Top floor studio in Newport Pagnell
Studio Manse
Gallery / Meeting Room at Studio Manse
Top floor studio in Newport Pagnell
Artist's Statement
Whether working in thread, pen or tape, I investigate line. The relationship between a solid line, an ephemeral shadow, or a block of colour. Each has a relationship to its neighbour and the surface it inhabits, and it is that connectivity that I play with. I work instinctively. I take ideas that please or intrigue me and play with them, and with each mark I become more subsumed into the piece, distracted from the everyday allowing a calming of the mind and a steady hand and soul. Whilst most of my current work is created over hours, days and weeks, a few are quickly produced and as quickly discarded.
Creating sometimes short-lived site specific installations, I react to my surroundings, whether it is architecture or an atmosphere. The tape spreads over walls and floors, creating a vista with added anamorphic elements requiring viewer participation. As quickly as these sometimes performative installations are conceived they are destroyed with both creation and destruction becoming part of the ephemerality of the artwork.
Each pen and ink piece is a meditation. Instinctively I make the lines and a theme continues into a series, staying within the rules of the initial work. Creating rules, however simple, allows development and a possible conclusion but what the outcome will be is only known when an outcome is reached. Only working in black and sepia ink, pen gives me a freedom to explore and experiment in depth, rhythm and movement.
The thread work of recent years gives lines fresh energy, created within my own rules of pattern, direction, shade. Using both line and geometric shape in cotton and wool, the canvas becomes not merely a backing but an integral part of the work introducing grid patterns the thread can either work with or against.
There is no deep message within my practice; there very rarely has been. Lines takes me somewhere else, physically and metaphysically, leaving a few traces behind me.
Jan Harrington
September 2022
Exhibitions / Installations
2022.
2022 Arts Central Showcase #1 MK Library October
2022. Solo exhibition / open Gallery, Studio Manse, Newport Pagnell
2021-22 Arts for Health MK, MK Hospital corridor install
2021. International Festival MK, Mandela Flags July 21
2020 'Seeing Ourselves' Group exhibition, Arts Central Studios + curation
2020 Arts Central, Corridor Installation, Jan - December
2020 Arts for Health MK, MK Hospital
2019 Platform Graduate Award Show, MK Gallery, Milton Keynes November 7/30
2019 ‘Free Range’ Graduate Show, Truman Brewery, London
2019 Degree Show, UON
2019 ‘Rich Threads’, Project Space, NN Contemporary, Northampton.
2018 CVAN-EM. Annual Event, UON. Invited artist
2018 ‘Ipseity’ Group Show, Avenue Gallery, University of Northampton + curation
2017 Westbury Arts Centre, collaboration with MK College
2017 ‘Forecast’ Arts Festival Delapre Abbey
2010/14 'A Journey without Sleeping' - Head Office, Homebase, Milton Keynes
2006 ‘A Journey without Sleeping’ Solo exhibition, Madcap, Wolverton, Milton
Keynes
2003/06 Acrylic collection exhibited KingsOak Head Office, Milton Keynes
2001/03 Acrylic collection exhibited Group 4 HQ, Milton Keynes
2003/04 Milton Keynes Arts Festival Group exhibitions
Curation
2020 'Seeing Ourselves' Group Exhibition, Arts Central 2020
2018 Ipseity’ Group Show, Avenue Gallery, University of Northampton
2006 'A Journey without Sleeping' Madcap, Milton Keynes 2006 '
Commissions
2002 Newport City Live Arena, Newport, Gwent
2001 Group 4 Regional HQ
1980/2001 Illustrative work for private clients, architectural, flora and fauna
Education
BA (Hons) Fine Art (First) 2016-2019
ACE Milton Keynes A level 1999-2001
Awards
Platform Graduate Award 2019 Alumni. Exhibited as part of this award at Project Space, MK Gallery, November 2019
If you are interested in purchasing any item or would like to have a closer look at my portfolio of work, please email me on janharringtoncollections@gmail.com