Personal Statement
I have a love and experience with a wide range of media including paint, ceramics, installation and photography.
My practice is driven by notions of space and artworks place in the context of this, as well as the concepts of surface texture and form in relation to your perception of the artwork and context surrounding it. Conceptually I am interested in the body, gendering in art and feminist theory relating to this.
Education
University of Glamorgan BA (Hons) Art Practice,
2009-2012
Modules Included: Live Project; Ashmolian Museum Oxford, Residency.
Contextual Study Essay.
University of Glamorgan Diploma in Foundation Studies, Art and Design
2008-2009 (Merit)
Ystrad Mynach College British Sign Language Intermediate a, (Pass)
2007-2009
Lewis Girls Comprehensive 3 A Levels –
2001-2008 Art and Design (A) History (B) English language
and Literature (C)
11 GCSE’S (Grade A-C)
Including Mathematics and English Language
Exhibitions and Curation;
March 2012 Wunderland II,
TactileBOSCH, Llandaff North, Cardiff.
Participated in a group show created by The Women’s Art Association and TactileBosch Gallery & Studios to mark International Women’s Day. Recreated and installed an environment built from my work, aimed to envelop the viewer. This meant working with the curator of the show to find a suitable space and safely install the work.
December 2011 Birkenstock Festival,
Gwdihw Bar Cardiff.
Resident installation artist for a daylong event celebrating women’s talent in Wales. Beginning with negotiating space for the work, before flexibly installing it in co operation with bar staff, event leaders and performers. Finally altering the installation throughout the evening to suit events.
May 2011 Half a Degree,
Oriel-Y-Bont, Ty Crawshay, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd.
Actively involved in organising, fundraising for, curating and installing second year show in an accredited gallery. This involved a group effort to create high standard work, apply for and acquire a gallery space, fund raise and advertise the show as well as personally creating and moving an installation piece working with technicians and the gallery curator to ensure the piece worked in the space using lighting and the surrounding environment effectively.
May 2009 Foundation Show,
University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd,
My first exhibition experience highlighted the need for motivation, good organisation, and the ability to cope well under pressure. Creating an installation using 3D casts, photography and lighting effects required great thought in display techniques and communication with lecturers, other students and technicians.
Other Creative Experience
March 2012. Led discussion for Cardiff Life Model Collective,
I organised and lead a discussion on a feminist take on Life Drawing in response to Women’s International Day lasting one and a half hours. The discussion involved, gendering in the life room, the artists Gaze, depiction of the model and subversion of the Nude. For this discussion I created a backdrop of women’s art along one wall and encouraged debate and discussion of the topics. Beforehand, I chose a list of topics to be introduced, planned an open simple engaging manner of introducing each one and created an advertising statement to release.
February 2012- Present Ran tutored Sessions for Cardiff Life Model Collective,
Planned, advertised and ran one and a half hour tutored sessions on measured drawing of the figure and expressive mark making within weekly drop in Cardiff Life Model Collective sessions. To do so I created lesson plans and short advertising statements. I made and provided suitable diagrams and talked through and explained clearly the aims and relevant information. I ran short drawing exercises in the required field, instructing the model and artists. Following this I provided one to one tutoring on request.
September 2011- Present Organising Life Drawing Sessions,
University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd.
Organised and ran regular two hour life drawing sessions in university for myself and peers.
This involved working with tutors, models and students to find suitable times and places to run sessions. Contacting models and making sure they will turn up, know where to go what is expected of them and are comfortable with modelling in the environment. Advertising and managing attendance of the sessions, creating a flexible structure which can respond to the needs of the artists and models. Also organising payment each session.
October 2011 Sergey Chilikov Exhibition, Performance on Opening Night.
Third Floor Gallery, Cardiff Bay,
Jointly responsible for designing and performing an evening event in response to the photographs exhibited in the surrounding gallery. Designed as a way for the audience to begin to interact with the images, this piece challenged and evolved the way I think about artworks and display within the gallery context and the relationship between artist, curator and viewer.
Other Experience
September 2010 – present. Edwardsville and Coed Pen Maen Primary School. Volunteer Teaching Assistant,
Supporting a teacher in class by working with individual and groups of up to six students. This role allowed me to use my energetic and creative personality traits to help improve the classroom experience of a wide range of ages and abilities of key stage 1 and 2 children. I have found through this experience that some of the best ways to help children learn are the most imaginative, art and reading seem to me to be the best key for ‘learning through play’. Also highlighted is the amazing feeling of seeing an improvement in others under your direction.
May-August 2011 Hay literature festival, 2000 Trees festival
Face Painter,
These roles required me to alternately run my own stall in the children’s area as a face painter, managing cues and entertaining while painting faces of children and adults of all ages and also steward events. This required good management skills, self motivation, energy and imagination.
Rebecca Lois 