Dream Catchers...

Dream Catchers are handmade objects that are traditionally decorated with feathers and beads. People believe that dream catchers are symbols used in which they protect people from bad dreams; these charms are traditionally placed above a bed. The symbol of a dream catcher has remained the same even though the original meaning has differed. Even though some people think that dream catchers change a person’s dream, I’ve had my dream catcher for a few months now and my bad dreams haven’t disappeared, I think it’s all down to a person belief in the object. The structure of the dream catcher is beautifully presented with the feathers lightly dangling and moving by wind and movement.  

Ann Goddard, 'Under Concrete'...

This installation was impressive by its presentation and how many pieces were there. The contrast in materials intrigue me, Ann Goddard uses thick concrete that captures the fragility of the fine felted cotton paper used. The neutral coloured paper in contrast to the dark, dullness of the concrete screams a distinction that wants to be known. Ann Goddard uses her chosen materials to represent and “make reference to the fragility and vulnerability of ecosystems”. In most of her work Ann Goddard uses assemblies of materials that show the human impact on landscapes.

 

Jean Draper, 'Falling-Fallen'...

The structure of these pieces is what fascinated me to them, the way the ‘branches’ lie uncontrollably and loose on top of each other- the name seems appropriate. The ‘twigs’ look burnt with some areas of the ‘twigs’ reddish, the ‘branches ‘ fall unsystematically on one another creating heaps of what looks like to be burnt ‘branches’. Jean Draper used this exhibition to represent the thousands of trees that lay to waste by a devastating forest fire.

 

Paddy Killer, '26@62+26 snippets'...

Paddy Killer has been a member of the 62 group for over 26 years so for this exhibition she created 26 life-size snippets of previous pieces that she has exhibited over this period of time. Paddy Killer illustrates her work using her drawing and painting skills and bonding these individual squares on silk. I like the contrast between the delicacies of the silk fabric against the sharp detail from the snippets. I was amazed when looking at these detailed snippets, she controls her drawings to the finest detail, a lot of time and patience must have gone into this. This piece does not have a function. This piece is different to what I normally like, this piece is flat, does not have a function, contains only detailed drawings, however, I do like the idea of this piece telling the artists journey through time.

Shuna Rendel, 'Pleated Rhythm 2'...

I have previously seen Shuna Rendel’s work before exhibited in the Oldham Gallery and I was inspired by it from then on, so to my surprise more of her work was exhibited in the Holden Gallery with similar aspects to it. ‘Pleated Rhythm 2’ presents repetition of the pleats that are constantly twisting and folding, the chosen colour palette is harmonious and natural looking this fits in with the material used. Shuna Rendel explores flexibility and movement in every possible way; she makes simple line and form and transforms it into excitement just by exploiting materials flexibility. Its structure changes movement through manipulating the material and simple actions of twisting, pulling, turning etc.

'Peace'...

“Nature can be inspiring and can help people to deal with personal difficulties. Cranes are large birds that feature in the legends of many cultures. In China and Japan they symbolise long life and good luck. There is a story that if you fold a thousand paper cranes your wish will come true. Sadako Sasalki was a young girl when an atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, in 1945. She became ill because of the radiation from the bomb. Sadako wanted to be healthy again so she tried to fold a thousand paper cranes. There is a story that Sadako’s friends and classmates helped her fold the paper cranes. Sadako said of the cranes “I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world”. Today, paper cranes are the international symbol of peace”.

 

Manchester Museum- Butterflies...

Most butterflies are large and have bright and colourful wings that are generally noticed and used for their motifs of their wings in art subjects. Butterflies have a structured life cycle that is designed for their growth and evolvement; the wings are structured for movability. The four winged insects are characterised by their scale-covered wings, the scales are attached loosely and often come un-attached without harming the insect, and scales are formed by light and pigments. Butterfly wings decay with age and cannot be repaired. Butterflies were used by many cultures especially by Egyptians who used butterflies on temples, buildings, carvings and jewellery. Butterflies as symbols differ from what they represent by how many is seen.