Jobling Gowler are pleased to welcome the foundation degree students from Macclesfield College and their summer exhibition entitled “May to September”. We have exhibits from Andrea Holmes, Howard Waring, Jane Hayward, Jean Westbrook, Jill Thorp, Kathy Johnson, Deborah Maw, Sasha Beaumont and Suzy Metcalf. It is a great pleasure to exhibit their interpretation of May to September and if you are able to visit the exhibition in person you will appreciate the skill and techniques used by the artists for yourself. On the website you can see some examples of their work.
It is always interesting to know something about the artist and you will note that their backgrounds and experience are as diverse as their exhibits!
Andrea Holmes
Andrea is displaying a painting entitled “Cathchit” and a plaster of Paris wall hanging entitled “Howzat!” She chose the starting point of cricket to interpret the theme May to September and took her inspiration from the crowds rather than the game itself. Over her two years on the foundation degree course, she has explored a wide variety of media from opposite extremes, from traditional literal watercolour paintings to an abstract of a life-size beer can car sculpture!
Howard Waring
Howard studied medicine at Edinburgh and continues in part time practice. He is interested in the interface between representational and conceptual art, focussing on imagery within which the human form has a dominant position. His oil on canvas painting of “Sometimes in Macclesfield” is described as a “mono-scenic” narrative depicting Macclesfield people throughout the ages, set within the context of the market place. By way of contrast he exhibits three etchings entitled “Dancing for time” inspired by the dance of Ian Curtis.
Jane Hayward
Jane has had a lifelong interest and passion for designing and creating art. After obtaining qualifications in ceramics, over the last four years she has turned her attention to textiles. She likes to make colourful and pleasing designs to lift the heart, using threads, fabric, beads, ribbons and cords in many techniques. The textiles and wall hanging we display are all entitled “Maypole” – a seasonal start to May to September.
Jean Westbrook
Jean is an artist and storyteller. Her teaching career specialised in art and drama and her starting point is always an observation of life – the human condition. Of her work she says “I love people and what they do and say. I am inspired and entertained by the madness and the ordinariness of things and the way we are so influenced by each other. I want my art to make you laugh because I was really amused when I created it.”
Jean is well known in the area as being one of the 2,400 participants in Anthony Gormley’s “One and Other” on the plinths in Trafalgar Square. At present she is creating, hopefully, the biggest cardigan in the world! Her contribution to the exhibition are five May to September calendars using a combination of illustration, photography and digital imagery.
Jill Thorp
Jill’s experience of living in the South of France for nine years has inspired her fascination with symbols, lines, marks, patterns and interior space. We exhibit her “Poa” Series, seven paintings entitled The Grand Palace, Time, Adoration, Peacock, Flower, Fan and Buddha.
Kathy Johnson
Kathy is a multi media artist based in Macclesfield and her artwork takes a critical view of social, political and cultural issues surrounding our society today. She has taken a strong direction in working to produce sculpture and installation pieces with a controversial message behind them. Her human heads constructed out of metal nuts on polystyrene are entitled “Humanitarian Existance” and her clay and fabric series are entitled “A dime a dozen”.
Suzy Metcalf
Suzy’s “Box it off” peep show exhibit was inspired by trauma in her life in May 2009 when she was involved in a robbery at work. Through her art she is tackling fears and anxieties which have impacted greatly on her life as a result of that event.
Sasha Beaumont
Sasha is primarily a painter who takes inspiration from natural elements around her both in her home environment and during her trips around the UK in a 1972 campervan. She is inspired by sea, landscapes, air, sky which she translates as texture, colour and movement so that the different media interact. Colour is the energy in her work and she asks the observer to take what they want from the painting and to see it as they want to.
Her exhibits consist of five panels depicting campervan images and five panels of cherry blossom.
Deborah Maw
Deborah is most inspired by the sea and has dedicated her art to the plight of our oceans. She scours beaches for the plastic debris which she transforms into vibrant sculptures and collages to expose the lunacy of our throw away society. The debris she has collected has been used to create a series of five lamps, which on the one hand demonstrate the extent of the debris produced by our summer activities, picnics, etc but also the joy and colour which can be created from what is washed up on the beach.
In addition a sphere made from plastic champagne flutes sparkles in the sun as it moves in the summer breeze.
Please come and enjoy this diverse exhibition. It is most rewarding!