Wirral artist wins place in Olympic celebrations (From Wirral Globe)
Send us news by text, start your message Globe News and your send photos and videos to 80360
Wirral artist wins place in Olympic celebrations
1:45pm Thursday 12th July 2012 in Sport By Craig Manning
Station Manager Rob Hamill after she was announced as the winner. Picture: MFRS
A WIRRAL artist will have her work displayed in London during the Olympic games after winning a national competition.
Catherine Harrison from West Kirby, was among four artists who took part in workshops supported by Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, shortlisted in the My Place on the Isle competition.
They took place at the Service's Training and Development Academy in Croxteth.
Entrants were asked to capture a snapshot of British Diaspora creative talent in the run-up to the Olympics.
Catherine, 28, won Best British Student category in which her sculpture, Society of Thorns, was shortlisted along with two others.
Her work will be displayed in London's Mica Gallery from July 30 to September 8, coinciding with the Olympic summer.
Catherine, who now lives in the city, said: "I can't believe that I won. It's brilliant.
"It's fantastic and an amazing opportunity. I never thought I would get this opportunity.
"This would not have happened without the help and support of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service.
"In the first workshop we discussed and debated our thoughts on what faith and identity meant to us.
"We talked about our life experiences, which was very interesting, as we were all from different backgrounds.
"There were some amazing artists on our workshops with fascinating stories.
"The second workshop we brought our ideas together for the artwork we wanted to create and discussed those with the group. The third workshop was all about presenting our work."
Catherine has displayed her artwork in Liverpool in June 2011, as part of her foundation degree.
Since graduating she has also displayed her work in a group exhibition in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.
Speaking about her work being displayed in the Mica Gallery, she said: "It's absolutely amazing. I was blown away when I found out, what an opportunity."
Society of Thorns sees nails driven through a metal bowl.
Catherine said: "Working with the theme of faith and identity has made me question the society we live in today.
"I have tried to harness these feelings by producing this sculpture, speaking about religion and my upbringing."
The winners were selected by judging panel that included Professor Ben Quash, Chair of Christian Art at King's College, Cambridge, Rachel Campbell-Johnston, Chief Art Critic at The Times, Roxane Zand, Director of Middle Eastern Art, Sothebys, and Venetia Porter The British Museum.
Comments(6)
jimiharr82
says...
9:02pm Fri 13 Jul 12
kmka
says...
3:32pm Thu 19 Jul 12
Art these days is whatever you can get away with. Do you really think this stands up against Michaelangelos David or Da Vincis last supper?
What will archeologists think when this is unearthed? Will it be on display next to the Venus de millo?
In my opinion this is Tracy Emin art at its worst.
Please take a look at the work of Dirk Dzimirsky, who is a true talented artist.
jimiharr82
says...
3:25pm Sun 22 Jul 12
I really have to question the motives of someone who patrols a newspaper website, for signs of anything they can use in an attempt to create a platform to parade their ideas/preferences which they presume has the value of ultimate truth (which in this case there is no ultimate truth,only subjective perception based on the scope of imagination and the grasp of the topics which it relates to). You have a preference,and others have theirs, so why hijack a news article just to pat your own preferences on the back?
I don't claim to know much about art, but I'm not an intellectual elitist, and I know what I like, and I like this.
kmka
says...
12:28pm Tue 24 Jul 12
jimiharr82
says...
2:59pm Tue 24 Jul 12
Talent in the North West region is already massively under reported,without one of our own attempting to discredit it!
Again,your comments, although under the claim of opinion, come dangerously close to absolutism. There are some things that some people just aren't keen on,and will never see the benefit of, (Through growth,knowledge and experience,sometimes people's preferences can change). None of this however gives them license to openly criticise someone in the public domain over their work.
Seriously, try and be more open minded. If you can't, then see it as your own failing, not the artists!
kmka says...
3:45pm Thu 12 Jul 12