Helen Fletcher

Artists Briefs

(Ceramic Sculpture)

Sunday 8th and Monday 9th October only

OS grid ref: 1: SD 287 715 & 2: SD 275 745
Day 1: Morecome Bay beach between baycliff and aldingham (various parking opportunities off A5087 coastal road to barrow, but particularly at aldingham) The pieces can be found washed up on the shore near the wallsThere is a bus route along this road, that stops at baycliff and aldingham.
Day 2: Birkrigg CommonFrom the A590 in Ulverston, follow signs out towards swarthmoor and beyond. Keep on this road until you pass over a cattlegrid and the edge of the common will be visible in front of you. Alternatively, catch the bus to bardsea, and walk up the road on your right as you enter sea wood (as you are heading south) Follow this road up onto the common, walk up to the high ground and over the top. The pieces can be found scattered by the wind on the line of rocks which will become visible as you gain higher ground on the north side of the common.

HELEN EXPLORES HER AMUSEMENT AT THE NOTION OF THE ARTISTS BRIEF, IT MAKES HER THINK OF ARTISTS BRIEFS…ARTISTS PANTS…AND QUESTION WHETHER ART IS BRIEF?...OR INDEED PANTS? PLAYING ON THE CULTURAL INTEREST WITH WOMENS UNDERWEAR, AND THE SUSPICION WITH WHICH A FEMALE WHO THINKS IS TREATED, THE BRIEFS PROVIDE AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ART OF VARIOUS FEMALE ARTISTS. THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN CAST INTO THE WIND, TO BE STUMBLED UPON IN PLACES AND AT TIMES WHEN YOU ARE MAYBE LEAST EXPECTING IT. BY PLACING THE BRIEFS INITIALLY ON THE BEACH YOU WONDER WHERE HAVE THEY ARRIVED FROM? AN UNKNOWN SOURCE, BUILDING A SENSE OF QUESTIONING AMONGST THE AUDIENCE…WILL THEY EVEN SEE THEM AMONGST THE OTHER STUFF WASHED UP? MOVING THE PIECES UP LAND IS AN ACT OF REVERENCE, SALVAGING THESE ITEMS AND PLACING THEM IN THE OPEN TO BE VIEWED…IF THE ONLY WAY TO BE NOTICED IS IN YOUR UNDERWEAR, WHY NOT HAVE SOMETHING THERE TO BE NOTICED. THE USE OF CERAMICS IS A REFERENCE TO ARCHAEOLOGY AND FOSSILS - THIS INFORMATION IS OUT THERE, AND WILL STAY OUT THERE, IT JUST NEEDS TO BE FOUND AND GIVEN ATTENTION. THE HARDNESS OF THE MATERIAL WILL FOOL THE VIEWER INTO THINKING THE PANTS ARE FLIMSY AND DELICATE - BUT THEY ARE HARD AND TOUGH, LIKE THE WOMEN AND IDEAS THEY REPRESENT.

HELENS WORK HAS RECENTLY SHIFTED FOCUS FROM THE HUMAN BODY AND CONDITION, TO THE OBJECTS AND ADORNMENTS WE SURROUND AND DEFINE OURSELVES WITH…WHAT DO THEY BECOME WHEN THE PHYSICAL BODY IS REMOVED? WHAT DO THEY REPRESENT OR PORTRAY? DO THEY MEAN ANYTHING AT ALL?