Current Exhibition
UPCOMING EXHIBITION
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27th May – 23rd June
Martha Holmes, Chris Keenan & Emily Nixon
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Martha Holmes
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‘The Island Revisited’ introduces a new collection of paintings encompassing the distinct colours and forms found around The Island (St Ives), paired with compositions and structures which characterise my studio interior. Having returned to the beach hut to work on the majority of the collection, the presence of The Island became a distinct subject in the body of the work. The paintings capture the seasonal shift into spring, with soft sage greens and fresh whites. The sweeping curve of the tide has continued to be a pivotal mark in many of the works – a shape noticed from the beach hut as the tide shifts and the intensity of the light alters. Bursts of fresh greens and vivid cobalt blues became present in the paintings as the days in the beach hut became warmer, and daylight hours longer. Working on a mix of scales allowed a different feeling of ‘immersion’ into the landscape. Smaller works are more intimate, often capturing a particular feeling felt in the environment, whereas larger compositions offer an expanse of space, with simpler, more paired back marks and flat planes of colour.
New to this series is a small ‘studio edit’ – a body of still life paintings that capture moments within the studio and interior of the beach hut. Vessels of seasonal blooms, full of warmth and colour, bring a more considered and refined feel to the collection.
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Chris Keenan
Ceramicist Chris Keenan is known for the simple, elegant form and pure colour of his hand thrown Limoges porcelain. In this new collection of close to 100 pieces, comprised of individual works, sets of beakers, small groups of rocking bowls and pairings of bottles, he continues the exploration of forms, colour combinations and surface details that are central to his practice. Pure celadon blues, in both pale and deeper shades, are exhibited alongside the black and rust of Tenmoku in a variation of finishes, from mirror and silk to matt. Surface details are brushed, striped and sponged in a variety of colours, including a striking orange-red glaze, in different orders on different works, resulting in an increasingly organic and unpredictable array of finishes.
“The relationship that develops between an artist and a gallery over a period of many years is special, and I have been showing at New Craftsman Gallery, where I am trusted to give the best I can for each show, bi-annually for the last fifteen years. The lexicon of forms that I have been exploring throughout my making life will be represented again in this show: these are pots for both use and ornament. Clarity of form is still very important to my work, but what’s new in this collection are clay on clay additions which expand the tactile experience and the surface interest of a piece. I’ve been working in my own studio for 25 years now, so I’m a quarter of a century into my life as a maker. I’m still improving technically and feel I’ve not yet reached ‘peak pot’ – I’m still learning, still questioning through process, and the repetition that has been such an integral part of my making continues to spur my intent. But I’m also at a stage where I’m thinking about how the remainder of my making life might look. Now seems a good time to consider future directions”.
Chris Keenan, 2023
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Emily Nixon
The jewellery collection Emily has created for this New Craftsman showcase is centred around her latest Pebble and Adakite designs.
Emily explores the irregular and distinctive oval shapes of pebbles collected along the shoreline, finding new ways to represent their natural balancing act and how they fit together in nature. Delightfully askew and distinctive in their tilting, organic formation – each individual setting has its own character, just like the pebbles that inspired it. The balance between smaller irregular stones and a central natural sapphire, is a relationship that Emily explores in the Adakite collection. These designs are distinguished by a large, rocky central setting, offset by a stone on either side, characteristically irregular and as if naturally formed. Artfully tilted and off-kilter, the light catches these stones in unexpected ways. Each Adakite ring is one of a kind, determined by the unique beauty of the individually sourced, central natural sapphire. Stones and pebbles are integral to the character of both collections. Acting as tools, their natural and innate texture is embedded into the soft wax starting point of each design.
For over twenty years, the ocean has been a constant theme in Emily’s work; the story of the tideline reflected through texture, colour and form. Simple undulating shapes echo the natural world, becoming miniature impressions of the world below the water. These are modern heirlooms to wear everyday, and treasure forever.
Other designs in the showcase will include Emily’s new Adakite gemstone pendants, Skyline Dulse Ring Stack and a selection of gemstone earrings.
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