This exhibition brings together Andrew Radford's assemblages and Susie Redman's weavings.
Both artists are interested in the natural and built environment and our impact upon it. Andrew Radford's artworks reuse old food packaging to create simple, rhythmic tiles that are stained with clay slip and natural colouring. Weaver, Susie Redman grows and gathers her own fibres along with natural objects to create intricate, sculptural woven vessels and panels. Both artists have visited each others studios on a number of occasions each time presenting to each other their direct response to the last visit.
Susie Redman
The underpinning theme of this collection is the activity of gathering. Sometimes useful fibres like willow and flax but also the gathering of natural objects simply because they are captivating in some way.These may include, pebbles from the beach, fossils, seed heads or even pieces of old roof slate. The woven vessels seek to carry a sense of history, meaning and shared human experience.
Susie’s work explores boundaries, connections and synergy between loom woven linen, paper and willow. The vessels are informed by the natural shape of the willow rods, which are woven into the fabric once off the loom. The natural curves of the willow are allowed to influence structure and shape, bringing elegance to their form The vessels hold gathered natural materials, sometimes slate, willow bark or a beautiful pebble.
Andrew Radford
Andrew has for years doodled, scribbled & collaged using found card, paper, packaging & discarded items. At home, in the work place & when travelling we are surrounded by so much packaging, much of it very carefully considered, designed & beautifully made, once the packaging is opened it is generally discarded. Andrew believes far too much ends up in landfill. He loves finding interesting items in skips & discarded in the streets of cities that he visits. He is fascinated by the folds & flaps, creases & windows found in packages. Different thicknesses, textures & colours are for him the start of the process. He then cuts & layers forming abstract shapes that are inspired by both the actual & the manmade environment. The materials are reimagined, repurposed & absolutely recycled. His work is then coloured using soft pastels & pigments from many natural sources such as tea & coffee & clay & grass.