The Wing Assignment

Exhibitions and Trails

It’s a crazy busy time for seeing artwork!! As well as the solo exhibition which is now in it’s second week at Ink’d gallery in Brighton, this weekend sees the closing of the East17 arts Trail and the opening of the nearby Wanstead Arts Trail, and next week sees the opening of the Wing Assignment at Red Bull Studios featuring over 40 artists work and showing the new piece 2 for Joy.

Fragments

The exhibition at Ink’d is the biggest collection of work I have shown to date and also the most focused.  The workreflects on a hectic 2012 and is a reaction and contemplation of events that have had an effect on the early part of this year.  I won’t lie.. it’s been a tough time, emotionally it has been a roller coaster year with massive highs, and some really difficult times too.  The work reflects this quite openly. The shards of glass that are prominent in this collection of work developed from the falling thorns in the piece one for sorrow which hangs at the back of the gallery at Ink’d. The increased chaos and noise in the work is elevated too.

1 for sorrow reflected on the helplessness of a situation in my personal life at the time, it was an exorcism for this frustration and the process of creating the work was a huge help to me in dealing with the situation.  Talking about this type of work is difficult but I think it is important to understand the relationship between daily life, and what happens in the studio. Most of the work I create is emotionally driven, it is a response to specific situations and the beginning of a piece of work is almost always impulsive, as is it’s creation.  Some of the larger works however, span larger periods of time and their creation, although relying on these type of impulses also involve times of deliberate contemplation on the subject.

Of the works showing as part of the fragments exhibition, ‘1 for Sorrow’ and’ the Storm’ both underwent a similar process and this is reflected in the finished work.  They may not be as light or as clean as other works in the gallery, but the grit and grime of these pieces honestly represent the journey gone through to bring the piece to it’s conclusion. They are both real battles in terms of their creation and the emotional involvement in the work.

If you would like to see the work on show – the exhibition ‘Fragments’ is open daily at Ink’d gallery in Brighton and runs until the 6th October, alternately you can see and buy all work from the show including the newly released giclee prints Guilt, Comfort, Fragment, and the triptych, Mortal, Immortal and Eleven produced by Harwood King.

The Wing Assignment

Inspiration for 2 of the pieces created this year and a planned series of continued work comes from the wonderful wing assignment project devised and curated by Nina Farrel a former colleague at Maidstone College of Art.  As well as providing a platform and outlet for the piece 1 for sorrow, the project seemed intertwined with what was happening in daily life.  Following 1 for sorrow, the piece 2 for joy is again an intensely personal reflection of receiving the news that I am to be a father to twins this September. Amazingly as timing would have it – the opening of the exhibition coincides with our delivery date.  It will be a shame to miss the exhibition as it features a work that is a real contrast to other pieces created this year, it has a real softness and warmth and is purely concerned with our relationship with nature and if you look very carefully beyond the flower of life symbol…

   

The Wing Assignment opens on the 19th September – if you would like to attend the private view on the 20th September, please contact me via email, as I have a very limited number of guest tickets (including my own which I will be giving away as I will be busy elsewhere!)

For more information about the exhibition which contains the work of over 40 artists, visit the wing assignment homepage at http://thewingassignment.tumblr.com/

Age of East 17

This weekend is the last chance to see this great exhibition, brought together by Nadiya Tokarska, at Tokarska gallery Walthamstow.  Just a short walk from Blackhorse Road tube, along forest Road.  The exhibition features artwork from Carne Griffiths, paintings from Jason Hawkridge, a Mark Burton photography exhibition about the Olympic Torch in Waltham Forest, and paintings from Nadiya Pavliv-Tokarska. The Tokarska Gallery is one of the best permanent galleries in the local area, so it is well worth a visit if you’re exploring the E17 Art Trail (which we will blog about separately).

I am delighted to be showing a small series of floral works, amongst the newly released triptych of prints from Harwood King

 

 

 

Wanstead Arts Trail

I am delighted to be showing work again as part of this year’s Wanstead arts trail, at the Beautiful Blush Temples florist on the high street.  Opening today, the small collection of work on show represents the first steps to working as a artist full time.  Although they are tighter and show a stronger influence of embroidery design, the pieces show clearly the transition to finding a style of working and to breaking free from the constraints of floral embroidery design in different ways.

 

Following the busy month of september, I will be showing work at the following art fairs, with Eyestorm and Coates and Scarry.

MULTIPLIED ART FAIR CHRISTIES 12TH – 15TH OCTOBER  EYESTORM

AFFORDABLE ART FAIR BATTERSEA 25TH – 28TH OCTOBER 2012 COATES AND SCARRY

AFFORDABLE ART FAIR HAMPSTEAD 1st – 4th NOVEMBER 2012 EYESTORM

The London Art Fair, The Wing Assignment, and other projects of distinction

So the London Art Fair is now over, a massive thank you to Opus Arts for supporting my work and showing the pieces at the London Art Fair – all wort represented at the fair (and more besides) are available from their website http://www.opus-art.com .

There was much expectation from Artists and galleries across the country at this year’s Fair, lots of great things on show and in my humble opinion some not so great things.  Galleries pushing boundaries and some playing it safe.  The Fair is always a good chance to see a lot of work in one space but that can also be it’s downfall – being bombarded with so many pieces in one room can sometimes give you a bit of a headache, however I really enjoyed the project space this year and discovered some exciting artists who opened my eyes to possible ways of working.  It’s good to feed on this visual bombardment and absorb new influences but visiting the fair just makes me want to return to the studio and push my work further.  Sometimes it can make you realise how far you have to go with your own body of work, it highlights things that you are missing from your own pieces and bodies of work but in a positive way.

Today I am working on a couple of projects and looking forward to some events in February which seem to have arrived far faster than I anticipated!!

The Wing Assignment

A good friend, Nina Farrell from KIAD (way back in 95!!), has put together a fantastic concept for an exhibition, using wings as an influence and starting point she has called upon various artists to produce images which will form part of an exhibition later this year.  I have decided to keep the same format I used for the Journey pieces and am currently exploring the theme of old nursery rhymes and superstition for the piece.  Here’s some work in progress images.

The Sketchbook Project

The fantastic Sketchbook project, which I became involved with last year is now touring the UK as well as many locations worldwide.  If you haven’t heard of this project already – you should look it up.  inspiringly ambitious, the project sent out over 28,000 books last year and exhibited just under 10,000 (artists!!) returned full sketchbooks as part of it’s tour in 2011.  I was really happy to have work in the touring exhibition which allows you to check out an artists sketchbook – library book style – from any number of it’s travelling locations.  This year’s book needs to be complete by the end of January.  The work I have produced for this year is based on the concept along the line, and has really been a therapeutic return to automatic and abstract drawing.  The type of work that you can really lose yourself in.  It’s tempting to just travel around with this little book soaking up the atmosphere of different places and allowing drawings to take shape.  I am looking to devote a couple of hours a day over the next week to complete the work but for now here is a sneak peek at some of the pages.

   

Postcards

Sending out packs of the new winter postcards which are available from Etsy.  These have been great fun to send – something about sending artwork through the post and making a parcel something really special to receive gives me a lot of joy. Over the last couple of days I have sent out about 15 packs and I am not sure if I can continue to manage a full drawing on each envelope but it’s fun so I find it hard to resist.  Plus the final action of sealing the envelope with a wax sealing stamp is just so satisfying.

Here’s a sample image of the cards and some of the envelopes but you can see plenty more over on my facebook page (I post them up just before sending)

Art For Heart’s Sake

A little reminder that I will be showing the work Margarita at a charity auction on February 9th. with the exhibition running from the 10th – 17th February 2012.Please do come along and support this great cause.  If you would like tickets to the event please RSVP hello@artforheartssake.co.uk

Debut Contemporary

Private View 1st february – It would be amazing if you could make it along for the Debut Contemporary Private View on the 1st Feb,  I will be showing some new works including the Tryptich ‘Immortal’ – to attend the evening please rsvp to rsvp@debutcontemporary.com or call 0207 221 1651

Some of the pieces on show …

Sold Works

2 original pieces were sold recently, Another Place, at debut contemporary and Swarm through Eyestorm. .. both below
Many thanks for the support of my work…

 

… I’m off to post envelopes – then to the studio!!

Happy mondays….

 

 

 

Kick Start January

After a rather sleepy December and some lovely time spent with friends and family, a little break from the stone space gallery that I have some involvement with and a general look back over the last year, I started getting ready to ease into 2012 and plan some new works in the studio.  Before I get down to the New Year sort out – here are a list of upcoming events that I will be attending / showing work at in Jan/Feb/March

The London Art Fair with Opus stand G35, 18-22 Jan

I will be showing 6 framed works with Opus over the duration of the show. Some new pieces previously unreleased and some represented pieces from 2011, I am really excited to be involved with the LAF again this year and am looking forward to seeing the broad spectrum of work to be found there – if you would like to come and see my work at the LAF please contact Opus for a a complimentary, their website can be found here ( opus )

Art For Heart’s Sake

I have been invited by Sophie Wharmby from Art For Heart’s Sake to donate a work for Auction at their exhibition which will run from 10th – 17th February 2012.

Art for Heart’s Sake is a social enterprise that seeks to raise awareness and encourage charitable donation through creative engagement.  The event has been created in partnership with Hipstamatic, and is sponsored by Kids Company and EDC and will feature 100 photos, (selected from a submission of over 5000!) as well as a selection of creative works from supporting artists all available for auction over the course of the exhibition. I would love to see the piece raise money at the auction so if you are interested in any of my work and would like to support this great cause please contact myself or Sophie through the Art for Heart’s Sake website http://www.artforheartssake.co.uk/

loves me....

 

E D E N

Looking ahead to March, I am beginning to plan an installation drawing entitled eden which will take place from the 1-11 March 2012, The Stone Space, in Leytonstone. Here is the text from The Stone Space site where more information about their programme of exhibitions can be found for 2012.

The Stone Space is pleased to present the live drawing event ‘E D E N’ by artist Carne Griffiths.  Created in calligraphy ink and tea, EDEN will employ imagery connected with creation and evolution whilst exploring the interplay between artist as creator and the outside influences of chance and suggestion from viewers.

Visitors to the gallery are encouraged to bring plants to the exhibition, to create a central installation which will be used as inspiration for the drawing, as well as write suggestions for imagery to be included within the piece. A live broadcast of the event will be available at the website http://www.carnegriffiths.com and http://www.thestonespace.com

So I already have plenty to look forward to in terms of creating and showing new work and am now keen to get into the studio to explore work for the exhibition ‘The Wing Assignament‘ which is being curated by a good friend from Maidstone College of Art.

Hope to see you at the LAF or sooner!