Meet The Maker – Martyne Raven

Martyne Raven – artist

When Martyne first heard about this exhibition she was excited at the prospect of being part of it. The work she has created so far for the show has let her explore the side of her that loves collaged images.

Fairies series – Martyne Raven mixed media with stitch

Martyne has transferred some images onto fabric using emulsion paint and image maker. She loves the old feel it gives the images. Martyne has then worked into them using hand and machine embroidery. To embellish them further she has used sequins, buttons and beads, anything she can find that interests her.

Fairies series – Martyne Raven mixed media with stitch

The images are of a girl who was allegedly photographed with some cut out paper fairies; it is quite a well know picture that sparked a big public reaction as to whether the photographs were real or fake and they are still talked about today. Do you think the fairies are real or cut-out paper?

Fairies series – Martyne Raven mixed media with stitch

Fairies and dreams are some of Martyne’s favourite subject matters. A lot of her hand painted/embroidery work does have a dream like quality to it. Her work has been compared to the artist ‘Chagall’ who has images of floating people in some of his paintings. Chagall is one of Martyne’s favourite artists.

Summer Showcase and Garden Party

Summer Showcase invitation

Summer Showcase invitation

Our Summer Showcase will introduce new makers to the gallery from June through until August 2012; celebrating the very best of British Contemporary Craft.

Suet Yi ceramics

At GNCCF October 2011, Heart Gallery was asked to be a prize sponsor and proudly offered an exhibition opportunity to Suet Yi Ceramics which set the ball rolling to find makers that would compliment Suet’s work which is inspired by the beauty of wild flowers, falling leaves, autumn trees and resting birds.

Suet Yi ceramics

Suet Yi ceramics

This showcase will be a delight and a visual feast as Natasha Newton’s painted wood and stones will sit proudly with Suet’s terracotta plates and bird gardens.

Keeping Watch – Natasha Newton

Abstract Seed Pods – Natasha Newton

Complimenting Suet and Natasha’s stunning work we are showcasing ranges from other UK designer/makers inspired by the natural world including the following:

Gold plated Bird Heart Necklace – Alice Stewart

Oxidised silver raven necklace – Anna de Ville

Jewellery range – Belinda Norrington

Hand dyed and hand painted anodised aluminium wall butterflies – Caroline Parrott

Silver jewellery – Caroline Watson

Glass Landscape Dish – Colette Halstead

Ceramic Pumpkins – Fiona Mazza

Peacock Feather Studs – Kirsty O’Donnell

Silver jewellery – Christine Kaltoft

Ceramic submarines – Nicola Cheers

Our Garden Party to celebrate the Best of British is Sunday 01 July, 12pm – 5pm, but work will be on show from Sunday 10 June. Please join us for fizz and nibbles and a mooch around the gallery and garden as part of the amazing Hebden Bridge Arts Festival.

Meet The Maker – Tracie Murchison

Tracie Murchison – artist

Tracie’s work is constructed using her technique of layering silk and paper with wood and combining these materials in unexpected ways to create unique artefacts. She makes choices of the materials and the finishing to give each piece its own individual identity.

Pitcher – mixed media

Tracie explores the contradictions of her chosen materials to create texture with colours that contrast with the smooth hard edges of the wood. She aims to create work that is tactile and has a sense of ‘erosion’ as a result of time and touch. Tracie uses an eclectic mix of materials and colours and look to artefacts, traditional and contemporary, from around the world for form and stance.

Bird on a branch

She draws inspiration from the discarded and weather worn fragments of stone, bone and unexpected treasures in our surroundings. Or from part of an old structure that has countless layers of peeling paint and paper, evidence of the owners that have been and gone. Tracie has previously created a collection of vessels, bowls and teacups using love letters, photographs and fabrics from her Great Aunt Alice. These vessels evoke a bygone age when war and work separated couples whose only form of communication was by letter.

Bowls – mixed media

She is intrigued by the small everyday traces of wear, such as a step worn away, trodden by many people, each on their own journey, not aware they have left a trace behind.

Birds

Heart Gallery is proud to have been carefully chosen by Tracie to showcase her new pieces.