Jacky Edwards

People’s stories fascinate me. The ordinary and extra-ordinary. I am drawn by our wonderful differences whilst celebrating our sameness of thoughts, fears, hopes and aspirations. Glass offers me a medium that replicates the human condition–sometimes glossy, bright, clear, and very strong, but in other forms brittle, opaque, fragile, vulnerable. I hope to give people pause, opportunities to recognise our similarities, differences, and connections; the challenge of living together and the benefit of the collaborative collective.

 

Yvette Bartlett

Exploring how the internal can become visible is a major theme around my prints and paintings; from a process led perspective and manipulation of paint and inks, experimentation plays an important role in creating a final image. The journey from idea or concept to the final piece is what l find compelling. This is our initial exploration, glass pages for creative enquiry, leading to the responses in print

The brief: earth, sea, sky gave rise to conversations about the world, the globe and disparate experiences within it, leading to consideration of the start of the refugee journey.

 

World Journey reflects, in sketchbook form, our thoughts on living in the world today - the physical and emotional human struggle that can lead to decisions as an individual, parent or family, to undertake a potentially horrific, yet hopeful journey, with no certainty of success.

 

We hope the book like the person, survives the journey.  The hand formed glass leaves are deliberately thin, rough, and uneven reflecting fragile and uncertain circumstances. The prints are tacked onto handmade ephemeral paper.  Soft leather binding as straps like lifelines should hold all secure. The re purposed red leather cover reflecting both the marks of the journey, high emotion, and the emblem of the RNLI.

 

Conversations between us as glass artist and printmaker reflecting our own paths of enquiry, are illustrated by notes on the hand formed glass with etching responses at each stage – a Wonderful World moves into a desire for Sanctuary, the emotional Wrench of leaving, Lies told by people and organisations along the way, finally to Flee to what next.

Mixed Media | Glass, Handmade Paper  2022

50x2.5x25cm