I have recently seen some social media publicity around a Christmas group exhibition, organised by Cupola Gallery in Sheffield. Apparently, they have been running one for some years, but I just hadn’t seen it before.
The theme for this year’s show was ‘Symbol’, described as…. ‘a mark, sign or word that indicates, signifies or is understood to as representing an idea, object or relationship’, or ‘a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.’
Above: test print with threads and raffia sewn into the surface
Above: thread, hand coloured with metallic ink
In response to the theme, I chose the simple Circle, a symbol that has been important for different religious and non-religious groups for thousands of years – from Assyrian and Egyptian civilisations to Pagan and Christian religions. Although my own thinking on circle related to ideas of ‘the whole’ or being ‘complete’, I decided not to communicate this through a written definition. Instead, I wanted to let people decide for themselves why my circle might mean to them.
For some inspiration, I looked back at ‘Moment’, a print I had produced some years previously for a Printmakers Council show, to mark the centenary of the Irish Revolution. That print used gold-coloured threads sewn through the print and paper, as post-print embellishments. I liked the general idea, so I thought I would do something similar for the new piece.
In response to the theme, I chose the simple Circle, a symbol that has been important for different religious and non-religious groups for thousands of years – from Assyrian and Egyptian civilisations to Pagan and Christian religions. Although my own thinking on circle related to ideas of ‘the whole’ or being ‘complete’, I decided not to communicate this through a written definition. Instead, I wanted to let people decide for themselves why my circle might mean to them.
Above: the final print for ‘Circle’, complete with applied raffia and threads
Above: ‘Circle’ detail
For some inspiration, I looked back at ‘Moment’, a print I had produced some years previously for a Printmakers Council show, to mark the centenary of the Irish Revolution. That print used gold-coloured threads sewn through the print and paper, as post-print embellishments. I liked the general idea, so I thought I would do something similar for the new piece.
After experimenting with a few different materials, I chose raffia and set about playing with ways of decorating its surface.This meant that when the print was ready, I knew how the raffia would look and how it would be securely and invisibly attached.
The print has turned out to be one of my favourite pieces and was well received, with highly favourable comments from show visitors. I’ll be taking it to Printfest 2020 in Cumbria in early May.
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