#artistsupportpledge

ARTIST SUPPORT PLEDGE

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many artists have found themselves without work, teaching, technical support and gallery work. Exhibitions and sales have disappeared. In an attempt to help alleviate some of this stress Matthew Burrows has instigated the ARTIST SUPPORT PLEDGE #artistsupportpledge

 The concept is a simple one. Artists post images of their work, on Instigram which they are willing to sell for no more than £200 each (not including shipping). Anyone can buy the work. Every time an artist reaches £1000 of sales, they pledge to spend £200 on another artist/s work.

To make a pledge, I post my work with the #artistsupportpledge on Instagram.
I often offer pieces at a reduced price for this pledge, so head over and have a look.. it has been an absolute life saver for me as basically my whole summer has been cancelled, galleries are closed, and the only opportunity for an income is selling online.
I am very grateful and humbled by the supportive response and generosity in the past weeks!

#supportartists #covid19 #coronavirus #livegenerously 

ARTIST SUPPORT PLEDGE was set up by Matthew Burrows on the 16th March 2020 in response to the COVID19 pandemic. Since he posted his first image and wrote those fateful words 'I pledge' it has become a global movement towards a generous culture and economy in support of artists and makers.

 

The project uses social media platform Instagram, which is a popular platform for artists to post images and share their work. Artists and makers can post their images using #artistsupportpledge giving details of their works and price (no more than £200 or equivelent). If people are interested in buying, they message (DM) the artist. Anyone can buy the work and artists don't need permission to join. 

Every time an artist reaches £1,000 of sales, they pledge to buy £200 of work from other artist(s).

Winter work residency in Germany

For the first time this year I have spent January/February in Germany, working in a beautiful studio with access to a large kiln.

This time of the year is usually the quiet time of my year, after Christmas and before the summer shows begin. I am very fortunate that my dear mother Susanne is an excellent ceramicist, and she happened to be away all January (find her website here). So house/cat sitting and being able to have access to her studio seemed like the perfect idea. It is a great place to work without being distracted.. the house and studio are located on the edge of a tiny village in the south west of Germany. There are no shops, no pub, nothing. The perfect work environment.

I went with a rough plan of action.. I wanted to revisit free standing animal sculptures. I worked mainly with local iron rich clay, which I hadn’t really used before. In a way it felt like starting afresh, with an open mind, with no pressures in the background of deadlines and such. I just had time to try out the ideas I had piling up in the background for the past two years. With sculpting everyday there was routine, and with routine there came freedom. I was able to build up a new body of work for this upcoming season which I am excited about!

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Wild Clay

I rent a small studio on the edge of Dartmoor in the National Park. Here I create my sculptures. The place is in the middle of nowhere in the Teighn valley, surrounded by woodlands, countless birds, the river Teign and a lake nearby. I find a lot of inspiration roaming my surroundings, where I find space to reflect and gather new ideas. I recently discovered two sources of clay by the river, right next to each other. One is rich in iron, the other looks grey. I am running several experiments at the moment using the two clays in their pure form, and mixed with my studio clay. My hope is to end up with a dark red clay which is able to fire up to stoneware temperature. I love the idea to make use of these local materials. they bring a whole new dimension to my work.