Manhole covers; Behind the scenes....

I was really happy last week to see so many people interested in the manhole covers I designed for Denbigh town centre last year.  Many thanks to the Crafts Council for sharing the project on their weekly newsletter.

I thought I'd share some of the processes involved in creating the manhole covers.

The seven, individually designed manhole covers each related to a story about Denbigh and the surrounding area, for example the glove making industry, and local famous Welsh author Kate Roberts.

The process began with visits to the Denbighshire archives in Ruthin, where I studied and photographed hundreds of years worth of Tithe and OS maps.  I then took map symbols and motifs from them, and re-composed them to tell the seven stories.

From my computer based design, a company in Liverpool made deep etched 'patterns', which were used by the foundry in Bury to make an impression in casting sand, which is then used as a mould to pour molten steel into.

On the left; here's a detail of the cast 'manhole' cover.










On the right; the 'pattern' used to make the impression in the sand.

Test Fitting the raw cast cover.

Finally, an enjoyable day spent in Denbigh saw the installation of the seven individual 'manhole' covers.  Tony and Paul joined me at site with all seven cast covers weighing down their car, and the rain just held off for the three hours it took to install.  Before long, local people were walking past and stopping to have a good look.   I was particularly touched when the first of the seven covers was christened by a little present from a pigeon nest above....

A big thank you to Denbighshire County Council, CADW, Emma Wynne, Mererid at Celfwaith and Geoff Wood, as well as the feedback and support from the other Artists I was involved with in the Broomhill lane project; Joss Smith, Ann Catrin Evans, Dyfed Wyn Jones.

See more Public Art Projects here...

When metal is functional...

I always travel with a camera; these surfaces are too valuable to leave behind.  Here are some photographs I took on trips to Chicago and California, of metal fulfilling its functional purpose, whilst slowly ageing. 

Sometimes the 'patching up' of these metal surfaces to prevent corrosion create new, unexpected, and undeliberate beauty.

Starting new pieces

It's always daunting but at the same time, exhilarating, starting a new body of work as I'm sure every Artist and Maker knows...

Last week I started to play with folding new forms from sheet metal, aiming to make wall pieces entirely from metal rather than mounted on wood. 

I cut this oval shape from a copper sheet that I'd first created a verdigris patina surface on.  By scoring a 'v' line in the metal, I was able to fold the shape.  This week I'll be making accompanying forms to join to this one, in contrasting metals.

Off to a good start, watch this space... 

Crafts Council Hothouse 5 - final workshop!

I spent yesterday with 'Hothouse 5', a group of emerging Makers who've been working over the last 6 months with the Crafts Council to establish an excellent grounding in both the creative and business aspects of making a living from their Craft.   On this, their last day of training, it was really clear what a significant change the programme had made, predominantly in confidence, and in the ability to articulate really clearly what they're trying to achieve over the next three years of launching their career.

 The group each presented their creative business for 10 minutes, followed by peer feedback from the group, alongside Katia Stewart, talent development manager at the Crafts Council, myself, and Karin Jordan, who runs postgraduate entrepreneurship courses at our venue, Plymouth College of Art.

I left Plymouth feeling energised, despite my early drive over from Bristol in the morning!

The attraction of metal

                                         

                                                      

THE ATTRACTION OF METAL  


With metal and metallic colours being incresingly popular in interiors, I've been thinking about why I have become so passionate about it as a material.  

Image from, Spruce Furn

When I was studying, I experimented with different materials; ceramics, cast resin and wood, but it was metal that seemed to suit the way I liked to make; I could put a piece I was working on down, for a day, a week, a month, then come back to it.  Apart from the colour of the surface changing as it oxidised with the air, the metal remained unchanged, ever ready for me to pick up and keep working on it. 

In contrast, it's how metal changes over long periods of time in outdoor contexts that fascinates me; a rusty corrugated iron shed, a verdigris covered bronze sculpture, an oxidised lead roof.... 

I took these photos in Berkeley, California, and in Denmark

Our mastery of the earth's natural resources teeters in delicate balance with nature who takes them back through their exposure to air and rainwater; a play between the preservation and decay of metal.

Blacksmith, Image from Jayperoni

Metal is commonly a functional material, used to create tools, electric circuit boards, strong architectural structures, amongst millions of other applications.  Some metals are hard like steel, and some are soft, like lead.   By varying the quantities of each metal in metal alloys, we create new metals with properties designed to fulfil particular functions, for example super stength, flexibility and reflectivity.  This is true in large scale industry, but also when making in metal by hand.

Image from freepatterns

What I love most about metal is the potential to use its properties; including colour, which can be manipulated with chemicals and heat, and texture, which can be created through engraving and acid-etching, to create images in its surface.

Metal wall pieces



Back from a successful show in Dubai

The grand entrance to Design Days, next to the Burj Khalifa, Dubai

The Crafts Council stand at Design Days Dubai.  I was amongst 8 makers selected from hundreds of applications to exhibit at the show earlier this month.  It was a real honour to be invited, and to exhibit amongst such a talented group of designer makers.

Set up was a fairly relaxed affair

Monoscope series laid out and ready to hang

5 of 'Monoscope' series on display at the show, each measuring 38cm diameter.

As exhibitors, we were treated exceptionally well by the Design Days team, and treated to two drinks receptions at exclusive locations; Here at 'The Address' hotel, I'm enjoying a glass of wine with a view of the Burj Khalifa, and the extravagant fountain display which draws attention every 30 minutes at the Dubai Mall.

Veuve Clicquot champagne party at 'Vida' hotel. 

Plenty of Lebanese food consumed during the 10 days with especially good hummous and lentil soups.

The Burj Khalifa, tallest building in the world, on our doorstep at the show.

A day out to Sharjah Art fair was a welcome break half way through the week. We lunched outside courtesy of the British Council, then visited some of the exhibitions on site at the Sharjah Art Foundation.  A calm Oasis of air conditioning in the heat!

A trip out to the preview of 'Art Dubai', which overlaps in the same week with Design Days Dubai, was another fascinating glimpse of the very glamorous Art world in the Middle East. Created by Issa Al Kindy, the winner of the 2015 Authentic Expressions Award.

Getting ready to fly to Dubai for DESIGN DAYS DUBAI with the Crafts Council

DESIGN DAYS DUBAI

16 - 20 March 2015

I'm excited to be showing my 'Monoscope' series of metal wall pieces with the Crafts Council next week at the prestigious exhibition, Design Days Dubai.  I'm flying out for the show on Thursday and very much looking forward to experiencing Middle Eastern culture and excellent international Design.  

One of 'Monoscope' series. Etched metal wall piece.

I'll also be doing portfolio reviews for Design students visiting the show.