I have been a longtime fan of Karen Shapley's work, ever since i saw her graduation show at MMU Alsager on the Contemporary Craft Degree (sadly now disbanded). I am also lucky enough to own a piece of her work which was given to me by a very wonderful friend.Unfortunately, Karen does not appear to have a website of her own, so you can only see her work when galleries advertise it. The images shown are all part of an upcoming exhibition to be shown at the Form Gallery in Blaenavon from 9 April. Her work is an eclectic mix of hand built ceramics and textiles, with many vintage references. On the site Karen explains her work :
"I am a ceramic/textile artist creating a range of ceramic objects resembling domestic tea ephemera. My pieces are playful and a contemporary reflection of a bygone age when tea parties and domestic decadence were everyday occurrences.
Inspiration comes from an era when time was taken to enjoy the social niceties of afternoon tea. The sourcing of found objects such as textiles and cutlery from junk shops and markets enable me to add layers of comfort, colour and nostalgic memories. Grandma's linens, stripes and spots help create a range of embellished, decorative tea pottery.
Ceramics are handbuilt from slabs of clay, decorated with a range of coloured slips and text. Textiles are dyed stitched and printed before being padded and buttoned. Found objects are included to add a further dimension and to develop subtle recognition. These recycled items include vintage textiles, patterns, embroidery transfers and metal objects. Spoons are sometimes pierced before the addition of enamel paint and lazertran decals. Development of these often neglected items allows them a new lease of life and by adding them to my ceramics helps facilitate Engaging Domestics.
Inspiration comes from an era when time was taken to enjoy the social niceties of afternoon tea. The sourcing of found objects such as textiles and cutlery from junk shops and markets enable me to add layers of comfort, colour and nostalgic memories. Grandma's linens, stripes and spots help create a range of embellished, decorative tea pottery.
Ceramics are handbuilt from slabs of clay, decorated with a range of coloured slips and text. Textiles are dyed stitched and printed before being padded and buttoned. Found objects are included to add a further dimension and to develop subtle recognition. These recycled items include vintage textiles, patterns, embroidery transfers and metal objects. Spoons are sometimes pierced before the addition of enamel paint and lazertran decals. Development of these often neglected items allows them a new lease of life and by adding them to my ceramics helps facilitate Engaging Domestics.
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| my teacup |
Hi Michelle, thank you for the link to our current exhibition of Karen's work. You can now view the stunning pieces through our website: http://bit.ly/eNhx0G.
ReplyDeleteForm Gallery.