The Push Pull of objects

During Nelson Jewellery Week I took part in Renee Bevan’s three day Push/Pull workshop, as a part of HANDSHAKE8. This was the first time that the cohort was together in the same room since we began in February. It was a wonderful experience to meet the incredible makers in person, rather than over Zoom classes as we had previously done.

For the workshop Renee asked us to bring along recent works, unfinished pieces and a childlike sense of wonder (the last one might be a slight exaggeration). Some of the pieces that travelled with me were from exhibitions last year: ‘Propagate’, an exhibition with Sharon Peoples, and ‘6:30 Session’ and exhibition with Michelle Hales. I also threw in some objects and early stage ideas that I had begun playing with since moving to Tamaki Makaurau Auckland in June last year.The workshop was split into two parts, as you may have guessed from the workshop name, the first part of the workshop was Push, the second was Pull. Push gave us the opportunity to literally push our ideas about our work as a whole, as well as particular pieces and even unfinished objects, to their limits. Pull was a space for us to reign in and clarify some of the ideas to explore further back in our studios. All of this was done with the insightful guidance from Renee, as well as all of the HANDSHAKE participants.

 

 

We began by putting out the objects we had brought along and gave a short overview of our practice. It was wonderful to see and hear about the art practices from the HANDSHAKE cohort, beyond what I knew of their making in our classes with Estela. I was able to see works created over 10 months, rather than 10 minutes. 

For my work I spoke about my love of creating objects imbued with stories, or could become a catalyst for narratives. Through my practice I create objects that tell stories of beloved people, particular places and special moments. Recently, the main driver has been exploring particular places, such as my solo exhibition Making Place (2020). Usually this would also include creating work about specific moments in those spaces, and I like to think that the objects speak to particular people.

 

 

The introductions of one another’s work became our starting place for the big Push. With Renee’s gentle directions and guidance we individually explored our own creations. We investigated everything from the visual with composition, surface and form, to how a piece makes you feel and where it is worn on the body. Periodically we would come together to give one another a gentle push with actionable prompts or questions (the small ripped pieces of paper in the top image). This fostered an open and a safe place to think aloud and explore ideas with one another. 

Once we considered all our ideas for a day and a half, it was time to refine ideas with the Pull section of the workshop. The aim was to explore a few of the ideas created in the workshop and to take them deeper. We explored the intent of a piece and clarified the idea and form to create a clear message. Again, we shared the insights with one another. The exchanges helped us see the object from a different angle that we may not have previously thought about.

 

 

It was not the type of workshop where you left with a fully completed object created by using a new technique. Renee had taken us through a process to be able to look critically at our work, and others, to tease out what may be behind the object. She gave us a new tool for our tool belt. The method could be used when we are starting a new project, or if we become stuck with an object, to generate numeral avenues to explore (Push). Then to be able to sift through the ideas and be selective about the ideas we explored and refined (Pull).

Below are some close ups of ideas that are at the very beginning of being explored. The shell forms are prominent in my thinking and making since I moved to the shores of Tamaki Makaurau Auckland. As I walked the beach everyday these are the forms that caught my eye. I am interested to revisit these images at the end of the HANDSHAKE 8 program to see where these ideas lead.