Saturday 4 May 2013

Dust artist Mary Partridge's AMA talk


In her talk at Victoria House, Leamington Spa, Mary gave us a rare insight into the background of artistic development which led her to being the accomplished dust artist she is today.
Having created art for as long as she can remember alongside the ups and downs of family life, Mary’s early work began with life drawing. Attending the Access to Fine Art Course at Warwickshire College changed all that. It opened her eyes to new artistic experiences, especially at the sculpture classes led by Mark Taylor. Touching things, construction, deconstruction and creating art from almost anything turned Mary’s work in a new direction.


After graduating from Birmingham City University Mary would often be found playing around with and constructing sculpture and installations from all manner of objects discovered gathering dust in her garage. A most memorable example was a piece created for the ‘Safe House’ exhibition in North Hall with art group ‘The Edge’ constructed from parts of a cot, chair and an ironing board. 

Mary had always visited churches and had a particular fascination with Anglo-Saxon churches. Using old maps and plans, she created different coloured pastel drawings depicting the growth and changes of these churches throughout the centuries. Recalling her Mother’s stories of the war, one in particular made an impression on her work. Coming out from the air raid shelter after the bombing of Coventry cathedral, everywhere was covered in red dust from the sandstone of the buildings. Mary then used turmeric, cayenne pepper and other powders to create transient maps of churches and cathedrals on the floor, which reminded me of the strong colours often used by Anish Kapoor. 
Finally, Mary decided on talcum powder as her medium. She discovered its fine molecules helped stick it to the ground for longer. Mary was able to place her work on Coventry Cathedral outside The Herbert Art Gallery for Remembrance Day. She went back each week to create a new one over four weeks.
Having found a medium she loved, more work followed in the form of messages, often humorous, in public places.

I particularly enjoyed ‘Things Happen’ outside Leamington Police Station and on a bridge ‘Stomach in, Shoulders back’. Further developments in her practice, and a studio at Althorpe Studios, enabled Mary to create very large block printed canvases. These were arranged on the floor of All Saint’s Church, Leamington Spa for Heritage weekend.Mary enjoys talking to people about her pieces and seeing their reactions to her work. Some people will walk straight over them as if they are not there and others will avoid stepping on them by walking around them. When created with talcum powder, women especially find them evocative as they sniff the air.

For Warwickshire Open Studios, word has spread of Mary’s house and gardens. Visitors flock to see and are amazed by the abundance of art and artifacts in her house and her wacky garden, with a pond, chickens and a folly. She is opening her house again this year for open
 Studios so make a note to pay her a visit. http://warwickshireopenstudios.org/artistsevents/magic-at-marys.aspx
Also she is exhibiting with contemporary art group ‘The Edge’ at the Electric Railway Museum at Baginton, another must see. http://warwickshireopenstudios.org/artistsevents/the-edge.aspx
Mary’s most recent activities involve negatives and church plans, and she is trying a new technique and seeing where it leads. We wait with excitement….

Grace Newman


Mary Partridge is a member of UK Artists.
See more of Mary's work here: https://www.ukartistsonline.com/artist-profile.aspx?artist=Mary%20Partridge%20Installation

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