PORTFOLIO - DAY 1, Artists challenge

I have been nominated by a couple of artists on Facebook to take part in the 5 days artists challenge. This is where I share 3 images of my works every day for 5 days... I thought that I would also extend these images to my blog and twitter account. So here goes, 

Day 1, I'm sharing an image of a piece of mixed media work I created in 2007 called 'Clicking With You', this was looking at my then current fascination with internet relationships and especially online dating. I was struck by the thought that people could engage in really intense relationships with folks they had never met and that sometimes the only tactile element of that relationship was in essence with the computer keyboard, a rather stale bit of lifeless plastic. 

Karen Thompson - Clicking With You, 2007

Image two is a piece entitled 'Retro Keyboard'. This is a simple comment on the 
historical use of ceramics for recording and documenting information.

Karen Thompson - Retro Keyboard, 2008

The third image is of 'Cuneiform Tablet, ca.2007, Language Qwerty'. This is the partner piece to the Retro Keyboard. Again I'm looking at the use of ceramics as a document for recording history and information. Most of our libraries were set up with the information contained on cuneiform tablets. This piece plays with the idea that historically reads were pushed into clay tablets to create hieroglyphics of information, whereas today we push a key into the keyboard to record information. For this piece I took the keys from the keyboard and pushed the underside of the computer keys into a slab of clay to create a form of modern day hieroglyphic. I sawdust fired the final piece creating a low fired modern day Cuneiform Tablet. 

Karen Thompson - Cuneiform Tablet, ca .2007,  Language Qwerty.

All three of these works were exhibited at the Holburne Museum of Art in Bath in June 2008 as part of my degree show. The installation also included the pieces, 'Meltdown', 'Tactile Keyboard' and 'Qwerty Morse Code'. More images can be seen on my website... http://www.karent.co.uk/qwerty.html

OUT & ABOUT - Goodbye 12 Bar Club... end of an era

A very sad week which sees the demise of the 12 Bar Club on London's Denmark Street. I spent most of my 20's in and around that venue and am very sorry to hear of it's enforced closure to make way for the new Crossrail redevelopment. I've had the great pleasure of meeting many amazing folks through the club, from the numerous monthly Cushy Productions events that my good friend Suzanne Rhatigan organised and sang at - to my time volunteering for Resonance FM when it first started out on Denmark Street. 

The nomadic panther returns...

Some of my favourite one off gigs there over the years have been the very packed Joanna Newsom gig, the not so packed secret Martha Wainwright gig, James Yorkston, the Rivulets, Elani Mandell to name a few... and some of the regulars whom I have seen grace the very wee stage time and time again and whom I have very fond memories of are... it goes without saying Rhatigan and the extended posse, Michael J Sheehy, Emma Tricca, Vince McGann....What a treat to be able to spend endless years blagging in for free and hanging out with some of the most amazing musicians from around the world... oh, and the incredible Andy Lowe, promoter extraordinaire... You will be sadly missed 12 Bar Club & Denmark Street! 

Joanna Newsom & 12 Bar Club Management, 2004. Photo: Karen Thompson.

PRESS - Charles Hutchinson's Picks of 2014

Great to see my Porcelain Sandwiches mentioned in Charles Hutchinson's pick of 2014... 

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/theatre/11697571.Charles_Hutchinson_makes_his_pick_of_arts_and_culture_events_from_2014/

UPCOMING - Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas for 2014, this years Christmas Card is 'Jesanta the Redeemer' aka. Santesus...

AA2A 'PLUS' - Back into the Art Gallery stores

I've been thinking a little about my first visit to the ceramic stores at the end of November. I was really drawn to the Thomas Toft piece which I mentioned in a previous blog post, this got me researching more work by and the history of Thomas Toft and his contemporaries. Of this style I particularly like the slipware chargers. I seem to be heavily drawn to the charger form at the moment... it's like a ceramic blank canvas waiting to be tackled with various decorative techniques. With this in mind when I had my second visit to the York Art Gallery's ceramic stores on Monday I was keen to unearth a selection of chargers and plates. I was interested to find out of they had any majolica or Delftware plates. I was in for a treat as I dug around in the mass of plate boxes and pulled out some of these inspiring chargers...

YORYM:2000.2674 - Delftware Charger, King William III on Horseback

YORYM:2000.3336 - Slipware Charger, Virgin Mary

YORYM:2000.2672 - Delftware Charger, Queen Anne

YORYM:2004.11968 - Kiity Shepherd, 1997

YMT.ED4071.6

YORYM:2000.2677 - Delftware charger, Adam & Eve

I've just searched google for 'English delftware chargers', this interesting quote has come up on Wikipedia...

Blue-dash chargers, usually between about 25 and 35 cm in diameter with abstract, floral, religious, patriotic or topographical motifs, were produced in quantity by London and Bristol potters until the early 18th century. As they were kept for decoration on walls, dressers and side-tables, many have survived and they are well represented in museum collections.

One of the most popular decorations on the blue-dash charger was a representation of Adam and Eve with the serpent in the Garden of Eden, produced from the 1630s to the 1730s. "The challenge of rendering the anatomy of Adam and Eve was inescapable, and as the subject became more and more freely repeated by painters of less and less competence, most of the anatomy gave trouble, particularly Adam's abdominal muscles, which eventually became grotesque and could not be wholly covered by his fig-leaf." In later examples, "the images had declined to the level of coloured graffiti; Adam and Eve were cave dwellers, the Tree had become a mere cipher and only the serpent and the fruit proved simple enough to survive debasement."^[3]

Funnily enough it's the naive style I seem to be drawn to in these chargers, I'm becoming more and more inspired by folk art and the naive style as well as outsider art. 

AA2A PLUS - First Visit to York Museums Trust's Stores

At the end of last month I managed to spend a couple of hours in York Art Gallery's 'top secret' ceramic store warehouse. It was quite a bombardment of the senses as I took in a diverse range of studio ceramics. I'm trying to focus in on one object that will inspire a new body of work. I'm unsure at the moment what direction that work will take but I have an inkling that it might be focusing on surface decoration as this is an area of investigation I am keen to revisit soon. My initial visit didn't manage to come up with any conclusive object which I could respond to, although there were a few items which caught my eye and I have been pondering since.

Among these objects was a fascinating Masons pot (YORYM:2001.427) this was made by John and Christopher Potter in between WW1 & WW2 in Staffordshire (Wedgwood), it's a large earthenware vase of a flattened disc shape with a tall foot. It's decorated around the shoulder with a landscape and Gothic castle, painted in colours over the glaze. The waist has a band of inscription painted in black which reads... I was painted by Alfred Powell for Omar Ramsden & Anne his wife of St. Dunstan's London S.W.  A.S.  MCMXXVIII. The underside is decorated with an underwater scene of fish in blue, green and silver. The tall foot is decorated with panels of floral decoration in gilt, red, green and blue.

A Mason's Pot. York Art Gallery Stores

An iconic piece of Thomas Toft slipware also caught my eye, there have already been many modern interpretations on his work including the late Bernard Leach. However, I can't resist the folk art feel and absolutely love his plates. He is well known for the plate of King Charles II (unfortunately not in York's collection!), maybe I could respond with a comment on the current debate over Richard III bones

Thomas Toft slipware - York Art Gallery Stores.

Thomas Toft - Charles II.

Bernard Leach.

There was also some lovely William De Morgan lustreware, I would love to explore lustreware a little as I think I may be a magpie... anything that is shiny! I also love his repetitive designs.

William De Morgan Lustreware, York Art Gallery stores.

I still have lots to ponder from my first visit to the stores and a stash of photos to take in. I can't wait to get into the stores again to have another look around. There were masses of goodies boxed away, I'd love to get unearthing some of the hidden treaures... 

TUREEN HEADS - Ideal Christmas Presents

Karen Thompson - Tureen Heads (Ceramic). Photo: David Chalmers.

Selling out fast are the Tureen Heads in the Biscuit Factory in Newcastle... Get yourself along there to grab one of the last ones before Christmas... They are also available in Angela & Rosie's in Scarborough, 108 Fine Art in Harrogate and the Margate Gallery. 

NEWS - Crafts Council Collections

Crafts Council accession forms

Just filling in and returning the accession forms for the Crafts Council. A GOVESHY Bust for the Crafts Council Collection and a Porcelain Sandwich for the Handling Collection. Great News! 

OUT & ABOUT - York Museums Trusts Stores

The Ceramics Collection @ York Museum Stores

Spent a couple of hours in the York Museums Trusts stores yesterday with my fellow 'AA2A Plus' artist Ian Kirkpatrick. There is a vast amount of studio ceramics in the store. It was fascinating getting some background information on the collectors also. It was all a bit overwhelming in the short time we were there so hoping to get back and have another look around shortly. I feel I've only just scratched the surface, it would be great to have a look inside some of the boxes at selected objects. 

EXHIBITION - Biscuit Factory

Lovely winter exhibition opening at the Biscuit Factory in Newcastle on Friday night... Lots of interest in my Trilogy of Death and Tureen Heads.

NEWS - AA2A 'Plus' Residency

I'm just starting my AA2A (artists access to art college) placement with York College. I have also been selected by York Museums Trust for a 'Plus' placement which means I will be working directly with the Trust. During my residency I intend to make some form of response to York Museums Trusts ceramics collection. I'm looking forward to getting into the store and having a look through some of the collections! York Art Gallery will re-open summer 2015 with new ceramics galleries and a new centre of ceramic art(CoCA), I feel lucky to be around a little in the run up to this big event.... 

PRESS - Yorkshire Post, 8th Nov 2014

My Tureen heads feature in this weekends Yorkshire Post Magazine...

Yorkshire Post Magazine - Sat, Nov 8th 2014.

OUT & ABOUT - Crescent Arts Painting Team

Crescent Arts painting team at the ready!

The things one is made to do! Last week the Crescent Arts painting team sprung into action in Queen Street. From left to right... Andrew Webb-Ellis, Caitlin Webb-Ellis, Karen Thompson, Sarah Coggrave and Serena Partridge... just to embarrass us all a little more! 

DRAWINGS: Badgered catch up

Been catching up a little with my Badgered project. A few recent drawings and a few old drawings which I eventually got around to scanning in and working on. The badges are all ready to be sent out to the unsuspecting victims which I'll do this week. Always wonder what folks will make of them just arriving on their doorsteps. 

www.karent.co.uk/badgered.html

PRESS: Front Page Cover of September 2014 Issue of The Skinny (Northwest)

Today saw my first front page cover of a magazine. The Skinny (Northwest) September 2014 issue features a detail from Goveshy. The skinny is the leading entertainment & listings magazine for Manchester, Liverpool and surrounding areas with a distrubution of 24,680 free copies. Click the link below to browse through the magazine.

http://issuu.com/theskinny/docs/the_skinny_northwest_issue_18?e=1069858/9156715#search

OUT AND ABOUT - Liverpool Biennial 2014

Crescent Arts day trip to the Liverpool Biennial.

Crescent Arts day trip to the Liverpool Biennial on Tuesday, an action packed day in which we managed to check out some of the work at the Library, The Old Blind School, The Tate, The Bluecoat and The Open Eye Gallery. 
Photo L-R: Sarah Coggrave, Serena Partridge, Katherine April Caddy, Karen Thompson & Stuart Cameron.

ART PART CONFERENCE - GOVESHY GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY - In anticipation of the upcoming release of the ART PARTY movie on the 21st August, I have 2 Michael Gove busts from the GOVESHY to give away. One to a new Follower of my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karen-T/173090019405194 or twitter account https://twitter.com/KarenTcouk (@KarenTcouk) and one to one of my current followers who share or retweet this post. I will be randomly selecting the two winners on the 21st August.

August 21st sees the nationwide release of the Art Party film by Tim Newton and Bob & Roberta Smith. I'm really looking forward to seeing it!! I shall definitely be at SJT in Scarborough watching. GOVESHY will also be making an appearance for the night of the 21st at the SJT in Scarborough... GOVESHY even made it into the official trailer! Bonus!

PORCELAIN SANDWICHES - Museum Gardens / Treasure's House Images

Gary Bateson & Karen Thompson at Yorkshire Museum (Photo: Ian McKinley)

Spent the afternoon walking around the Museum Gardens with Yorkshire Museum Manager Gary Bateson, placing another batch of the porcelain sandwiches... From here I went onto the Treasure's House to meet with Visitor Services Manager Lisa Holden and place a few more in the gardens there.

I had a Lovely afternoon which followed on from my packed out artists talk at Kings Manor. Brilliant Day!

   

Lisa Holden & Karen Thompson at Treasure's House, York (Photo: Ian McKinley)

PRESS - York Press 18/06/14

A piece about the Porcelain Sandwiches in the Treasure's Garden in today's York Press...

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/11284319.Spot_the_ceramic_sandwiches_in_Treasurer_s_House_garden/