The brick continues

With more brick compositions coming through I'm beginning to think about how these can fit in to the next couple of exhibitions. They may simply be part of the work in progress that directly feeds the final work or they may be shown on mass as a collection.

These two pieces of Cheddar red brick from Ibstock in Bristol are off cuts from my final MA design Pause. Cutting these bricks was quite difficult each brick weighed 12kgs making it a hefty cube. The cutting wire tended to move a lot as I sliced through and the clay was so grainy and heavy with grog I ended up with these wonderful circular marks across the surface. The marks from the stacking shelves are still imprinted on the bottom in the form

of tiny dots. 

I collected some of these remnants from my time spent in the factory they seemed too interesting to throw into reclaim. The pieces shown in the photographs below were shaved off the side sections and the bottom edge of the seating space.

The images directly below were pieces I have carved some of these bricks had to be 

re-carved or reworked. 

These two pieces were cut by Ben. Whilst he helped me during the first couple of days setting up. 

 Here's a shot of Pause once finishes and installed.

New compositions with objects.

This is really a continuation from Traces of Making. The ceramic objects initially made by myself and a selection of friends helping me along this line of experimentation where each object has been made from a simple instruction of one word. 

By giving these unmarked balls of clay to other people to interpret, when they return I am able to examine the subtle differences or similarities without making assumptions based on my own knowledge of the material. However, these have been sitting in a crate waiting for the right opportunity to move this research and develop a new collection of work. 

So! I've gathered all the found objects that have also been slowly accumulating in the studio over time and looking at how or whether these made objects have any relationship with the found objects. 

Most of the brick remnants have been given to me by two friends in Oxford often finding their way into my possession from the Norfolk coast. 

It occurred to me that I have a growing selection of materials sitting around and most of them have come from the ground in some way. Chalk is the most recent addition to this I have a bag of coal, slate, brick and my increasing fascination with geology ultimately means that they all have this connection.

Over the next few weeks I intend to continue with the photography and add to these assembled compositions to see where it takes me.