first time was able to demonstrate the making of the work too. I produced the work the night before, and was able to take the work in to fettle (finish the pieces off) at the fair. This seemed to be of interest to people, especially they were able to ask how the pieces were made and was a great way to interact with the audience. I had a successful fair, with lots of sales, contacts made and best of all, I had a hand full of pieces ready to fire! What can be better!
Here is a piece that I had produced in the demonstration. I feel that although some parts of the piece is successful, the shape was too similar to some of the other pieces that I had already produced. The lady with the hat was a great addition, and I will use her again I think.
There were some photojournalist students from Glamorgan University taking photos, and here's one below.
I got chatting with one of the groups and they were keen to make a documentary film about my practise. They visited the studio and produced this lovely film about my work:
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MOMA Wales - Eluned / Glyn Joint Exhibition
In November I had the privilege and honour to exhibit alongside my father at MOMA Wales in my home town, Machynlleth. My father has inspired my practise and my transition from canvas to clay ever since I was in school, and I felt that exhibiting together was such a natural progression for my work. Somehow I managed to twist his arm (as his artwork is made only for his own eyes usually) and we went to set up the work. I was quite nervous to see how the exhibition would come together, but I feel that my father's portraiture and life drawings and my ceramic work complimented each other well.
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Craft in the Bay Christmas Exhibition
I exhibited at the Craft in the Bay Christmas Exhibition this year, with other CITB members. I wanted to exhibit a new piece of work, and this new wall piece had just come out of the kiln. It has various objects in it, including handles from a Victorian style piece, a IKEA cup, an old fashioned decanter stopper and parts of a Toby jug.
I'm hoping to work with more glass this year, as at the end of last year I had worked with a glass stopper in the piece above, where usually I work with broken ceramic pieces.
I'm hoping to create bigger pieces in the next year, but also to expand the current Minimus Maximus Collection further. I hope to use the facets and angles in glass work to create surface pattern in my work.
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CRAFT: Redefining Handmade, Top Drawer
On Saturday the 16th of January I set my work up, sharing a stand with Design Factory group members, at Olympia, London for Top Drawer. I was exhibiting at CRAFT: Redefining Handmade within the Top Drawer Trade Fair from the 17th until the 19th of January. It was such a great fair, and I gained a lot of new contacts and stockists. It was a great opportunity to exhibit with other artists from Design Factory, and to catch up with other makers that I had met in past fairs and exhibitions. Here is the fair during set up; it was such a wonderful venue!
And here was my stand set-up. I wanted to keep the design of the stand simple, and let the forms of my work speak for themselves. I was exhibiting the Minimus Maximus Collection, with the new Toby Jug and Swan Espresso Cup. The feedback was great, and I met a lot of new contacts and possible stockists. Everyone seemed to like the new work, and it was great encouragement for me to develop more in this range of work.
I would definitely like to be a part of this fair again, it was such a great trade fair. It was inspirational to see other stands, and how they market themselves too. It's given me more ideas for possible stands in the future.
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Art and Craft Design Award, Certificate of Excellence
I have found out in the last week that I have won a Certificate of Excellence in the International Art and Craft Design Awards 2015. Lovely news to start a new year! Have a look at the other winners in the link below:
http://www.acd-award.com/#!winners-lounge-2015/c18v9
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Next step...
I've got a few exciting opportunities in the pipeline that I'm hoping by the next update I can tell you all about!
