Linking Forms for University of Derby

The sculpture by Laura Ellen Bacon and Rachel Carter is complete and ready for it’s unveiling at the University of Derby on Tuesday 28th September 2010.

The journey has been a new experience for me, working in collaboration with another artist who works in the same field of willow weaving. When the university asked us both if we would consider working together it was easy to say yes straight away. I have a lot of respect for Laura and her very impressive career which I have followed with a keen interest. Her style of weaving two withies together with knots would be a great contrast to the open twisted weave of my own style.

When we both arrived on site earlier this week, it was a bit of a tentative start with lots of stops and starts attempting to find a way to unite the two weaving styles, we began by starting on opposite ends of the sculpture and working towards each other. By the following day the flow of the sculpture began to take shape as more and more willow was added. The final day saw a large change in the method of working, we had become more comfortable with each other and our different styles of weaving. To prevent the sculpture having a Laura side and a Rachel side we decided to swap over and work on each others areas. This worked incredibly well as this allowed the two styles to blend with each other, and most importantly prevent each artist in becoming too protective of each section. 

The final result shows a sculpture that is truly collaborative with each artist style marrying together seamlessly to create a willow sculpture that flows through the metal panels with a fluid motion.

All that is to come is the unveiling to the Universities guests, students and press on Tuesday, it is always fascinating to hear how people perceive your work, and this will be no exception as we will hopefully get to hear what people think of a collaborative piece of work.

Watch out for sneak peeks of the sculpture and the final images to follow shortly. 

Sculpture for Derby Uni

Last week the three large panels that make up part of ‘Linking Forms’ have been installed by HTF Stainless Steel and are now awaiting Laura and myself to weave lots of willow withies into, through and around the structures.

Although I have not seen the panels installed, I did visit the fabricators to take a look at them in production and they looked amazing. Working with fabricators is something I am really enjoying as I have mentioned in previous postings, but it still amazes me to see something that I have drawn on a scrap of paper turned into a sculptural piece of work.

For the rest of this week Laura and I will be weaving on site and images will be posted during to give little sneak peeks of the progress. The final unveiling will take place on the 28th of September so you will have to wait until then to see the finished work.

Sculpture for Derby up date

The collaboration between Laura Ellen Bacon and Myself is ticking on nicely, the final sketch for the sculpture has been agreed upon and work has now begun at the fabricators, (HTF Stainless Steel) to make the three large curved structures. 

During next week at the University of Derby the grounds will be prepared with a large sunken concrete bed for the metal curves to be anchored onto and cables for the lighting installed.

It’s getting very close to the weaving week when Laura and I will be on site weaving into the three curved structures, willow will be held together with small round clasps which will be powder coated in the same bright red as the structures.

 The date has been set for the unveiling ceremony, and invites starting to go out compiling the guest list for the event. 

It’s been a great experience so far working with another artist, and can’t wait to see how things progress over the next few weeks. 

Watch this space!

Rachel Carter New Commission/Collaboration.

Latest commission is for the University of Derby, collaborating with fellow willow artist Laura Ellen Bacon, to create a sculpture for the entrance of the University grounds.

After meeting with Laura and swapping stories and portfolios we decided to approach this project in a new way, to leave behind our own individual practices using woven willow, and to come up with a completely new method of working with willow.

Colour was also a factor that was discussed, as the majority of our work is very natural and uses little or no additional colour. This collaboration is a true oppurtunity to experiment with something new.

We also considered the University, it has three campuses spanning across Derbyshire, the logo of the university shows three hills, and of course the most important part, the students both past present and future that pass through the Universities doors.

The proposed sculpture is a large installation featuring three large curved structures, these structures will be made from sheet steel and perforated with a variety of holes. Coloured with powder coating, the perforated steel structures will be connected by thick strands of willow that will intertwine the structures, flowing through the holes in a continuous stream of willow. 

The structures represent the strength of the University, a large entity that the students, represented by the stream of willow, pass through. 

‘Linking Forms’ (the working title) will be unveiled at the University of Derby’s, Kedleston Road Campus in September 2010.

To find out more about Laura Ellen Bacon work see www.lauraellenbacon.com

To find out more about the University of Derby see www.derby.ac.uk