I took a ride out to Craft in the Bay a little while ago and spent a good few hours in there ogling all the prints ceramics and jewelry as well as checking out some of the crafts people. There was an exhibition of Ceramics there too
I liked a lot of the stuff, I was quite interested in some of the jewelry by Mandy Nash where patterns had been laser cut into metal and other materials. She got a grant from the Arts Council of Wales for her laser cutter.
I also liked these plates for their printerly quality and their brightly coloured glazes. The map surface decoration could almost be like a micro chip with its grid patterns and gold accents. Sadly I did not take note of the ceramists name I will try a and find it because I would be interested to learn a bit about his process for glazing and surface decoration. I think he actually uses decals to apply his imagery to the plate.
I am most definitely attracted to work that creates a visual quality of transparency, depth and iredecence. The following two have got this.
Simon Rich Bowl
Laura Thomas: Textile Artist and Designer
I really liked this piece. I like the mix of traditional and modern materials and processes and the transparency and magnification it gives is amazing. Laura Thomas strives ‘to push the expected boundaries of woven textiles’ and I think she most definitely does. She has a website and number of blogs and exhibits in many galleries such as; The National Wool Museum and The Crafts Study Center. I will definitely be checking her out some more. She makes pieces for public spaces, exhibition and for private homes. She collaborates with architects, interior designers and other creative practitioners on projects and commissions. ( information given sourced from artist bio in Craft In The Bay and from her website in the about section, http://www.laurathomas.co.uk/about/)
Thomas was Also selected as a Featured Maker by the Oriel Myrdden Gallery in Camarthan. Here’s a link to there article http://orielmyrddingallery.co.uk/event/featured-maker-laura-thomas/. It turns out she’s a course leader in Coleg Sir Gâr which is a place I considered applying to for its textile courses. Who knows perhaps I’ll do a masters there!
Edaein Samuels 