As part of the ExLab project, DVA is managing three Bursaries. These take the form of small grants to undertake a personal research and development project related to one of the ExLab’s principal areas of interest. The artists are not expected to translate this research into a commissioned product, but to reach a point of interest and authority that can be disseminated in one form or another to the ExLab audience and DVA Members.
The three bursaries have been awarded to:
Sarah Gilpin – sculptor
Frances Hatch – fine artist
Karen Hansen – designer, maker
Bursary holders in conversation with Simon Ryder (photo Andy Whale)
Bursaries OVERVIEW
Sarah Gilpin
Sarah lives and works on Portland as a sculptor. Sarah is undertaking a visual and scientific study of and about the lichens found on Portland, their incredibly slow growth and contradictory strength and vulnerability. She is also following closely Simon Ryders ExLAB research, blog and commission.
Sarah has recently set-up a blog about this work:
http://sarahgilpin.wordpress.com/
Frances Hatch
Frances has an intense working relationship with the coast and wilderness locations, In this project she is principally concerned with the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast. Whilst most of her work has focused on extremes of weather and light. However, in this project she is undertaking an intense investigation of the coastal strip between South Beach and Old Harry Rocks that is revealed between the tides
Frances has been running a blog since her bursary project commenced:
website: http://www.franceshatch.co.ukblog: http://franceshatch.tumblr.com
soundscapes: http://www.frozenorchestras.com
Karen Hansen
Karen is principally a furniture maker and therefore concerned with many different types or wood and their structural qualities. In this project Karen has set out to explore how the environmental conditions influence plant structure, growth and survival in the sea, on the shore and inland. This will involve looking at the structural differences in waterborne and land-based plants. In particular, plants that have the longest histories such as Mares Tails. She started from the point of ‘what makes them stand up’.
Karen is not running a blog on this work yet. Her work can be seen at:
ExLab and Dorset Visual Arts
Dorset Visual Arts is a Membership organisation for artists, designers and makers living and, or, predominantly working in Dorset. Its principle aim is to develop and manage opportunities for its Members and to increase participation and enjoyment of the visual arts. It also has a charitable wing with a focus on promoting opportunities for student and emergent artists and makers. Our biennial, flagship event is Dorset Art Weeks. It’s focus in on Open Studios, Group Exhibitions and special Events. This year’s event has recently taken place at 350 venues involving nearly 1000 artists. Forthcoming events are the Dorset Art Fair and Dorset Art Trails.
For further information see:
www.dorsetvisualarts.org – a new website is currently in development
The Dorset Visual Arts 2012 Student Prize has just been awarded to Hollie Mackenzie, a Fine Art Graduating Artist at AUCB
DVA’s principal sponsors:
Humphries Kirk – Arbiters
Arts University College Bournemouth
