Rachel Kan & Angela Liang join us for their week of work experience

Rachel Kan & Angela Liang of Kingswood School joined the studios education team this week, find out what they got up to.....

''On the first day, we were given a tour around the studios. We then stayed with Paula in the morning and learnt about her art inspired by the Japanese culture. We really liked the little booklets she created by herself. We were with Amy Milford in the afternoon, learning about how she organises her art classes and helping her out in her administrative work. We learnt what it’s like being a self-employed artist.

On the second day, we spent our morning with Mary-Jane and she was talking about how she became a ceramics artist. Surprisingly, she was the resident of Kingswood three years ago.  We were impressed by her porcelain art; especially the turquoise colour she created by heating on glazed porcelain. Mary-Jane also gave each of us a lovely porcelain necklace she made.

In the afternoon, we helped out in Felicity’s life drawing session. We helped in setting up and did some life drawings ourselves. We observed different people’s approaches in starting their drawings, and learnt some basic life drawing skills. After that, we went to the Art club in Kingswood Prep School with Lorna Bode to help out in the art class after school. We got along well with the Year 1 and 2 students and helped them in preparing for the exhibition at the studios next week.

We were with the development group on Wednesday. We did a piece that is inspired by the paper cutting artist, Henri Matisse as the topic was to do a piece that’s in the style of this work. So we were just playing around with the colour paper and the thread, which we thought its quite interesting exploring different types of paper.In the Wednesday afternoon, we helped Gillian to glaze the pots, which were done by the children. We were also cutting out the circles for the display of the exhibition.













On the Thursday morning, we were helping out with Mary CC to sort out the postcards into different categories. Then we did the bunting for the children’s exhibition as we went to the prep school in Kingswood on Tuesday afternoon with Mary and Lorna.''

FAB Exhibition at the Studios

Part of Fringe Arts Bath 2014
Private View May 23  6 - 9pm
Exhibition Continues May 24 - June 8
Mon - Fri  11-4
Sat- Sun    11-3
Bath Artists' Studios

Building Volumes invites a playful and inventive response to the theme of building, architecture and construction. Through a diverse and exciting range of artwork, exhibiting Artists explore exteriors and interiors, scale, material, design and surface texture. Ranging from recorded audio within the home, photography, print, collage, ceramics, hand-built structures and constructed books.

When deciding on a concept for the show, it seemed very obvious what theme would be appropriate for an exhibition at the Studios. I have been working here for just over a year now and during my time it has become apparent how important the building is to the Artists here.  

For a while the long term future of the Studios has been shaky and the Artists have been tirelessly fundraising to secure the purchase of the building so that the studios can remain in Bath. 
This passion and warmth for the building inspired Building Volumes.

The Studios are not just a workspace for most, but a place to escape, a sanctuary and a home.

      
                                                                            Exhibiting Artist Otto Dettmer

The initial callout was to curate a show of book based works designed around the theme of buildings and architecture. I received a great variety of work through the callout and decided to open up the show to encompass all works based upon the theme. It's shaping up to be a really exciting show and I'm looking forward to setup week.

Exhibiting Artist  Mel Kew

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                               Exhibiting Artists Above: Irina and Silviu Szekely

                                                                                                       

Exhibiting Artist Neill Fuller

Keep an eye on the FAB blog for regular updates on exhibiting Artist profiles...

Come along to Bath Artists' Studios to view the exhibition for yourself!

Twitter @BuildingVolumes

Mel Kew: Artist in Residence

Melanie Kew has been resident in our gallery during February and March. She has been creating and constructing some very exciting, contemporary pieces whilst resident in the Gallery. Her playful approach to working is evident, through her use of found and recycled materials.

We are looking forward to seeing her exhibition come together at the end of this week.

Exhibition open: 14 - 16 Mar, 11am - 5pm

Private view: 14 Mar, 6- 9pm

Mel is interested in cyclical rhythms, random selection, order and obsession. This thought process inspired her exploration with circles and cycles. She is also interested in the human fascination with bright and shiny materials, and has used an array of vibrant plastics in her work.

''By spreading everything I had collected out, my theme started to develop. I am reflecting on myself in the sense of being ‘green’ as everything I am using in this project has been reused or is recycled. My usual practice is in ceramics creating large 3D pieces,  however I wanted to take time out of this area as it was becoming repetitive. I am enjoying this creative journey, allowing me to investigate ideas within other new materials.''

For more information about Melanie's exhibition visit our website. 

www.melkew.co.uk

Lorna Bode - BAS Ceramicist

Tell us about yourself and your practice...

I recently moved to Bath from Sitges Barcelona,and was delighted to find a space at BAS where I can develop my ceramic practice. 

I moved into G10, the garden studio. I am self-taught ceramicist and started 8 years ago working with clay. I am particularly inspired by the shapes and textures found in or by the sea. I work with porcelain, paper-clay and most recently bone china.

I love exploring with glazes and crackle glazes, often mixing and firing work a few times in order to play with colours and textures. I use moulds and hand build my pieces. I am fascinated by pattern and have always loved the shapes and designs from the 1950s. Besides being an artist, I am also a languages teacher, and have taught in schools and colleges in London, Paris and Barcelona. 

How do you use your studio?

I use my studio as a place to be creative and to contemplate. I enjoy making work for fairs and children's activities.

Tell us what it's like to be a studio artist at BAS...

I enjoy the artistic community. I first met Mary-Jane who introduced me to the studios and suggested getting a studio here. I like the atmosphere here and the variety of age, type and scope of Artist. 

There is a great community spirit. It doesn't feel competitive here, people are open to sharing ideas. There are lots of exciting connections to be made and interesting projects to be part of.

I attend the Wednesday Development group and the Beginner's Drawing group with Lucinda Burgess. I am part of the BAS Education Programme and am enjoying delivering workshops in local schools.




Find our more about Lorna at www.lornabode.com

Elise Menghini

Our Artist in Residence

Elise Menghini is Bath Artists' Studios Artist in Residence. To help nurture new artistic talent in Bath and to add some fresh thinking to our community, we have offered a 6 month residency to a Bath Spa graduate. Elise makes playful and intriguing ceramic objects that capture the idea and sense of place. She is informed by everyday visual elements that are familiar but ignored, while inspiration comes from holiday signifiers and mementos.

''For this residency, I really wanted to take full advantage of the studio space I had been given to realise a larger piece of work, taking Bath, its history and architecture, as a focus for the central theme. The artist residency has given me the chance to stop and reflect on where I live, whilst continuing my fascination with a sense of place, which inspired my ceramics degree show in 2013. 

By visiting all the city landmarks I had not explored before, such as No 1 Royal Crescent, I became engrossed in the interior splendour and hidden stories behind the buildings that surround me. I started to see them more with a visitor’s eye than that of a busy resident."

Elise's residency concludes with an exhibition of work in our Gallery. 
Click on the image below to view full size

'I Heart Bath'

"For this exhibition, I have made a series of interior objects that have been inspired by Bath, as an historical and popular tourist city.  Through my research, I have unearthed many hidden and fascinating facts.  From the Wedgwood showroom once housed on Milsom Street to the oyster shells found in the restoration of No 1 Royal Crescent, I became intrigued to rediscover these forgotten stories. These references are synthesised in the mixed media pieces, which aim to offer a contemporary view of Bath's visually rich and cultural landscape."

For more information about Elise's Exhibition and forthcoming Gallery events visit our website.

www.elisemenghini.co.uk

Practice Development Group for Professional Artists

The BAS Practice Development Group meets each Wednesday. We have varying disciplines, interests and professional practices.

Wednesdays; 8 Jan - 2 Apr; 10am - 12pm; Half term 19 Feb; 12 weeks 

£60 or £5 per session inc basic materials

Tutors Gillian McFarland and Mary Caron-Courtney

This is a peer-review art group for artists wishing to develop their working practices.

This group offers the opportunity for exchange and sharing of ideas with other artists, whilst exploring your own creative working. 

Bring your preferred materials along for exchange and discussion. 

We share a common creative focus and the 

session enables us to exchange ideas and have a regular space to play with ideas. 

The sessions vary: some weeks we work purely with the materials available, other times we may have a specific focus depending on ideas raised by participants.

Meet our New Artist

Anthony Stapleton

I recently qualified as an art therapist, accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council. As well as continuing my own art practice I intend to base my art therapy practice in the studio.

I moved, with my wife Fabiola, from London to Bath at the beginning of November. She will also be in the studio, sometimes, to do her own art-making.

To make the space workable needs thoughtful attention; it has to suit the privacy needed for art therapy; and I need the concentration of time for my own art-making.

I have felt welcomed by everyone I've met. My sense is that there's a community of artists here working individually, whilst making an interactive hub where ideas can be reflected on.





Over time, as I settle in I hope to participate more in this creative community.

These line drawings show something of my work. My image-making process can be described as: scribbling; from an embryonic processing of marks – mostly on paper – an image forms. This image – so it seems – has been lurking in some known, and unknown, part of me.

When I am at work I let go of my arm so as to let the materials flow. Yet, in my mind, I am a part of the form which begins to show itself. Through the medium of the materials – with my hand, eyes, and thoughts guiding – it finds its way out into a visual presence –
reflecting back something of me and something of the culture I inhabit.

Often the content of the work I do surprises me. The images can sometimes feel too raw.


With time and distance I tend to see them with a more objective eye, and begin to find a narrative in them.