The Screen
Anne Stevesthe [...] space
13 May - 08 June 2014
"The horizon of her mind was limited by the mountain" is a phrase that Anne has been pondering for over a year. It whispered from a page of the novel ‘The Cleft’ by Doris Lessing and asked to be put to use. As Artist in Residence for theGowerCollege and Mission Gallery Partnership, Anne was given the opportunity to return to her place of birth,Swansea, and to create something new out of what was once familiar. She had been thinking of home as the first metaphorical mountain that we must see beyond and a return to this home was an opportunity to examine the relationship between physical and emotional landscapes.
Anne chose to work with materials that are iconic toWales, in particular wool, pieces of Welsh blankets and scenic imagery. These materials are emblematic of the place but also represent security and the desire to hide within a familiar and comfortable environment. Drawing upon the crafts of her childhood, she has cut, torn and unravelled her source materials before putting them back together again. Visually her work takes the form of hand-crafted, costume-like objects created using maps, floor plans and diagrams as fabric patterns. These objects are worn, performed, enacted and displayed.
The image reel is a weaving together of words and imagery that documents her efforts to examine notions of home, this home, as both an insider and an outsider.
About | Anne J Steves
Anne J Steves is a visual artist working primarily through drawing and thread based media. Born and raised inWales, Anne made BritishColumbia,Canadaher home in 2000 and has since received her BFA fromEmilyCarrUniversityand her MFA from theUniversityofVictoria. Anne has most recently spent three months working as an Artist in Residence forGowerCollegeinWalesand will be exhibiting the work produced during this residency at a variety of venues in 2014.
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