jenny.alexander@btinternet.com
Experience and Employment (1983 - 1998)
Travelling in India and working in France (1983 - 1984)
Working for Japan travel Bureau, London, tour operator (1985 - 1987)
Training and qualifying as a chartered accountant with Deloitte and Touche (1987 - 1991)
Financial analyst/Director of Fitch, an international credit rating agency (1991 - 1998)
Experience and Development since 1998
In October 1998, I decided to use savings accumulated from my work in the City to change direction. Since then, I have developed my artistic interests, particularly in contemporary ceramics. I have been a collector of ceramics for 20 years, and my desire to create pieces has developed directly from my experience of looking at, and appreciating, the work of others. I have had limited tuition in ceramics, and regard myself as largely self-taught. I have had a studio in an artists' complex "Wimbledon Art Studios", since September 2001.
Exhibition History
For exhibitions in 2005 see "Upcoming exhibitions". I have exhibited at many galleries, art events, open studios, ceramic shows and craft shows since 2002. Exhibitions prior to 2005 are listed below as follows:
December 2004: Wimbledon Art Studios - open studio event
December 2004: Fircroft Christmas Exhibition, Surrey
November 2004: London Potters' Christmas Show, Morley College, London
November 2004: British Crafts, Chiswick Town Hall, London
November 2004: Wandsworth Artists' Open House
October 2004: Islington Art and Design Fair
October 2004: Art on The Hill - charity art show at an hospital in London
September 2004: Sculpture Show at Marle Place, Kent
August 2004: Summer show at Star Gallery, Lewes
July 2004: Henley Music Festival with Barn Galleries
June 2004: Wimbledon Art Studios - open studio event
June 2004: Artspace Essex
June 2004: Putney Artists' Open House
April 2004: British Crafts, Chiswick Town Hall, London
March 2004: Islington Art and Design Fair
March 2004: Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London with Barn Galleries
December 2003: London Potters' Christmas Show at Morley Gallery (prize winner)
November 2003: Wimbledon Art Studios - open studio event
November 2003: Wandsworth Artists' Open House
September 2003: Artspace Worcester
August 2003: Summer Exhibition at Star Gallery, Lewes
July 2003: Fresh Art, Business Design Centre, Islington with Wimbledon Art Studios
July 2003: Sculpture Show in Cheshire
June 2003: Artspace Essex
June 2003: Wimbledon Art Studios - open studio event
May 2003: Artspace Henley
April 2003: British Crafts, Chiswick Town Hall, London
April 2003: Sculpture Show in Gloucestershire
December 2002: London Potters' Christmas Show, Morley Gallery
November 2002: Lena BoyleÕs Christmas Exhibition
November 2002: Wimbledon Art Studios - open studio event
November 2002: Discerning Eye selected exhibition at Mall gallery, London
November 2002: Exhibition with Lena Boyle at a City Firm of Solicitors
October 2002: Affordable Art Fair, Battersea with Lena Boyle
October 2002: Art on The Hill - charity art show at an hospital in London
September 2002: Artspace Worcester
September 2002: British Crafts, Chiswick Town Hall, London
August 2002: Art in Clay, Hatfield House
August 2002: Potfest in the Pens, Penrith
August 2002: Summer Show at Star Gallery, Lewes
July 2002: Putney ArtistsÕ Open House
June 2002: Wimbledon Art Studios - open studio event
Prizes
2001: A judge's selection at London Potters' Christmas Show at the Morley Gallery
2003: A judge's selection at London Potters' Christmas Show at the Morley Gallery
Galleries
My work is frequently shown at the following Galleries:
Grapevine Gallery: 109 Unthank Road, Norwich
Wonderwall Gallery: 7 Gosditch Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Parkside Gallery: 427a Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen, London
Commissions
In 2003 I completed a commission to make panels of mounted painted ceramic tiles for the kitchen of a private family. The panels are positioned either side of a steel backdrop to a modern stove and provide a focal point for the room.
In early 2005, I completed a commission for a large cylinder decorated with figures which is being displayed in front of a fire in a private house in London.
Commissions are always welcome. I am very happy to discuss individual projects.
Technical Information
I am a hand builder. I have never been tempted to learn to use a potter's wheel and I like to work as freely and as quickly as possible, in a rather unconventional manner. Nothing I make is functional by intention; my pieces are purely decorative.
I work almost exclusively with paper clay which is a wonderfully flexible hybrid clay. The small percentage of paper pulp, or other fibres, which is mixed with the base clay lends the material a strength, flexibility and plasticity which enables me to pursue the unusual shapes and techniques which appeal to me.
I like to see how far the clay will let me go and constantly experiment with shapes and textures. Increasingly, I find that paper clay will allow me to break the normal "rules of ceramics" and still produce successful pieces. I often carve aggressively into a shape to produce either my raised figure pieces, or other textured work. Any disruption to the piece can be remedied by using additional paper clay. Dry pieces can be "rewetted" and altered.
I concentrate on various forms of stoneware clays and porcelain. My work is fired to stoneware temperatures, usually to 1255 degrees °C.
I use a limited palette of glazes concentrating on a bronze finish and a matt transparent glaze on the majority of my figure pieces, When I experiment with glazes, I like to explore the effects of silicon carbide. Interesting textures with an organic look appeal to me.
Artistic Influences
My hand built sculptural ceramics, which are decorated with superimposed figures of outstretched people, originally developed from emotions I experiences researching my father's family history. (He was a Kindertransport child who came to England from Germany just before WW2.) However, as my work has developed, lighter inspirations, most significantly the feelings evoked by contemporary dance, inform my sculptures. The figures on my pieces interlock to form patterns across the surface of the work and I try to convey a vivid sense of movement and humour. I aim to produce pieces that are emotionally affecting an that make a strong statement.
Other Information
The 2D aspect to my work, ceramic wall plaques, developed from my desire to broaden the appeal of my ceramics. The tiles are mounted on painted boards which vary in size from 20 cm x 20 cm - 30 cm x 30 cm. In 2004, I introduced a new aspect to this 2D work. I broke up some of my cylinder pieces and mounted the fragments on painted boards. These pieces have an archaeological feel and are in the spirit of recycling which pervades ceramic work.
The free standing pieces are usually made by building a core shape(cylinder or pointed cone) and then painting, carving or superimposing figures. The pieces vary in heights from 10 cm - 90 cm. They are suitable for both indoor and outdoor display.
The textured pieces (without figures) are also suitable for both outdoor and indoor display. They can vary in height from 20 cm - 80 cm.
Upcoming Exhibitions
I plan an extensive range of exhibitions for 2005. For more information on, or to be invited to, any of the shows below please do not hesitate to contact me.
April 23 - May 8: Exhibiting at the Sculpture Show, Stone House, Wyck Rissington, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire;
May 13 - June 5: Exhibiting at Artspace, Henley
May 14 - June 5: Exhibiting at Battersea Contemporary Art Fair, Battersea Town Hall, London;
May 16 - 22: Participating in PutneyArt
May 20 - 22: Exhibiting at the Affordable Art Fair in Bristol with Langton Street Gallery;
May 27 - 30: Exhibiting at the Craft and Design Experience, Fawley Court, Henley on Thames. Oxfordshire;
June 16 - 20: Exhibiting at Wimbledon Art Studios open studio event at 10 Riverside Yard, Riverside Road, London SW17;
June/July 2005: Fircroft Summer Show, Albury Heath, Albury , Surrey;
September 10 - 25: Exhibiting at The Sculpture Show, Marle Place, Brenchley, Near Tonbridge, Kent;
September 17 -
October 2: Exhibiting at Artspace Worcester;
October 7 - 9: British Crafts, Bristol at Paintworks on the Bath Road
October 15/16 and October 22/23 : Participating in Wandsworth Artists Open House
November/December: Exhibiting at at London potters' annual exhibition, Morley Gallery, Waterloo, London;
December 1 - 4: Exhibiting at Wimbledon Art Studios open studio event at 10 Riverside Yard, Riverside Road, London SW17;
December 4 - 24 : Exhibiting at Star Gallery, Lewes
December: Participating in mixed Christmas exhibition at ÒA GalleryÓ in Wimbledon - 154 Merton Hall Road, London SW19
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