At last I've managed time to record my sculpture.
Because of many years,very many,dealing with serious family concerns I am now in a fresh new 'breathing' space. I never stopped making art in these 'missing' twenty or so years,always carrying a sketch book and later turning to painting for it's uplifting 'music', as my therapy I suppose.
So I have become a painter too now, through years of sheer will power and practice, never having had any college training in that subject. I was trained mainly in Ceramics and Sculpture.
These sculptures then : All the 'old' work was too difficult to save and store but since then I have made small pieces that are mostly not recorded,because there was either no time and/or I felt no need to 'share', none at all. They could be paper,clay,string...hung around the shed, huddled in the corners, resting on the floor or tiny clay shapes,burning in the fire.
In my current work I still have no care in concentrating on 'craft', 'skill', in most pieces,they just work for me and are quite spontaneous. Some are like little maquettes,or sketches for bigger ideas but that's not their main intent.There are a few that remain as designs only, they would be huge,should they ever get made!
A few days ago (Sept 2018),I saw a great chance to get valuable artist support,workshops and many other lovely opportunities. I had three days to apply! This fell exactly on my 'Awakening' day.
Before you go 'yuck', this really happened. I knew it would come sometime. I'd hoped before my 70th birthday but at least it's in the same year! I'm also enjoying that it co-oincided with the slow re-opening of my gammy left eye, after six months being patched,because of Bell's Palsy,(which had decided to inflict me on April Fools'Day). I'm still 'gurning' but not quite so ugly now!
I didn't get the residence place.That's not the point.
But hey,if this is not our time,us older women artists,then when is? There were galleries then that openly said they wouldn't show such wierd, 'feminist' work. "What's it all about? Mothering,gender issues? Who can relate to that?"(who indeed !)," Why do you make work about you?" (!),"Why don't you make real work?". Lastly,"We can't display fabric-based work, it won't sell. "Can't tour it, won't store it, shan't insure it".Well, no. Unless you make and bake the bread,in some cases!
I hope you enjoy just seeing my work for the first time or even again, after such a long time.
Oh,and I'm also entering a prestigious painting competition. First time. Wish me luck!
Thank you.
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'Tower and Hide'. 'Hide' a two piece sculpture
Degree Show, Sheffield 1983.
'New Art', Rochdale Art Gallery 1983
Bread,White silk upholstery, smashed white crockery
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'Hide' - roof detail
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'Tower and Hide'. The 'Tower'.
A two- piece sculpture
Degree Show Sheffield 1983.
'New Art' Rochdale Art Gallery 1983
Cotton waste wadding. Bracken,feathers,rope
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'Tower' - detail
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'Mrs Kahn' or 'The Great Skirt'
Degree Show Sheffield 1983.
'Seeking New Symbols',Scott Gallery,University of Lancaster 1987
Sack cloth on cotton -clad metal frame, Interior filled with potatoes and oak leaves.
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'Practical Yoke'
'Where Are You Going to, My Pretty Maid?'
Degree show Sheffield 1983.
'New Art.' Rochdale At Gallery.1983
Pink leather upholstered ring, dishcloth- clad 'arms', rope, milk pail.
'On The Brink', University Gallery Leeds and Henry Moore sculpture Trust.1992
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'Practical Yoke' - detail
Wooden 3-armed milk pail, pink leather cladding
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'If You Have No Daughters Give Them To Your Sons'
Degree Show Sheffield 1983.
'New Art',Rochdale Gallery 1983.
'Catherine Acons' solo show, new and older work,Mappin Gallery, Sheffield 1989
Macrame string,footballs,sacking.
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'Bolster My Ego'
Degree Show Sheffield 1983
C.Acons curator, 'Hands On' exhibition for blind and partially sighted,at Graves Gallery, Sheffield 1988
Pillow ticking fabric,wooden stakes, feather filling
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'Daft As A Brush' (She's Bezzumly) - sketch
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'Stook For A Bezum' - sketch
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'Boudicca's Progress' 1986
'Seeking New Symbols',University Gallery, Lancaster 1987
'Off The Shelf', Rochdale Art Gallery 1986
Sacking, scenic rope, plaster,bezums.
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'Boudicca's Progress' - detail
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'Girls And Boys Come Out To Play'
Degree Show Sheffield.
'Catherine Acons',solo show,Mappin Gallery, Sheffield 1989
'New Art' Rochdale Municipal Gallery 1983
Mixed fabrics. Rings and tubes are interchangeable.
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detail,'Girls And Boys Come Out To Play' - Denim
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'Mater Immaculata, Pasta Dogmata'
Sheffield 1983.
'CatherineAcons' New Sculpture'.Mappin Gallery, Sheffield 1992
'Off The Shelf', Rochdale Art Gallery. 1986
'On The Brink', Scott Gallery,University Gallery, Lancaster
Blue silk, mesh grille, string.
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'Mater Immaculata, Pasta Dogmata'
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'Pegging Out'
('for Diana's Wedding')
Installation 1986
'City Life' ('Private' 'Political and 'Public'). Corner House Gallery Manchester 1986
Cotton bedsheet, muslin, bread, net, old 'flock' mattress stuffing.
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'Pegging Out' - detail
'Under-belly',showing old waste fabric mattress'flocking' in cotton net.
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'Joculatrice' -the jester
'Catherine Acons Sculpture', new and older works
Mappin Gallery Sheffield 1989
Solo exhibition
Wood frame, satin cladding.
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'Old Ties'
(Witches Hat Swing)
'Catherine Acons New Sculpture'.Mappin Gallery, Sheffield
Mixed fabrics incl: old suitings. Men's ties
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'Old Ties' - Foot detail
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'Picnic On The Edges Of The World'
MA Show Nottingham 1987
University Gallery, Nottingham 1987
Floor piece.Sacking,bread, re-claimed fur.
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