Production Pottery

Some greenware forms from my time at 2 Mayfield St :)

At 2 Mayfield, I was responsible for producing wheel-thrown products for visitors to decorate in our ‘clay soiree’ (paint-a-pot) events. I was also responsible for designing and throwing sets of tableware forms. These items, such as nesting bowls, plates, mugs, cups and jugs were created as part of a formal range. The range is now on sale at the Mayfield Store which the studio opened in February 2024. 

Capstone

A sneak peak

Mirror, 2012 (Jenny Saville)

The Reclining Nude in Western Art:

Laying symbolism bare & Putting the male gaze to rest

Abstract:

This paper uses art historical research to investigate the origins of the reclining nude as a cultural phenomena and painterly tradition in Western culture. Beginning with art historical examples from the 16th century and ending with artworks for the 21st century, this paper traces the tradition and its effects on the depiction and objectification of the female body. In particular, this paper suggests that the representation of the nude body through art history is intimately connected with the solidification and perpetuation of the male gaze in western culture. Ultimately in observing its evolution, this thesis offers a framework for understanding the persistence of the reclining nude tradition and its frequent readaption. This thesis attempts to unify historical and cultural findings to create a lens that can be used to interpret contemporary adaptations of the reclining nude made specifically by women artists. Ultimately, the research carried out in this paper attempts to comprehend how the reclining nude has been used in contemporary culture to subvert tradition and thus deconstruct the male gaze.

Keywords:

reclining nude, female body, representation, depiction, autonomy, painting, male gaze, nudity

Community Project Internship

My 1 month Intensive working at a remote Community Arts Center in Cornwall

Awenek Studio is a community art space located at Maker Heights. Maker Heights is a natural and historical site overlooking the sea as well as the towns of Kingsand, Cawsand, and Millbrook. In addition to an Art Studio there is a campground/reception, restaurant, and music venue atop the hill. Awenek shares space alongside a diverse array of community spaces which enriches the social atmosphere of the Maker Heights grounds. Above all else, Awenek Studio strives to inspire the local community to be bold and creative. By extending an open invitation to youth and elderly alike, the arts and crafts workshops held at Awenek help brighten the quality of life for members of the local community.

I worked as an Intern at the studio. This meant that upon being shown around the studios facilities and getting familiar with my resources, I was given the freedom and responsibility to plan and organize workshops. I was involved in a myriad of projects from deciding the itinerary of after school programs to lesson planning for home educated youth groups. These projects used art as a vehicle for learning and understanding concepts such as history, science, and language. I would also attend fortnightly wellness hubs within the community. Wellness hubs are public and held primarily to facilitate social interaction amongst the elderly and mentally disabled. At these wellness hubs I also helped instruct craft projects and I got to connect with people from all walks of life. In addition to preparing and hosting art sessions for different age groups, one of the more long term projects I worked on was the 7 panel historical community mural, to which I contributed by helping design and research.