The Hepworth ran an online talk session with Laura Slater.
Im a big fan of her work and although her practice doesn't mirror my MA practice fully at present, her ideas and thoughts around using local materials and being aware of community and sustainable moral practices have a reflection in my work.
I really admire her mark-making process and how she develops this to product and that will be helpful to reflect on when coming to process and printing stage with parts of my project
-Laura uses screen print as not just a production process but as an image making and creative tool
-She was obsessed with drawing and painting as a child and came from a very creative home.
-Interested in relationship between design and art and has studied these relationships.
-Interested in how some artists created textiles and their very multidisciplinary approach creating fabric designs and prints etc.
-Laura visited an exhibition of work and connections between Warhol and Morris.
-Spoke about difference between working in a studio or a factory and how practice is changed for these different approaches.
-Art and Design practice is moving to become one and morphing into one.
-A collection Laura created for Heals had numbered editions on the products sold.
-Companies looking at how to work with smaller designers and how to really celebrate that handwritten smaller maker.
-A John Lewis collaboration showed process of designs and how colours developed and techniques within the advertising and promotion.
-John Lewis originally found Laura though Pinterest and similarities in boards.
IKEA project.
-Laura was questioned about how price point would change mass market against studio handprints higher end by other creatives.
-Thought IKEA would open work and designs to a larger market, at a lower price point, an accessible tool to look at design.
Project with Tate.
-As it was for an art gallery this was the biggest project in terms of manufacturing and production Laura has undertaken.
-Laura looked at the architectural forms in new extension and building to the Tate.
-Working on different materials such as leather and new inks etc for this expanding knowledge.
Northern Monk Brewery.
-Art on a can of beer is very democratic and accessible.
-Opened up such a diverse audience who may not normally come across Lauras work.
-It was a local brewery to Laura
-Laura took part in a more project and concept based work with Wakefield museum
-Exhibition in Wakefield to celebrate 115 years of objects and products that were made in the area.
-Laura created wallpaper, domestic reflections and took inspiration from the original tickets from 115 years ago to the exhibition
Cove Park.
-Cove park offer residencies for crafts people.
-Laura within her residency explored ways of working and how being in a new place can develop work.
-5 weeks and explored drawing and then screen-printing.
-Laura drew directly onto the screen and worked at a very large scale.
-Authenticity of making that in the space was very important.
-Cove Park residency helped Laura to think about the context of the work and methodology of ideas and process.
-Mark making, think about making tools made lots of rubbings and collected lots of things to make marks with at Cove Park.
-Cove Park project and the work made in the space then helped Laura to have a gain a space at London design fest with other local Yorkshire creatives.
-This then also led to a space at Chelsea flower show with the same group.
-Great to see work in a new different space, and textiles in a garden show.
-Interested in how work can be seen and develop thoughts.
-Can my work be a gateway or bridge to individuals then going to look at textiles in a gallery.
-Worked with another artist called Mawuena Kattah
-They both looked at the Whitworth textile and wallpaper archive for inspiration.
-Very good archive one of best in country, Henry Moore has huge collection of textiles prints.
-Looked at using an analogue process to develop drawings together, looking at colour and working at a large scale.
-They did this together for over a year. They made a series of editioned prints.
-Some prints were developed by creating a positive directly on top of the previous print to create the next layer.
-The collection of work created was exhibited in Colours May Vary in Leeds.
-They wanted to show in both Yorkshire and London to show both homes of artists.
-Showed in crafts Council collects. Created by Crafts Council.
-Approached by the V&A and bought 2 pieces to store in their archive in the Clothworkers archive.
-Laura said, to think a piece of my work now sits alongside other work that has inspired me is so amazing and a pinnacle of career
Q&A comments and answers
-Using a clear voice about what you do is very important.
-Social media is very important and important to use to create connections and be friendly.
-Laura was asked, how to approach a new brief. She said she would usually have an idea or narrative for her own studio briefs. If it was designer brief she would start by looking at aesthetic.
-An artist may think first about ideas behind it where designer may think about aesthetic more.
-Know when to stop drawing.
-Sustainability has to be an inherent part of the process.
-Laure uses waterbased inks. Linens made in Lancashire know where they are made etc.
-Informed choices if you are working with an external company who are sourcing the materials. -Longevity and quality of the product is very important.
-Important to engage in bigger conversations now.
-Not perfect but always thinking about it.
Balance is very important when looking at paying the bills and developing own practice.
-Making and doing both to start with editions prints and products help engage and support other aspects of process.
I asked..
Answer to my question
-Yorkshire is just there all the time.
-More time todo pure image making during lockdown.
-Lots more walks and contextualising through sensory reflections.
-Nice to have time to just have a sketchbook and record in that way.
-Very proud to be from and practice in Yorkshire and be able to stay here and not have to move to London etc.
Laura lectures in Leeds for 2 days and was technician for 2 days before that so helps that steady wage.
She runs printmaking workshops and also runs these at the Hepworth too.
-Engaging with people is v important as could maybe drop these now but it's important for Laura to have that connection.
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