ROSALIND DAVIS

COPYRIGHT © 2011 CHANTELLE PURCELL

For information please contact: Chantelle May Purcellchantelle_may@hotmail.co.ukOr Rosalind Davis

Image on the cover: Recover, from ‘After the Storm Series’, Oil & mixed media on cotton, 90 x 70 cm

COPYRIGHT © 2011 CHANTELLE PURCELL

For information please contact: Chantelle May Purcellchantelle_may@hotmail.co.ukOr Rosalind Davis

Image on the cover: Recover, from ‘After the Storm Series’, Oil & mixed media on cotton, 90 x 70 cm

Rosalind Davis’ creates mixed media paintings ex-ploring the power and presence of seemingly barren urban landscapes. Their historical, social and political backgrounds are sutured into architectural dimensions. Rosalind’s stitches and brushstrokes repair and give sub-stance, providing scaffolding to what lies beneath and within structural urban design. The environments she rep-resents are but support structures, as the artist envisions the identities and the human experiences that animate the edifices;

‘I was struck by the richness of her paintings – equally in terms of their spatial compression and otherwordliness, their conceptual meshing of the social and the roman-tic, the social disused or run-down buildings are mended and/or supported through stitching, as well as being somewhat transformed when their painted surfaces melt into, soak and stain the meticulously printed backdrop.’

Becky Hunter

The textiles not only provide cultural and historical links to the eras of the buildings but equally emphasize the fra-gility of the spaces, the people therein and the discon-certing juxtaposition between aesthetics and meaning.

“Rosalind’s work combines different strands of a wide ranging English tradition of the Arts, including the arts and crafts movements.

For the last few years Rosalind has pursued a synthesis of different practices and different. Due to the very nature of embroidery the surface becomes heightened due to the physicality of the stitching and the nature of the objects is inevitably complex.

Rosalind Davis is a graduate from the RCA (2005) and Chelsea College of Art (2003) She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally including Salon 08, The Clare Morris Open, the Grieve and Samaritans Art Prize, Fringe MK Painting Prize, The London Art Fair and had solo shows at Julian Hartnoll, John Jones, Deptford X and The Residence Gallery all in London.

Davis was commissioned for the first fine art exhibition at The Roundhouse in 2009 which then toured to Brussels to the Theatre Opt De Markt (the International Circus and Theatre Festival).

In 2010 Davis was selected for the Ludlow Summer open by Lara Grieve, The Jerwood Foundation and David

ARTIST STATEMENT

Roberts, The Alan Cristea Gallery and has also been selected for the Ing Discerning Eye Exhibition and The UK Young Artists Event as well as having a solo show with Salon Projects.

Davis’ blog on Artist’s talking provides a ‘perceptive and illuminating insight into the trials and tribulations artists face’ has received much acclaim, on visual arts direc-tory a-n ( www.a-n.co.uk) winning the accolade of 2009’s blog of the year and selected as choice blogs of the month more than once

Davis is a lecturer and creative practitioner; speaking at The Stroud International Textiles Festival, University of The Arts and the London Fringe and teaches at University of the Arts, West Dean College, Phoenix Brighton, The Tower of London and Transport for London amongst others.

Rosalind is also gallery manager and in-house curator of Core Gallery, an artist led space in Deptford, London which has a dynamic exhibition and educational programme showcasing international artists and cura-tors.

Davis’s works will be on loan to to The Courtald Institute from 2012 to 2014, in the East Wing Biennial Exhibition.

www.rosalinddavis.co.uk/www.coregallery.co.uk

Reclaim, 2011, oil and mixed media on linen, 90 x 70 cm

Rebuild, from ‘After the Storm Series’, 2011, Oil & mixed media on cotton, 90 x 60 cm

“With this inside/outside view of buildings, Rosalind almost supersedes the buildings themselves with the materials that could be seen on the inside. I have often seen this with demolished buildings, a set of fireplaces against the wall of the neighbouring building, remnants of wallpaper all that is left of a place that was a home.”

JULIA ALvAREz, JUNE 2010

“Rosalind produces sophisticated and purposeful work which creates a tension between embellishments (embroidery) and depiction (painting), sensuality and awkwardness. Modifying the decorative aspects and tradition of embroidery from its original purpose.”

GRAHAM CROWLEY, NOvEMBER 2010

Far right: Lewisham Centre. London, Oil and embroidery on cotton, 65 x 95 cm

Ardwick, Manchester, Oil and embroidery on cotton, 70 cm x 95 cm

The Island of 22, Embroidery on damask, 30 x 40 cm

Rosalind’s works seem to rise from the depressive position, in which ambivalent encounters with reality are tested, dreams of (Utopian, urban) perfection mourned, and the objects and people we relate to eventually accepted as neither blissfully ideal, nor entirely harmful. Amongst other ma-terial clues, these paintings figure that struggle in terms of the stitch, a piercing, destructive action that is reformed, with prac-tice, into the work of mending and strengthening.

Becky Hunter, 2010

The Watchtower, Embroidery on Damask, 25 x 30 cm

Into the Wild Part I, 2011, Oil and Embroidery and collage on cotton, 30 x 40cm

FAR RIGHT: Recover, from ‘ After the Storm Series’, 2011 Oil & mixed media on cotton, 90 x 60 cm

Well Hall Road, Oil and embroidery on cotton , (The Coronet cinema in Eltham, not currently in use) 100 x 120 cm

8,000 Souls. Part II, Oil and embroidery on cotton, 60 x 40 cm (8,000 Souls is the second painting of the Ayelsbury Estate in Elephant and castle. 8,000 people lived here. It is soon to be demolished).

"Davis is an artist of true talent, whose mixed media works show an intuitive and expert use of paint, materials and composition. The houses and buildings in the paintings, often seen from mid-distance and obscured by trees and foliage, hint at unsettling goings-on, disasters or subterfuge to come (or are about to occur). "

Stephen Beddoe

The Circus Playground, Mixed media, Acrylic, Mixed media, appliqué on cotton satin, 85 x 65 cmFAR RIGHT: Into the Wild Part Iv, 2011, Oil and Embroidery on Cotton, 30x40cm

EDUCATION

2005 MA, Mixed Media Textiles, Royal College of Arts,2003 BA ( Hons) Textiles, Chelsea College of Art,

CURRENT & FORTHCOMING EXHIBITIONS

2011 Home, (Curating and exhibiting) Core Gallery, c101 Faircharm Trading Estate, London (6th-15th October)2012 East Wing Biennial Exhibition, works shall be on loan to The Courtald Institute from 2012 to 2014

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2010 Belong, SouthBank Arts Centre, Bedford College, MK42 9AH2010 A Difference in vision, 4 Regents Place, Soho, soho 2009 I am Yours, Julian Hartnoll gallery, St James, Piccadilly, London2009 Projection, John Jones, Finsbury Park, London2008 Solace, Milletre, Kensington Mews, London2008 Inheritance, The Stephen Lawrence Centre, Terrace Area, 39 Brookmill rd, Deptford2007 We Were Here Once, The Residence Gallery, East London

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2011 Artworks Open, Artworks Project Space, Barbican Arts 2011 Group Trust, Blackhorse lane, London, E172011 Twisted, Phoenix Brighton Gallery, Brighton2011 Brief Permanence, Artgene, Barrow in Furness2011 Deliverance,, CoExist Arts, The Old Water Works, North road,, Southend on Sea, SS0 7AB2011 In The Current Climate, Core Gallery, Deptford2011 (Darling) You Send Me, Galerie Bigger and Better Space, vienna2011 Domus Pro vir, Core Gallery, Deptford, London, SE8 3DX2011 Bite The Hand That Feeds, 41 Bank Chambers, 25 Jermyn Street,, London2011 Stark Projects, Delhi, India2010 The Lynn Painters Stainers Prize, Stainers Hall, 2010 Monument, london, touring to W. H. Patterson Gallery, 19 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BB Relay, Core gallery, Deptford, London, SE8 3DX2010 The Ing Discerning Eye Exhibition, Mall Galleries, Piccadilly, London2010 UK Young Artists Event, Déda, Chapel St,, Derby, DE1 3GU2010 ENGLAND’S GLORY: THE ART OF FOOTBALL, gallery 27, 27 cork street, Mayfair (more info)2010 The Truth Is Rarely Pure and Never Simple, Nolias Gallery, Southwark, London (more info)

2010 Wilderness, Core Gallery, Deptford, London2010 The Truth Is Rarely Pure and Never Simple, Nolias Gallery, Southwark, London2010 London Art Fair, with Long and Ryle Gallery, Islington, London2009 Fraction, Cor Blimey Arts, deptford2009 Alchemy and open studios for Deptford X, Cor Blimey Arts/Deptford X, deptford 2009 2021, British Art Fair with Long and Ryle Gallery, The Royal College of Art, London2009 Floorplan, Phoenix Brighton Gallery, Brighton2009 Remembered Landscapes, Long and Ryle, Pimlico, London2009 From Light to Dust, The Roundhouse, London2009 Transience, Shunt, London2009 Rummage, Cafe Gallery Projects/ Bermondsey Artists Group, Cafe Gallery, Southwark Park, London2009 Contemporary Art Projects, London Art Fair, London2008 Start Your Collection, Contemporary Art Projects, London2008 The Distance Between, Signal Gallery, London2008 00 Nature, Contemporary Art Projects, 20 Rivington st, London (more info)2008 DNA at Form London, Olympia Exhibition Centre, London

2008 Salon 08, vINEspace, East London2007 Clare Morris Open 2007, various. County Mayo., Ireland2007 Identity, Bath Fringe Festival, The Old Postal Museum, 8 Broad Street, Bath (more info)2007 London Art Fair with Long and Ryle Gallery, London, Islington Business Design Centre, London2006 DiverseRCA, RCA, Kensington Gore, London2006 Hothouse Open, Hothouse, 274 Richmond Road, London Fields2006 Straordinary Lines, Rosalind Davis and Peter Davis, Somerset Maugham Gallery, Horsebridge Art Centre, Whitstable2006 His (and Her) Dark Materials, Rosalind Davis and Paul Maffrett, The Empire Gallery, London, E8 (more info)2006 The Sefton Open, Atkinson Art Gallery, Lord St, Merseyside2006 Open Arts Competition, Black Swan Arts, Frome2005 Hidden Art, The Salt Gallery, Cornwall2005 Swansea Fringe Festival, Exposure Art Gallery, Swansea2005 Like Nowhere Else, Royal College of Art, London2005 Urban Outfitters Graduate Show, Urban Outfitters, South Kensington, London2005 Hidden Art @SALT, 57 Fore St, Copperhouse, Hayle, Cornwall

CURATED PROJECTS

2011 Salon video Prize, Matt Roberts Arts, London 2011 Extra-Ordinary: Marion Michell, Tom Butler and Alyson Helyer, Core Gallery, London2011 Salon Photo Prize, Matt Roberts Arts, London

ARTIST TALKS (FORTHCOMING)

2011 DIY Educate: Blogs and Social 2011 Networks, Core Gallery, Deptford2011 Core Gallery, Core Gallery, Deptford2011 Show and Tell Artist Talk: Lucy Austin, Core Gallery, Deptford2011 Show and Tell Artist Talk: Edwina Ashton, Core Gallery, Deptford2011 DIY Educate: How to sustain your practice as an artist and getting paid, Core Gallery, Deptford2011 Show and Tell Artist Talk: Freddie Robins, Core Gallery, Deptford2011 DIY Educate: DIY Exhibitions, Core Gallery, Deptford

ARTIST TALKS

2011 Surviving After Art School, Hackney

2011 Exchange Project Space, London2011 DIY Educate: Show and Tell Programme 2011 Core Gallery, Deptford (more info)2010 Getting Started as a Fine Artist, University of the Arts, London2010 Professional Practice, London Fringe 2010 Festival, Phoenix Arts Club, Charing Cross road, London2010 Artists in Dialogue with Graham Crowley, Core Gallery, Deptford, London2010 Selling at Your Show, ECCA, LCF, University of the Arts, London2009 HeadSpace, PHOENIX BRIGHTON, brighton2009 Stroud International Textiles Festival, The 2009 Museum in the Park, Stroud2008 Artist’s Talk, The Stephen Lawrence Centre, Deptford2008 Guest Speaker. Professional Development, University of the Arts, London

WORKSHOPS

2009 The Big Draw. Innovative drawing exercises, The Tower of London, London2009 Mixed media workshop for teacher inset Training, Royal Boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, London2008 Mixed media Workshop; Environment and land scape, The Stephen Lawrence Centre, London

CORPORATE COMMISSIONS

2007 Paintings added to Corporate collection, Health Professions Council, London

PROJECTS

2011 AIR Council Member, http://www.a-n.co.uk/air/, Nationwide

COMPETITIONS, PRIzES AND AWARDS

2011 Elected to AIR Council, Nationwide, http://www.a-n.co.uk/air/article/862237/4693922010 Choice blog of 2009, a-n, Newcastle Educational experience - primary2009 Mixed media workshop: embroidery and drawing, Brighton Phoenix gallery and Same Sky Arts, Brighton2009 Exhibition Discussion and Mixed media workshop, The Roundhouse and Castlehaven Community Centre, Camden, London2007 City Gallery in leeds and creative partnerships matched me to a Primary School In Leeds, City Gallery /Creative Partnerships, Leeds

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE - SECONDARY

2009 The Big Draw, The Tower of London, Tower of

London2008 Mixed media Workshop; Environment and landscape, The Stephen Lawrence Centre, Deptford, London

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE - TERTIARY

2009 Associate Lecturer for BA Fashion and textiles, Ashford School of Art and Design, Ashford, Kent2008 Associate Lecturer. 2008 onwards, Bedford College, Bedford

WEB LINKS - GALLERY/WORK/PROJECTS

www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/579530 www.coregallery.co.uk www.rosalinddavis.co.uk

WEB LINKS - ARTICLE/PRESS

www.a-n.co.uk/interface/reviews/single/556131 bit.ly/Projectionreview An interview with Rosalind Davis on Oh Goodness Greatness www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/579530 www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/article/587497 www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/article/1216515 Core Gallery Interview with Rosalind Davis

Image: Dreamland Welcomes You, 2009, mixed media on vintage scarf, 60 x 60 cms