Artists Statement

At first glance, I was not to know what clues are used to distinguish a genuine ‘wedge wood’ pitcher from a fake. But with my grandma’s closer inspection, the fake was revealed amongst the collection of ornaments dotted around the house. I sat down to drink a freshly brewed cup of tea, waiting with great anticipation to hear the distinguishing hallmarks that make an original wedge wood pitcher.

Only through a recent personal realisation have I discovered that many of my underlying influences stem from my grandparents’ lives and my childhood experience of living with them. “Great Grandfather’s”,is based around the process of mould making and replication.  This mirrors the process of me trying to piece together these stories told to me as a child of my grandparents farm.

“Never Look A Gift Horse in the Mouth” is a scale replica of my grandad’s ‘potato banker’ which is still in use today on the farm. In altering the appearance of the potato banker by making it out of jesmonite and applying pigments to give it the look of prehistoric bone, I hope to contrast the dated farming implement with its modern counterparts.

“Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks” is where I ponder what the future holds for my grandparent’s land. The juxtaposision of old and new materials (rusty metal and carbon fibre) suggesting my own sense of uncertainty over the future of the farm.

Throughtout the year my work has undergone a number of changes, most brought about through the exploration of various materials and processes. Indeed, this has been central to the evolution of my work; my desire to explore the potental of these materials and the spontaneous nature of finding and incorporating them has been my principle drive.