Group Critique / Feedback (whilst starting an MA Interdisciplinary art practice in Wrexham Glyndwr Univeristy, Regent Street Art School campus).

The first critique was to discuss one piece that we wish to take further, my choice was a body a single body of work as I felt that one piece would not communicate what my work was about as these relate to each other.

I showed the crocheted, embroidered head doll and talked about the significance of placement, the doll’s head is leaning sideways cradled in its arms in a body-hugging stance, I also took red riding hood, frowning patchwork doll and burnt blue rabbit. I have shown the drawing as well as photograph, the pieces inform the process I use to disassemble, change, build to communicate a narrative, these pieces are not one body but several different methods and this is what I was trying to convey.

I explained that I use inanimate objects found dolls, toys to tell stories, using narrative themes from my childhood, from trauma, from being left-handed not allowed to use my left hand, from undiagnosed dyslexia, and how these feed into my work. I also talked about the ‘Welsh Not’ and this is an area I wish to research and explore, The Foundling Hospital in London interests me, the abandonment of a child, Abjection from Julia Kristeva, Angela Carter, Brothers Quay, Jan Svankmajer are the areas that I am currently, or already a little familiar with.

I use the medium of wire, thread, fabric and print as well as found toys and dolls, I talked about my summer course with the Pale Rook and how this had influenced my practice. I feel that I could have been more precise, my ideas, my thoughts I felt were not really joined up at this stage but possibly didn’t need to be. Going through the process enabled me to see my own path and formulating a learning plan will articulate my intention further,

Feedback from the group was to look up the aesthetics of uncertainty by Janet Wolf, this was as a response to my depiction, that not all childhood experience, is the utopian ideal, peddled by a society who is often blind to its own problems, I will look this book up for further reading.

My second critique group discussion, at Ty Pawb, myself, two students and a tutor did a small group, I found this far less intimidating, I discussed how I have moved my work forward since the initial session and having completed my learning plan this has led me to be more concise in what my aims are, I want to channel my rage at what I see is injustice in our society, childhood trauma does play its part and will always feed into my work, but, my passion to make a difference with my art is to raise issues around disabilities, mental health, homelessness all three areas I have personal experience with. The feedback I receive when I discuss my work helps me to see the work from different perspective, and ideas that then raise questions for me, is my work communicating the narrative I have intended? Is the abject apparent or subtle? Am I being coherent?

My third Critique was with all the students, I felt this was more coherent, I have been able to reflect on my practice, and I am starting to see where the new experiments, testing out pieces, learning printing techniques to serve to print on to fabric, to inform new pieces as vehicles for expression. Please see my Instagram feed on the main page.