‘Access All Areas’ displays work from the five artists upon
the 2011/12 AA2A scheme at Manchester Metropolitan University; Mark Beecroft,
Julie Cassels, Rachel Goodyear, Bethan Hamilton and Jenny Steele.
AA2A is a national set of schemes hosted in visual art
departments in Higher and Further Education institutions that provide access
for practicing artists to specialist workshop and support facilities. This opportunity allows artists access to
equipment which may be difficult or expensive for them to source independently,
allowing them to realise a project or period of research. In exchange, artists bring ideas and
experience to the students and institution.
2011/12 AA2A artists would like to thank Manchester Metropolitan
University for generously providing access to postgraduate lecture programmes,
the library and the range of workshops, in addition to a grant towards the
costs of materials.
Mark Beecroft
Mark Beecroft’s practice is an exploration of process,
working with predetermined systems and mathematical forms. Mark has used his
time on the AA2A scheme at Manchester School of Art to develop skills in
digital fabrication, working with laser cutting technology. Beginning with
patterns created from handmade mathematical models he has created digital
files, which have been laser cut in a range of materials. These pieces are then
‘played’ with, experimenting with different configurations before being
assembled by hand. The results are a series of sculptural forms that unite
digital technology and handmade craft.
Julie Cassels
Julie Cassels’s uses the photographic image as her medium,
the AA2A residency has enabled her to concentrate on the three dimensional
aspect of her work in the form of digitally reconstructed objects. ‘Someone Else’s Things’, the latest series of work,
considers the replication of an object and the relevance of its source. Drawn
to rare or, potentially, obsolete ‘found objects’, she digitally reconstructs
them; their associations consider the past, the future and possession. The main body of work carried out during the residency was a
‘virtual’ restoration project. A rare 17th Century bodice was digitally
restored and then recreated using digitally printed fabric. The Whatcombe
Bodice project is on show at the Gallery of Costume, Platt Hall,
Manchester. www.juliecassels.co.uk
Rachel Goodyear
My practice focuses on drawing, working predominantly with
pencil on paper. The AA2A scheme has helped me to explore ways to subtly allow
my drawings to slip out of the paper into the realms of sculptural form.
However, rather than a fixed permanence that an object can suggest, I am
finding ways to give my 3 dimensional forms the similar nature of fragility and
fleeting moments my drawings on paper offer.
With drawing at its core I have been exploring the relationships between
the imagined space of the paper and the real gravitational space we occupy. For
Access All Areas, I will be presenting a collection of works that suggest a
state or change or escape; graphite covered paper forms quietly explode from
the chest of a life size porcelain bird, whilst drawings on paper attempt an
escape from their 2 dimensional world like a papery ectoplasm.
www.rachelgoodyear.com
Bethan Hamilton
An exploration of the obese female body with a focus on
mass, weight and disproportionate form through mark making. My project has been
focused on the creation of ambiguous forms; indeterminate in sex, species or
context, through drawing & printmaking. I sought to visualize a selection
of these 2D forms as tangible 3D sculptural objects through a series of
individual frames viewed within a 360°rotation.
Artists Access to Colleges has provided me with the time and
freedom to make mistakes. Through the scheme I have learnt new skills and
revived old interests, had access to an extensive range of facilities at
Manchester Metropolitan University and met some kind and inspirational
individuals. AA2A has changed the face of my practice for the better. I feel
excited to be making art again.
www.bethanhamilton.co.uk
Jenny Steele
Jenny Steele’s practice explores our inhabitation within
physical and digital architectures, through print, drawing and installation.
During the AA2A scheme at Manchester School of Art, Jenny has focused upon her
experiences as a new inhabitant, moving within city centre streets of
Manchester and the architectural structures she encounters. Access to book-making, printmaking, sculpture
and digital editing facilities have allowed Jenny to explore her research
further through still imagery and movement and sequence. She has produced a series of editions of
books, laser-cut wood block prints, screen-prints and animation as a result of
time and generous access to a wide range of workshops.
‘Access All Areas’
Exhibition of work from the Artists Access to Art Colleges
Scheme 2011/12
PV Thursday 27th September 6-8.30pm
28th September - 5th October 10-4pm (excluding Sunday)
The Holden Cafe
Manchester Metropolitan University
Grosvenor Building
Cavendish Street
M15 6RB
For more information on the AA2A scheme (Artists Access to
Art Colleges) please visit http://www.aa2a.org/.
