Caravan Fred's Swampy home

"Meet Caravan Fred, settled in his mother’s caravan.  Having left his past behind, he archives people’s stories, quietly…"

I live on the Isle of Sheppey, and my pieces spring from my affection for the local community. My work explores the idea of “Sheppiness” as revealed by the name “Swampy”, which some born-and-bred Islanders use to describe themselves.  For me, this is a double-edged term, derogatory for some, a source of pride for others.  I examine ideas around the insider/outsider paradoxes in this tourism reliant area.

 I am influenced by Jeremy Deller for his funny, surreal celebrations of his project participant’s stories.  I am inspired by the way he puts ordinary people at the centre of his work in works.  For example, in "Folk Archive", (2005)  in which he collected all sorts of drawings, paintings, decorations, political opinions, costumes, for vast range of British pastimes and pursuits, quirks and all.  He asked prisoners, community groups, protesters, pop fans, bored teenagers, and the homeless for contributions, and celebrates them all.  He gives his work away at Art fairs and created "BookWorks" a visual arts publisher "to disseminate visual art practice to as wide and diverse an audience as possible."

From Folk Archive (2004)
Snowdrop the Mechanical Elephant
The Clare Family Egremont

 

I also found ideas from Laure Prouvost's video "Wantee", which tells in her video the story of her imagined grandfather.  The film describes a fictional relationship between Prouvost's grandfather and Karl Switters.  The work is named in reference to the habit of Schwitters' partner of asking guests if they "want tea."  She created an installation populated with objects some of which she created herself with a surreal air to suggest the character, .  As she says, "The power of suggestion and imagination is something I love to play with."  I relate to this strongly.



Still of Teapots from Wantee

Still from video "Wantee" (2013)

In distilling these ideas, I created a fictional character called Caravan Fred, who embodies some of the essence of "Swampiness".  I decided to evoke a caravan as his home, and populate it with objects that conjure him up.

Ideas

 

 

 

Drawing up ideas

   

     

 


Testing out the Space




Bed size tab

 

Testing out the space


Objects to go inside

 

 

Building process

 

   

 

 


 Second Coat

 

 

 

  Detailing of door and chest

 

 

 

 Back of mirror with mirror plates for attaching

 

 

I've spent the last 2 very busy days putting up the installation at Morley Gallery.  I'm very please with results!  I have some preliminary photos, but will be taking some under the proper lighting tonight when it will look at it's best.

 

 

 

 

And.....rest and enjoy! 

 

 

Sheppey Stories Mail Art project

I live on the Isle of Sheppey, and my pieces spring from my affection for the local community. My work explores the idea of “Sheppiness” as revealed by the name “Swampy”, which some born-and-bred Islanders use to describe themselves. 

I am influenced by Jeremy Deller for his funny, surreal celebrations of his project participant’s stories.   So I wanted to create a participatory piece as part of my Swampy project, and decided that a Mail-Art approach would be both simple, all-inclusive and effective in recording stories from inhabitants and visitors to the Island.


I asked some selected people, as well as giving sets of my pre-stamped pre-addressed blank postcards to the local Bluetown Heritage Centre, the Arts and Crafts shop, and to the school Librarian at West Minster school on Sheppey.  I asked people to add any Sheppey-related story they liked, whether they lived, worked or were a visitor, old or young, everyone welcome.  The story could be bit of family history, a memory of a visit to the Island, a photo of a Sheppey spot they like, a ghost tale, local history, feelings, thoughts, a funny poem, a drawing etc.,  I then asked them to post it back to me.  I have collected the returned cards into a hanging piece which becomes part of my Swampy installation.

For the images, I used one of my photographs, two of my collages, plus a lovely image of a very early Sheppey postcard.

 

 

 

 

I was really touched at how much enthusiasm people had for joining in, and some people gave out postcards for me to their contacts and friends.  I noticed that people liked having the choice of four different images, and once an image is chosen that person thinks of it as part of their identity.  I had the interesting comment on one collaged image, "I don't want this hieroglyphics, I'll have the sunrise." "Ooh I love history things, I'll have the old Sheppey postcard."

I have recorded the range of responses to my request.  From those following the project progress - "I really like all the postcards, some really great stories." "Brilliant project, Jo." "Collections looking great, lovely project, Jo."  From others I asked to take part - "I've got a story about my grandmother, but it would need verifying, I don't know if it's true or not."  "Anything, do you mean I can say anything?"  There is a sense of giving people a voice, without censorship.  Another person said "I am really thinking about what to put on it, I don't just want any old thing"

I did receive one blank un-franked postcard back through my letterbox, I wish I could have talked to the person who returned it (kindly so I could re-use it) to find out why. I think perhaps people can feel under pressure to say yes to you, although I did try to approach as gently as possible.

I gave out 150 cards and received 50 back, which I think is quite successful odds.  I think this was a very enjoyable and valuable project, for myself and for the story sharers.  I was happy to see that so many people had such a lot to say of their ties to and feeling for the Island. 

 

Creating "Mud & Light"

I decided I'd like to try experimenting with oil painting onto un-stretched canvas as part of my project.  I experimented with some collaged smaller pieces first, using thick layering and added mud from Warden Bay beach, which is outside my front door on Isle of Sheppey, at the eastern side of the Island.

I really enjoyed using materials in this way, with found objects and the oil/mud combination, as I love lots of texture in pieces.

Experiment 1

Experiment 1 from one of my Photos

Unfortunately, I'd put the mud on so thickly that it began to crack up.  Also, I think I hadn't let the underpainted gesso dry sufficiently.

Showing cracking

Experiment 2

 

 

This one worked better.  I used more and thinner layers, and added less thickly coated mud.

 

I decided to do an oil painting which would go on the wall of Fred's caravan.  I took the image from one of my photos of a sunset over the bay...

 

 

 

Layer 1

I added four thin layers of acrylic gesso to provide a good ground for the paint and allowed to dry for a lengthy time.   I painted the piece in three layers...  Detail of Layer 1

 



Layer 2

Layer 3 with mud used with oils

 





I made a mistake on the sizing of the painting, which means when I stretched it I had to touch up the edges with acrylics.  Still this was a good learning point, check once, check twice, plan and prepare before putting paint to canvas!  I am happy with the finished piece, I think it strongly reflects my feelings about the natural environment that surrounds me.

Creating "Stick" piece

Creating “Stick” piece

I am inspired by the work of Louise Bourgeois.  I am intrigued by her surreal vision, and how she explores deep psychological trauma through her work.  I love the paradox of the surreal, and the contradictions of her use of hard/soft materials.  There is humour alongside horror in her pieces.

I am intrigued by Dorothy Cross, for her exploration of her home natural environment in Connemara.  She works with found objects in sculptural pieces and combines them with sound, and video to create very evocative pieces, sometimes humourous.  “The gallery is another type of landscape”.

 

These ideas lead to the inspiration for my sculptural piece “Stick”.  I wanted to explore the idea of “Swampy”, the name that some born-and-bred locals use to describe themselves, but which is used in a derogatory way too, “they all have webbed feet there.” 

I found a pair of child’s wellington boots, and moulded webbed toes onto them, to create an object that is both humorous and dark.  For me, it is about inheritance of stereotype, about the labels that are put on people “sticking”, even to the next generation.