The Unit 6 Takeover at Studio Kind
From 10th until 23rd September me and 11 other Unit 6 artists held a group exhibition at Studio Kind in Braunton. As you can imagine with so many artists taking part, the work on show was eclectic. Exhibits ranged from paintings, drawings, sculpture/woodwork, felting and ceramics. Below is some information on the other artists who exhibited:
Sarah Farrell-Roberts:
Sarah’s propensity to paint large-scale canvases is somewhat explained by the fact she honed many of her skills while prop making in the West End. Her paintings are emotional and dramatic, expressing admiration for the subjects she studies and exploring the depth of the human condition. Her and Kevin run Unit 6.
Kevin Farrell-Roberts:
A master wood worker and up-cycler, Kevin’s creations utilise a wealth of practical knowledge, bridging the gap between functional and artistic beautifully. ‘Child’s Bench’ - a piece exhibited here (see below) is inspired by the work of Bauhaus designer Alma Buscher.
Enea Emiliani:
Enea builds bold and unique 3 dimensional pieces using various materials. He works instictively, often starting with a particular shape, colour or concept and then allowing for natural progression. The end result is challenging and unusual, often with an interactive element.
Monika Grand:
Monika is an oil painter and is fascinated with the implications of new psychological theories using Freudian and Jungian philosophy. She is striving to explore in further depth their theories of how the unconscious mind reveals itself through symbols.
Derrick Miller:
Derrick uses oils, pastels and pencil to produce photorealistic portraiture. As a troubled teenager, he spent a lot of time in prison where his talent flourished. He would take commissions to paint the wives and children of fellow prisoners, prison officers and even the governors.
Suzanne Thomson:
Suzanne is a painter who captures the moods of raw earth, wild skies, rough seas and high tides. Preferring moody storms to cloudless blue sky and calm sea. She is fascinated by rock formations and the timeless energy and power it takes to form them. Music inspires her journey from life to canvas.
Lucy Hannah:
Lucy uses embellished feltwork made from dyed wool, bonded through the wet felting process. Further detail is added with special serrated felting needles, stitching and beading. Born and raised here in North Devon, her work takes inspiration from the local coastline and the affinity she has for sky and its sense of spaciousness.
Petra Harris:
Petra studied 3D design at West Suffolk College before a ceramics course at Petroc. While there she discovered the work of Magdalena Odundo who’s work continues to inspire her. Her time at college culminated in the tutors awarding her the ‘Outstanding Achievement in Ceramics’ and her beautifully handcrafted pieces continue to draw praise.
James Young:
James has always been inspired by landscape, particularly by the relationship between landscape and time. His working methods are energised by those artists who regard digital not as a means in itself, but as another tool and material within art practice. By beginning his work in pencil and paint, using digital technology as a tool, he hopes to show how art is still very much a human activity.
Scondi:
The most natural forms bring to life the work of Scondi (Andi Pratt). Salvaged and recycled wood offcuts are put to good use to portray an appreciation for some of the many fascinating species found in our oceans and woodlands. Illustrations draw on heavy, bold lines with their origins in the pattern work and sculpture of Polynesian culture.
Ashley Harris:
Ashley’s paintings are surreal dreamscapes of bold, vibrant colour. Despite the apparent brightness, there is something darker and more unsettling that underpins each piece. In his own words: “Art is a personal language, a set of codes and symbols. In times of need I call on this freedom of expression and create my own form of therapy.”
Here are some photos taken during the course of the two weeks (and some taken in the frantic few days leading up to it).
Below: Me on Wednesday 7th finishing the centrepiece of my part of the group exhibition - ‘Nucleus’.
Thursday the 8th of September was installation day at Studio Kind. Below: A few of us finalising and wrapping our work at Unit 6 before transporting everything to the gallery.
Of course, both the day before and the day after installation was sunny and warm but Thursday 8th (the date to move all work to the gallery for curation) was raining cats and dogs…. In fact not just cats and dogs, other household pets as well. Despite this, we got everything there intact and (crucially) without any frenzied artist flare-ups!
Above: The schedule for the event, showing installation day, the date change of the private view (from 9th to 10th) and the invigilation timetable.
Above (left to right): Suzanne Thomson - ‘Rising Tide’, Petra Harris - ‘Twin Flames’ and King Toe Junior - ‘Nucleus’
Photographs: Lucy Hannah
Above: Some of the work from the floor. Right (below on mobile): The view from the mezzanine before we opened on the Saturday.
Derrick (left) and Enea.
Above: The steps up to the mezzanine…. in the middle ages, artists who’s work was deemed lacking in taste would be wrestled up these stairs to the gallows.
The following is each exhibit in the order they were displayed in the gallery:
Sarah Farrell-Roberts: ‘Beware Wet Paint’ - framed acrylic and gloss paint on canvas
Enea Emiliani: ‘Out Of The Box’ - an interactive pine sculpture
Enea Emiliani: ‘Tartan Study’ - cotton columns pulled over wooden frame
Monika Grand: ‘Joy In The Garden’ - oil on canvas
Derrick Miller: (clockwise from top left) ‘The Thinker’, ‘Midnight’, ‘So What!’ and ‘Ghetto’ - all miniature oil on canvas.
Lucy Hannah: (from top) ‘Time And Tide’ and ‘The Ancient Witness’
Sarah Farrell Roberts: ‘Lara Land’ - framed acrylic on canvas
Monika Grand: ‘The Eyes Of The Tiger’ - oil on canvas
Ashley Harris: ‘Balance’ - acrylic on canvas
Scondi: (from top) ‘Apecus Horizonian’ - up-cycled pallet wood, rope, spray paint, reused plastics and tools and ‘Tortuga Vallieus’ - old plywood offcuts, acrylic, spray paint, wood stain
Suzanne Thomson: (from left) ‘Crow Point’, ‘Taw Stones’ and ‘Saunton Pebbles’ - all framed watercolour on paper
Derrick Miller: ‘Shadows’ - oil on canvas
James Young: ‘Descent Of The Unreal’ - print reproduction of large-scale drawing
Ashley Harris: ‘Solitude Is Bliss’ - acrylic on canvas
Suzanne Thomson: (left to right) ‘Woolacombe Rock Pool’ and ‘Rising Tide’ - framed acrylic on canvas
Lucy Hannah: (left to right) ‘Over The Bay’ and ‘Beyond The Hedgerows’
King Toe Junior: ‘Town Noir’ - framed acrylic on cradled wooden panel
King Toe Junior: ‘Reflections’ - framed acrylic on cradled wooden panel
Petra Harris: ‘Twin Flames’ - acrylic on canvas
King Toe Junior: ‘Nucleus’ - acrylic on canvas
Petra Harris: (left to right) ‘The Source’ and ‘Bling’ - both ceramic
Photograph: Suzanne Thomson
Kevin Farrell-Roberts: ‘Child’s Bench’ - pine - Alma Buscher’s (Bauhaus woodwork shop 1923)
Photograph: Suzanne Thomson
Above: Unit 6 artists and some of the visitors to the private view.
Photograph: Richard Gregory
Many thanks to Studio Kind for having us and for their professionalism leading up to and throughout the exhibition, it was fantastic to have such a great space to show our work. Also, a big thank you to everyone who attended during the course of the two weeks and to my fellow Unit 6 artists.
