Telling it like it is – Katie Netley

We are delighted that Katie Netley , a ceramic story teller, will be joining us this summer to exhibit in our garden. I loved her joyful and exuberant work the first time I saw it and will hope that she will bring a sense of fun and energy to the borders this summer to complement our plantings.

Katie has a BA (Hons) in wood, metal, ceramics and plastics (material practice) from Brighton University.

Katie majored in ceramics and graduated in 2011. She has been making sculpture ever since, mainly in clay carving, and is very fond of the use of colour.

She has a small workshop in her mum’s garden along the river in Godalming.

Katie loves learning about different cultures from far and wide, along with colour and pattern to create her work.

Tantalising, bold, bright and outspoken; from ideology to technique, Katie Netley’s recent works have been focused on exploring the influences of totemic tribal artefacts.

Katie has developed a confident and honest approach towards expression, whilst playfully working through concerns such as: folklore in diverse cultures, the raw celebration of ritual, the significance of dreams, representations of organic life, geometric recurring patterns, the voluptuous female form and the liberal use of intense colour.

Katie undertakes private commissions for bespoke ceramic sculptures.

https://www.facebook.com/Katie-Netley-Artistmakersculptor-124997667575720/?sk=about&section=work

https://www.instagram.com/katienetley/

https://twitter.com/katienetley

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Five Go to Sussex Prairies In 2016 – Vicky Mappin

Our Group of artists in Residence this year is a very talented group of textile artists and designers- Ali Rabjohns, Vicky Mappin, Susan D’Souza, Sandra Ventris and Bridget Honour.

Their major exhibition will be showing with us from 1st June to 16th October 2016 and the group will be leading some marvellous and inspirational workshops during the course of their time with us .

Focus on – Vicky Mappin

As a child Vicky was always found in the art room at school, painting and developing her detailed style. She trained as a florist and during that time was inspired to continue with her drawing and painting of botanical work. Attending a four day course at Chelsea Physic Gardens gave her the confidence to take up botanical painting full time.

Vicky has always been passionate about nature and the Sussex Countryside. Inspired by colour and fascinated by the detail of living growth, she strives to paint flowers
and vegetables in all their beauty with a certain lightness of touch.

EXHIBITIONS INCLUDE: SBA Annual Exhibition Arundel Museum
Crypt Gallery, Seaford Florum, Sevenoaks Glyndebourne Opera House Hop Gallery, Lewes Horsham Museum Southwark Cathedral Wakehurst Place

‘To be able to exhibit at Prairie Gardens is a wonderful opportunity
for a botanical artist. My wish being that I had started painting for the show

in 2014 therefore accomplishing a larger display of paintings from the garden. In 2015 when I did get down to it I would return home with such an abundance of plants, I did not know where to begin!’

BOTANICAL PAINTING WORKSHOP 

Vicky is a member of the Society of Botanical Artists. She has been teaching for many years.

The workshops will be structured for all abilities and individual needs. Vicky’s aim is to create a relaxed, informal atmosphere in a long established discipline.

The workshops will take place on the 18th June, 16th July and 27th August from 10am-2pm.

18th June – Spending time observing the structure of your chosen plant. Drawing quick sketches at all angles, practise shading with a pencil. Finally producing a detailed drawing.

16th July – Practise of painting techniques to include wet on wet, dry brush and other methods. Layering colour. Emphasis on colour, shades and tones.

27th August – Choosing subject from the wonderful array of plants in the garden. Drawing and painting chosen subject.

Please bring any materials you have already. The cost of one workshop £65, two £120 and for three £175, £5 extra for Vicky to supply materials which will include use of brushes.

Contact – vickymappin@hotmail.com Phone – 01273 809613

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Five go to Sussex Prairies in 2016- Susan D’Souza

Our Group of artists in Residence this year is a very talented group of textile artists and designers- Ali Rabjohns, Vicky Mappin, Susan D’Souza, Sandra Ventris and Bridget Honour.

Their major exhibition will be showing with us from 1st June to 16th October 2016 and the group will be leading some marvellous and inspirational workshops during the course of their time with us .

 

Focus on -Susan D’Souza

Susan D’Souza is a textile artist and teacher who currently runs the Foundation Degree and BA (Hons) courses in Fashion and Textiles at West Kent College.

Susan is currently developing a project Inspired by the textures and shifting colours of the Prairie Gardens with the intention of making a piece of textile work each month, to record some of the beautiful moments in nature, that lift us through the course of a year.  Working from photographs and colour studies she aims to translate the images through applique, hand painting and stitch.

 

Susan will be holding two workshops with us –

Batik wax resist and hand painting on fabric workshop

Saturday 23rd July 2016. 10am-2pm

and

Appliqué and Stitch : Creating textile collage workshop

Sunday 7th August 2016. 10am-2pm

 

These two workshops are designed for anyone with an interest in colour, textiles and materials, regardless of experience. They will provide an opportunity to explore simple expressive techniques and play creatively to make individual art textiles. Participants will produce textile samples that could be put into a sketchbook to inspire future projects or used to create small framed pieces of work.

For further information or to reserve a place please contact Susan D’souza on:

susandsouza68@gmail.com 07786613309

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Anne Kelly – our Artist in Residence- Big Summer on the Prairies

We are delighted that this year we have a textile artist in residence bringing a world of wonderful textile beauty to our garden room exhibition space.

Anne Kelly – about me

“I collect recycled fabric, paper and ephemera using collage, stitch, photographic and print processes to create a range of work, most of which is framed. My inspirations are travel, memory and vintage imagery from a variety of sources. These have been described as ‘small worlds’ and my current layered mixed media work started life as mainly botanical in subject matter before developing into larger more narrative works. I assemble and reassemble the components of each piece using sketchbooks and digital imagery. Often it can be a small scrap or remnant of fabric that inspires a whole piece.  I am inspired by natural history and gardens. Collaborations are an important aspect of my work and I enjoy working with other artists and teaching. I also produce commissions for private and public individuals  – examples of these ‘collages in cloth’, based on special places, people and spaces can be found on my website. I have co written a book for Batsford/Anova press  which was published in 2013 called ‘Connected Cloth’

A Natural History of the Garden At Sussex Prairies-

Anne has brought an amazing textile exhibition of her latest garden related work and is working on a wonderful collaborative wall piece called A Natural History of the Garden which is helping to raise funds for the RSPB Southeast. Anne will be coming to the garden regularly during the summer to work on the project and to lead drop in sessions of creative stitching on a garden theme with a range of glorious textiles.

Make

Why not come and try your hand at making a small piece for our wall..we have all the materials you need and even a whole load of inspiration from books and printed materials as well as the big garden of course.

Take Anne’s easy step by step guide to creating your own piece. What better way to spend an afternoon sewing and chatting with friends over a piece of  homemade cake and a cup of tea.

 

 

 

and if you would like to learn from Anne why not come and join us for one of Anne’s workshops  here on the Prairies-

 A series of Workshops by Anne Inspired by the garden –

 

‘Illustrating Garden Poetry’ saturday 28th June 2014

–Looking at the work of some contemporary poets, we will discuss ways to combine stitch and words in a special piece which you will start on the day and finish afterwards. You will create a unique record of your garden, one that you’ve visited or a special plant/flower that you like. Full day workshop.

 

‘Prairie Paper and Stitch’ saturday 26th July 2014

– combining paper and cloth extends your options when working in textiles. In this one-day course, tutor Anne Kelly will demonstrate some basic bonding techniques and help you to make a small folding book form celebrating a favourite green space.

Full day workshop .

 

‘Planting in Cloth’ –Saturday 6th September 2014

Surrounded by the lovely setting of the Prairie Gardens, we will use them as the basis to record plant and flower drawings and paintings on cloth. These will then be stitched using a variety of techniques and can be finished as solo pieces or incorporated into a larger piece. Full day workshop .

 

 

‘Little House on the Prairie’ – Sunday 28th September 2014

A joint parent and child course – using a variety of simple stitch and bonding techniques, create a unique record of your house and garden with a member of your family. You will make the basis of this piece during the one-day workshop and can continue to embellish and add to it at home. Full day workshop .

read more abut Anne on her website http://www.annekellytextiles.com

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Miranda Ellis – Glass Sculptor

Can you imagine anything more beautiful than shafts of sunshine shimmering through spectacular glass ? We are delighted that Miranda Ellis has brought some of her stunning art pieces to our garden as an exhibition for this season.

A little bit about -Miranda Ellis Glass

I’m a sculptor working mainly in glass, influenced by the natural world and inspired by restricted views that occur in the landscape.

An idea for a project may come from the beach or walking in the woods where a found or submerged object will start a creative process. The pattern of wood or a manufactured object texturing a surface or being used itself to be cast directly into glass,reusing and giving a new life to something that has been discarded, as well as working from scratch on a creative idea.

The process can be exciting but the realisation of an idea can take weeks or months to complete.

My background is in ceramics, figurative sculpture, 3D design and mould making, including refractory moulds that are used for glass casting.

This year for me has seen the opening of my new studio with gallery space which is open to the public, just west of the pier ‘Two horse’ 236 Kings Road Arches, Brighton Artists Quarter.

I’m delighted to have my work in such an exciting garden.

Www.mirandaellisglass .com

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Little Paper House on the Prairie : Chelsea Fringe Paper Performances

Chelsea Fringe -The Headline Acts

The Paper House herself

With the paper garden in tow and now its attendant art gallery coming along for the ride !

The gallery includes some amazing pictures which were so kindly sent to me by a teacher Lisa Wee and her class of pupils from a school in Nairobi ,Kenya… so here they are being exhibited in the garden.. the paintings will also join Anne Kelly’s exhibition in our grade room for the rest of the season.

When we thought about our week (31st May until 8th June 2014)  of paper related happenings,workshops and exhibitions  for the Chelsea Fringe down on the prairies ,we knew we would have wealth of stars to help us get into that groove and here are the best stars we have been able to line up for you

Pages by Stages : Alison Crosthwaite

Prairie hens in paper kilns : Sabine Dahn

alongside these stars are their co-stars

Anne Kelly : our talented textile artist  in residence who will be inspiring us with her textiles ,and guiding craftwork in paper ,textiles and beyond from the prairie wagon in the garden room

Jill Tattersall  : an artist with an eye for paper making who will be helping you send out postcards from the prairies and who will be constructing concertina books to baffle and bamboozle and she will be showing you how to make your own Matisse masterpiece

 

 

Jill Staples : a lovely local photographer working with images applied on to Japanese papers.She also makes beautifully colour co-ordinate photographic books

Paul Cox: sculptor extraordinaire turning his hand to big paper sculpture

Lydia Crook: paper sculptor whose work we shall be exhibiting via our virtual online gallery

Julia Widdows : writer extraordinaire who will be promoting her books and will be running a win a book competition

the ways of paper are many and mysterious.. And it is time for you to experience their many layers and latitudes..

And don’t forget the strangely challenging and wonderful Paw People exhibition by Tom Barker now showing in a marquee in the garden.

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Paw People – Teddy Bears Picnic

“The Teddy Bears Picnic” with the Paw People

We are so pleased that Tom decided  to bring his amazing exhibition here to the Prairies during our Chelsea Fringe week. Come find the Paw People in the marquee in the garden  !

what you will see –

The ‘good’ bears sit at the picnic table, the ‘bad’ look on from a distance.

The table spread is our world as a living entity, Gaia.

The wooden beasties hanging around the edge are the gods and monsters of our imaginative minds.

 

Tom explains how he came up with the idea for the exhibit-

“I asked friends (by email and facebook) to name 5 people or organisations who they felt have had a positive affect on the world and 5 negative and to give a brief reason why. It could be anyone and I asked for it to be heart felt. I took a photo of these people’s faces from the internet and sewed it on to a soft toy. (For organisations, I chose the CEO, founder or a person who could be held as responsible). The Paw People were born!”

How Tom made each Teddy Bear –

“I then attached people’s personal comments (in blue) and a profile usually compiled from wikipedia. It is people’s personal opinions and so subjective and although I have edited it, I do not necessarily agree with all choices, I didn’t want it to be my opinion, some of them are quite controversial. I am aware that if I asked a different audience the placing of many could be reversed. I wanted to highlight their positive or negative aspects and so I have picked out information that I thought relevant.”

What the research revealed –

“It was very interesting researching these people and what soon became apparent was that no one is all good or all bad. That these selected individuals are representing wider societal issues. That using these terms judges and isolates people and isn’t constructive in any dialogue aimed at tackling the issues.”

what you need to do – 

come and interact with the exhibit and see who you think should be at the teatable.. ! 

“I don’t expect you to read all the paw people profiles, that would take some time, the weight of their profiles alone gives testament to how much impact has been evidenced of their doings. I wanted to make a little bestiary of humanities impact on the world

The aim of the installation is not to judge but to encourage engagement in a dialogue.”

In conclusion-

‘I do believe that we are affecting our environment in such a way that humans will not be able to exist on this planet in the long term without fundamental changes in our attitude towards and use of it. Present governing systems need to change.”

 

The installation is for sale or hire. All pieces are for sale individually.

We are keen to provide related workshops, discussions and take on commissions to explore other issues within our society.

For more information contact Tom Barker

07931866395

ttombarker@gmail.com

                                                          

 

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Giving Nature a Prairie Home : How to be a part of it !

 Anne Kelly – Artist in Residence & The RSPB

Anne Kelly, our textile artist in residence for our 2014 season, is making a large collaborative wall exhibit in support in The RSPB  with us at Sussex  Prairies ,and we want you to join in the fun of creation.

How you can be a part of it !

Please send us drawings, cutouts, collages, pictures of plants,animals, birds, insects, reptiles, fish, amphibians – our natural wildlife – small sized- no bigger than A5 size, which can become part of the work. Maybe you have a poem, piece of writing or phrase which you feel would fit in with our theme and which you would like to see incorporated. All your work will be credited with your name. We are happy to accept pictures, images by email or you can message/send items through Face book or Twitter. You are also welcome to send original pieces if you wish which we will copy and return back to you. Visitors to the garden will also be invited to contribute to the piece by making textile craftwork. Let’s make it really wild!

Please send contributions to either Sussex Prairies at morlandsfarm@btinternet.com or mail@annekellytextiles.com  or you can also send pieces to us in the post .Please check our websites www.sussexprairies.co.uk  or www.annekellytextiles.com  for all our contact details.

Sussex Prairies will be open  for its 2014 season from 31st May until 12th October 2014, 1pm until 5pm ,six days a week , closed Tuesdays.If you would like to bring your contribution with you in person , you are very welcome.

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Anne Kelly : Queen of a thousand Stitches

Anne Kelly – Textile and Mixed media artist –  BFA ATC

www.annekellytextiles.com

We are very excited that textile and media artist Anne Kelly  is coming to be our artist in residence in our 2014 summer and autumn season. Howver in the meantime she will be joining us on the Prairies for two wonderful workshops.(see details below)

general information : in Anne’s own words

 ” I trained as a fine artist in Canada and the UK and my work reflects these conventions by interpreting them in cloth. Many pieces are box framed and larger work and installation pieces hang without a frame. I also produce smaller pieces for private and public exhibitions and have work in the vatican collection.

In 2013, I continue to collaborate with other artists and am exhibiting in the UK and abroad. I’m available for consultancy work and I am also happy to accept and advise on commissioned work. I have just completed a major public commission.

i have a studio and teach part time and am co writing my first book on textile collaborations ‘connected cloth’  with Cas Holmes.”

This wonderful book is  now out and on sale !

Anne Kelly – about me

“I collect recycled fabric, paper and ephemera using collage, stitch, photographic and print processes to create a range of work, most of which is framed. My inspirations are travel, memory and vintage imagery from a variety of sources. These have been described as ‘small worlds’ and my current layered mixed media work started life as mainly botanical in subject matter before developing into larger more narrative works. I assemble and reassemble the components of each piece using sketchbooks and digital imagery. Often it can be a small scrap or remnant of fabric that inspires a whole piece.  I am inspired by natural history and gardens. Collaborations are an important aspect of my work and I enjoy working with other artists and teaching. I also produce commissions for private and public individuals  – examples of these ‘collages in cloth’, based on special places, people and spaces can be found on my website.”

What will these workshops give me ?

A chance to create a piece of garden/nature-inspired textile art in the inspiring surroundings of Sussex prairies gardens with Anne Kelly. All ages and abilities welcome. The cost fo the day will be £ 50 – you are welcome to bring a picnic lunch. you should bring materials and equipment for stitching including a sewing machine if you wish.

September 29, 2013: vintage/recycled garden –old and vintage fabrics enhance and give depth to many projects. students will be asked to search through their collections for florals especially to applique onto a square sample. a mixture of couching and hand embroidery will be used to complete the work. The sample can then be made up into a cushion cover, tote bag or framed piece. materials list to follow.

October 6, 2013: Birds – are everywhere in textile art at the moment – we will make a small bird stencil using a mixture of contemporary and vintage images as source material. this will then be printed onto various types of fabric and used in a range of samples. these can then be incorporated into larger pieces and embellished further by hand and machine. materials list to follow.

Please contact Anne to book a place on either course and please send your booking request  with a cheque for £ 50 per course  to A. Kelly, 29 Dynevor Road, Tunbridge Wells, kent TN4 9HP

or contact her on mail@annekellytextiles.com  to arrange payment using Paypal.

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Cathy Hart : It’s Squiggle Time

So glad that I met Cathy Hart  exhibiting her work at Chelsea this year because I managed to persuade her to bring her quirky creations down to Sussex to bend their way into our psyche ! Its the wendy bendy time ! The thing about Cathy’s work to me is that it reminded me of my sister Anna’s Etch a Sketch (something I always wanted for myself !) . You know , gardening should not be taken too seriously. There are a lot of people getting very stuffy about gardens, sculpture and what makes for art , good and bad. It is my view that we should open our minds just a bit and embrace it all  ! Make doodles in your mind and love a little and  laugh a lot ! That’s all folks !

Cathy says on her website “Cathy’s  scaled up birds, dogs and butterflies are influenced by 1970s cartoons, fairy-tales, theatre and clowning. These whimsical creations capture the fun and frivolity of play.   We are in a culture where everything created is about more complexity. Cathy’s work goes in the other direction,towards simplicity. It is minimalistic, distinctive, creative, personal, alive, 2D, 3D, primary, moving, living, definitive, unique with a craftedness within its own art.  ‘For adults who have grown up enough to
be children again’ C.S.Lewis”

so you can see why I felt it would be a perfect and fun set of work to exhibit in the freedom of our borders ! The fun thing about the work is that it has a lightness and openness of form.. so much so, that it slots into a planting scheme and you can see it and the plants without interruption, due to its transparency. Dog lovers will also be in their element as the sculptures capture so completely the  character of the breeds. I think we have terriers, greyhounds, cavalier King Charles at the very least.

so if you are looking for the fun and frolicsome look no further ! You can read more about Cathy Hart on her website at www.cathy-hart.com or better still come and see her work in the countryside here on the Prairies during our open season this year.

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