Queens Park Community School

  Students evolving at artisan!

  29 July to 27 August 2010

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

'BLOOMING MARVELLOUS'

A photographic exhibition
  by
Liz Eddison

  3 July to  24 July 2010

After leaving Harrow School of Art, Liz went on to work in the photographic department of Sotheby Auctioneers and then for Advertising photographer Bob Wallis as Assistant and Stylist - for some years following this she became a Photographers agent.

 

Frustrated with being on the business side of Photography and not behind the lens, she decided to combine her passion for gardening with photography. In 2005 she co-founded the rights managed photographic library www.garden-collection.com.

Her photographs are published internationally in books and magazines and last year in collaboration with four leading garden photographers had a book published on the 'Gardens of the Loire Valley'. A number of the photographs from this Exhibition were taken during her trips to France.

 

 

 

 

'JOURNEY' 

4 June to 26 June 2010

 Mixed media and photographic exhibition

by Margaret Cooter and Tony Wallis

Margaret's installations, travel writing and wall hangings will take you on a very different journey to Tony's wonderful black & white photographs. 

Together they lead the observer down many avenues which both stimulates and challenges the mind and the eye.

Between them, they have created an exhibition - in the hinterland of Harlesden - that will take viewers on an inner journey of their own.

Photographic and sculptural media meet to evoke journeys physical and metaphorical through the work of Tony Wallis and Margaret Cooter in the inviting space of artisan.

 

 

 

 

 

Streets Ahead

6 May - 29 May 2010

an exhibition of art, craft and design

Demonstrating its commitment to be a local gallery for local artists artisan has the pleasure of opening its doors to local residents who put the art into craft.  These six talented neighbours come together to create a group exhibition of mixed media blending jewellery, glass, typography and painting into an exciting show which will appeal to those looking for unique and bespoke art and craft.

 

Brigitte Arnold -  Jeweller 

The beauty and romance of semi precious stones inspired Brigitte from an early age. Walking along the shores of the Baltic Sea, she would delight in discovering the treasures nature had to offer, notably pieces of amber, glowing in the sand. Later, pursuing the study of geology, Brigitte's awareness and fascination of natural wonders developed further.  Although it took a number of years before Brigitte's love of precious stones came to fruition through making jewellery, as other career paths took her away from fulfilling her creative talents.  Two years ago Brigitte embarked upon a long held passion to make jewellery.  Inspired by the inherent qualities of semi-precious stones, her necklaces are simple, elegant and visually striking. They show a rich contrast in colour and texture, in combinations that may previously have been unknown. Each piece of Brigitte's jewellery is handcrafted and she creates bespoke pieces which enhance the individuality of the wearer. www.brigittearnold.com  

 

 

 

 

 

Fiona Bailey - Jeweller

A mixture of beading skills and a love of textiles brought Fiona to design and create a range of jewellery which is contemporary and fun to wear.  Fabrics used range from cool cottons, shimmering silks and a variety of recycled garments and off cuts.  With such a huge range of colours and textures available the jewellery can lend itself to any occasion, for everyday wear, parties and weddings.  Individual pieces can also be made to order using specific fabrics….. the possibilities are endless.  www.fionabaileydesigns.com

 

 


Phil Baines - Graphic Designer

Phil Baines was born in Kendal, Westmorland, in 1958. He graduated from St Martin's School of Art in 1985 and the Royal College of Art in 1987 and is now Professor of Typography at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in London.  He is also a freelance graphic designer whose clients include publishers such as Penguin, Phaidon and Thames & Hudson, and arts organisations notably Matt's Gallery. His work often includes the use of his own typefaces which include Vere Dignum (2003) for Linotype. In 2009 he designed the lettering for the 7 July 2005 Bombings Memorial in London's Hyde Park. He has written extensively for the design press as well as four books: Type & typography, (2002, with Andrew Haslam); Signs, lettering in the environment, (2003, with Catherine Dixon), Penguin by design: a cover story 1935-2005 (2005) and Puffin by design: 70 years of imagination 1940-2010 (2010).  

 

 

 

 

 

Annabel Dane-Liebesny - Jeweller 

Annabel always had an interest in jewellery, and have moved from making simple beaded creations, to the complexities of glass and metal clay. What started off as a hobby from her kitchen table has spread......to encompass a kiln in the spare room!  All the jewellery is hand cut, and unique: that's what comes from working with such an unpredictable material and heat of 800 degrees. Annabel hopes it gives the wearer as much pleasure as it did her to make.  Enjoy.

 

 

 

John Thorogood - Artist

 Born in 1941, John Thorogood spent a lifetime painting landscapes and figures until, on retirement from his career as a language teaching adviser, he was able to treat himself to a foundation and degree course at Camberwell College of Arts, where he became interested in abstract painting with a decorative flavour and has continued to explore this area in many ways.  J.thorogood661@btinternet.com


  

 

Richard Tilbury - Glass Artist

The real job is in IT, but he says he would go crazy if that was all he did!  The glass "thing" began quite by accident a few years ago.  With a style which is both retro, organic and influenced by the Catalan artists Miro and Tapies, with a touch of Gaudi and perhaps a little Klimt Richard works on each piece as if it were a painting or drawing

Each piece is the result of a long process and therefore can take two days or more to make, and may go through many firings.  Accidents happen; the glass can crack due to incompatibilities in the glass or through thermal shock can ruin many days work.   Regardless of the trauma of producing each piece, Richard thoroughly enjoys being able to be creative with such an amazing medium; he says 'working in glass is thoroughly addictive'.  www.cielomio.co.uk 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Darwin's Pigeons'

17 March - 11 April 2010

An Exhibition of Photographs by Richard Bailey

 

 

 

Fancy Pigeons played an important part in helping Darwin prove his theories and as last year, 2009, was the 150th anniversary since the publication of the 'Origin of

Species' and also the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, Richard decided to photograph some of these exotic breeds and at the same time see if he could come to love the pigeon. After all, we are all used to the 'London Pigeon', which some would call the 'flying rat'.

Charles Darwin set out to prove that all fancy pigeons are descended from the
common pigeon known as Columba Livia or Rock Dove and this particular research, would in turn help him with his theories towards the 'Origin of Species'.
In 1855 Charles Darwin became a pigeon fancier and set up a breeding loft at his home in the village of Downe, Kent.

The images were intended to celebrate the pigeons which played such an important part in Darwin's work, but then the project became more than that. The photographs became 'portraits' of the birds and they took on an anthropomorphization. Some pigeons looked into the camera with an unflinching gaze testing the viewer in a malevolent manner, whilst others looked on benignly, almost compassionately. The different breeds took on unusual characteristics, some looked a little bit naive, others have a conceit about them, an air of self-importance as they puff up their chests and present themselves to the camera.

Photographed in such a way that the abundance of colours on the different pigeons are brought out and emphasised, this series of weird and wonderful pigeons that Darwin worked with carries on the great tradition of classical animal iconography.

 

 

artisan
80 Harlesden Road London NW10 2BE

 

Gallery opening times during exhibitions:

Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 5pm
Admission: Free

www.artisan80.com
www.richardbaileyphotography.com

For more information call Richard Bailey on 07956 971 520
Or Naomi Harrison on 020 8451 6315

 

 

 artisan starts the new year

 with an exciting line-up of talent

6 - 27 February 2010

 

Martin Wilson

Make every picture count

Christmas 1973- I'm pretty sure it didn't snow. This was the year I was given my first camera and if it had snowed, I'm certain I would have taken a picture of it. I was 8 and my brother was 9 and we were both given identical cameras as a present. They were coal black and petrol blue - the kind of cheap oily plastic that wouldn't glue back together when we eventually dropped them and they cracked.

We were also given a roll of film in a Kodak yellow packet. My dad, worried that we would run out of film by boxing day, gave us a piece of advice; "make every picture count." He would repeat this mantra every time we were about to release the shutter and I think it became so deeply ingrained that I've been following his advice ever since.

That's probably why my work looks like it does today. I've arrived at a way of working where I put every frame on display. The entire film is visible. The numbers underneath each frame show that each picture is taken consecutively. Perhaps subconsciously I'm trying to prove to my dad that I haven't wasted a single shot.

My pictures are painstakingly created frame by frame on 35mm film. I get the whole film developed, scan it, then piece the final image together on the computer, making a large contact sheet. It's only when the completed film strips are laid out side by side in the contact sheets that the final image appear.

Each work usually takes months to complete, as each frame is obsessively taken in sequence. No pasting together after the event, no cheating in Photoshop!  If I make a mistake or take a frame out of place I start the film again from the beginning. The works are all records of real journeys, the visual remnants of hours walking or cycling round town, bringing to life the unheard voices of the city.   www.martinwilson.net

 


 

 

Richard Baxter

I have been a professional potter for 28 years. I work from my studio and gallery in Leigh on Sea, Essex.  Recently I made some large porcelain pieces for Stella McCartney for her new Hong Kong and Paris flagship stores. I also made some jugs for Heston Blumenthal for his Roman Feast Channel 4 TV show. I exhibit widely in galleries in the UK and at shows such as Art In Action and Art In Clay, as well as selling throughout the world via my website.

I have sold at Bonhams of Knightsbridge and have made recreations of Leonardo da Vinci percussion instruments for the 2006 Victoria & Albert Museum Leonardo exhibition. My work often appears in magazines like BBC Good Homes, Grand Designs and Country Homes and Interiors, in books and has been featured in several television programmes.

These pieces are thrown on the wheel using fine porcelain clay, which gives strength, translucency and purity of colour. I am currently investigating various ways in which the forms can be pierced to achieve low relief decorative effects as well as views into the pots.  All glazes are my own, developed from extensive testing, and are fired in an electric kiln at 1220`c.  www.richardbaxter.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate Baxter

Kate Baxter started out as a painter having studied Fine Art at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. She won the East Anglian Open watercolour award in 1991 but soon began to collaborate with her husband, the potter Richard Baxter, on a range of tableware decorated with exuberant depictions of the undersea world of the coral reef. More recently she began designing and hand building her own pots, notably large platters and these rather perky Beaky Jugs. Each piece is treated as an individual 'canvas' for a variety of decorative techniques including brushwork, stencilling, printing and scraffito and often returns to the theme of the 'Enchanted Forest'. The jugs are slab built in white earthenware, decorated with coloured slips and glazed with a lead-free transparent glaze. Kate lives in Leigh on Sea in Essex and works at Old Leigh Studios. http://richardbaxter.com/fish_ware/index.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Cowley

In 2009 Sarah completed her postgraduate course in Architectural Glass at Central Saint Martins . She says 'Glass is a versatile and captivating medium; light and colour can transform a space. It allows me to express myself in the design of unique functional vessels, sculptural pieces and contemporary wearable jewellery. Light can be reflected and transmitted in site-specific and autonomous panels with painting, sandblasting and screen-printing. Inspiration comes from organic forms in the real world, and what can only be imagined'.  http://sharpfifteen.com/sarah.aspx

 

 

 


 

 

The Debut Exhibition

14 November to 11 December 2009

 

Claire Pearson

My sculptural vessels are heavily influenced by the urban landscape. My first ceramics studio was off the Old Kent Road in London, and travelling to and from it on the bus I was struck by the beauty that can be found in urban decay - peeling billboards revealing delicate layers of colour, random splatterings of paint on pavements like some miniature Jackson Pollock painting, semi-demolished buildings taking on sculptural qualities, the cracked paint on forgotten doors.  The elements take our buildings and billboards and augment them into sometimes exquisitely beautiful, natural artworks. My vessels are made using a combination of throwing and handbuilding, with layered slips, underglazes and lustres.

My pet bowls began almost by chance when I made a bowl for my cocker spaniel, Bella, to keep her ears clean and dry. Gradually word spread, and over the last 3 years I have made bowls for numerous dogs, cats, rabbits and even a hedgehog! Through my website, www.chow-bella.org.uk clients are able to design their own, bespoke, handmade bowls, choosing the colours, the wording and the symbols, and I am often asked to create specifically sized or shaped bowls for different breeds. The bowls in this exhibition have been created specifically for Artisan and are all one-offs.

I completed the revered City Lit Ceramics Diploma (graduates of which include Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry) in 2003 under the tutelage of Dan Kelly, Sara Radstone, Annie Turner and Robert Cooper. I have exhibited in a number of galleries in the UK and in Germany.

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simone Selaib-Salandini  

Simone has been designing exquisite jewellery for the best part of a decade, exhibiting extensively, both here and in her native Brazil.

 Jewellery is intuitive and spontaneous for me, reflecting an artistic background influenced by sculptural and architectural works. I draw my inspirations from everyday experiences and a fascination for Japanese characters; where line and space, light, shadow and clear forms are all an integral part of each piece.

I try to reduce the forms, giving them a minimalist quality yet emphasizing the metallic properties by working with organic textures.

Aesthetics being of utmost importance in the creation of unique and provocative pieces. 

Simone's work is for sale at a number of outlets throughout London.

 

 



 


 


 

 

 

 

Jeff Wood

The inspiration for my work comes mainly from the material itself.  Glass has such wonderful qualities both transmitting and reflecting light.

I have designed the wall pieces to use reflected light whilst retain the translucent, vitreous quality that is unique to glass.  For the rest of this collection I have combined both transparent and opaque glass to enhance the colours and the shape of each piece. 

The firing process embodies the variations of chance, making each piece unique and the whole process exciting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Naomi Harrison  

After 7 years in my Portobello studio doing ceramics I had an opportunity to expand my interests by taking over the old organic shop on Harlesden Road and transforming it into a gallery and working studio.  Although I will continue to design and make ceramics for this exhibition I will show a retrospective of my photographs from three previous exhibitions.  The photographs are of landscapes from far flung places such as New Zealand and vistas closer to home.  I will also show images of flowers which I have taken over the years.