Karen Purple
Karen Purple makes work in response to her natural environment. In her daily walks through the countryside she collects objects and materials, remembered thoughts and experiences. These form the basis for a dialogue that continue in her studio. Working with the found organic matter – incorporating them onto her chosen surface she creates a journal – building up an archive of her physical and conceptual journeying across the landscape. It may be in the form of tiny drawings on linen or paper or large scale paintings with oil and pigment. All are informed by her interest in natural history, the pursuit of collecting and classifying her finds and observations.
‘At the point of production, the work is a mix of recall, intuition and deliberation. The discriminating and sensitive procedure induces a trace of an image, its history, its relative significance and a physical embodiment of the passing of time.’ Chris Jennings, London.
Since graduating in 2004 from Oxford Brookes with a First Class Honours Degree in Fine Art she has exhibited throughout the country, including Modern Art Oxford, Ovada and the 03 Gallery (Oxford), Brunel University and the Affordable Art Fair. She had a major solo exhibition at Pennwood House in 2008 and in July 2009 will be in residence at Oxford University Arboretum participating in a group international exchange. For more about work by Karen Purple click here >>
Ann Rapstoff is an interdisciplnary artist interested in responses to site and context, often using the strategy of constructing situations and dialogues. She explores the interface between the artist and public working with perfroamtive and interactive strategies using communication as a means of facilitating further histories related to identity, narrative and ritual. She may explicitly participate in the work, or move through a space discreetly or anonymously. The work takes the form of facilitated situations, walks, dialogues, performances, collaborations and interventions.
Ann is interested in collaborative processes and has worked with artists and non artists from various disciplines. Over the past few years she has been developing frameworks in which to explore and invert social structures, intimacy and make believe. At the heart of her work is an interest in engaging with people and place, with the intention of creating a dialogue across/between social, geographical and historical boundaries. For more about work by Ann Rapstoff click here >>
Kay Sentance is primarily a Theatre Prop-Maker, who grew up in Germany. She studied Interior Architecture at the FH (Fachhochschule) Düsseldorf. Through working in architectural offices for four years and fourteen years in theatres Kay’s work looks at the human interaction with space and scale. Although still working in Theatre — over the past 5 years Kay’s work has gradually moved out of the “dark” and much more into our everyday surroundings where the “spectator” becomes partaker. Kay likes to engage people through familiar circumstances in unfamiliar settings encouraging them to revisit everyday situations from a different perspective.
As each space differs so does Kay’s approach according to the given space and context. This tends to be conceptual with a main interest in participatory art and interventions. Kay’s last work called ‘Sandcastles’ was part of South Hill Parks show ‘At Play’. For this Kay placed miniature sandcastles in the Galleries space as well as setting them in random places around Bracknell City Centre in response to the architecture.
Other work includes ArtWash. This is an artist-led inter-art social occasion that likes to support artist to show work in unconventional spaces. The last of these events was in a Chinese Take-Out. ArtWash is co-curated by Ann Rapstoff and Barry Reeves. For more about ArtWash click here>>
Louise Taylor's aim in her current video work is to explore an area that draws from literature and video. She is experimenting to see if it is possible use video as a form to trigger the imagination, as the written word does in literature. Would it be possible to show the viewer a video clip that stimulates a different image in their own mind? Is it possible in this way to create two simultaneous planes of action, one in the mind and one on the screen? If it is possible, which video devices could be employed to achieve it? Would the result be that it locates the viewer inside rather than outside of the work.
Jo Thomas’ work often emerges from and responds to particular locations. The work can take place in these locations, reflecting on our relationship with the world around us, particularly our sense of place.
Her current practice based Phd. at Oxford Brookes University; Presencing Place, is an enquiry into the knowing and shaping of place through expanded art practices.
She was recently one of three Berkshire voices alongside Richard Wentworth presenting thoughts on Place, Creativity and Practice for Berkshire Arts Partnership.
Recent exhibitions and events include: On Our Watch with Alex Buhagiar at Gallery 10, Reading and ReOrsa No.2 in Bracknell.
Jo is one third of Figure Ground alongside Jon Adams and Katy Beinart. Figure Ground developed from the Arts Councils’ Art Plus Award Scheme and explores ways networking and working outside with artists in the public realm. http://fig1-ground.blogspot.com/
She is based in Reading where she is part time lecturer at Thames Valley University. For more about work by
Vicky Vergou was born in Greece in 1964. In Athens she studied Fine Arts, Film Studies and Graphic Design at Vacalo School of Design. In 2000 she moved to England and did an MA in Oxford Brookes University in Contemporary Arts and Music.
Vicky’s work has been exhibited in London, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, in a number of places including Ovada Gallery, Oxford Town Hall Gallery, The Vale and Download Museum as well as in Athens at EPASKT (Association of Athens School of Fine Art Graduates). She has also taken part in the London Greek Film Festival and Athens Video Art Festival. She has worked as a scriptwriter, film editor, and director of photography, a graphic designer and an art teacher. She also works with a broad range of people running workshops and art activities. For more about work by Vicky Vergou click here >>
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