Jo Howe book sculpture echoes-of-fragrant-voices

Interviewed for Hertfordshire Visual Arts

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Jo Howe in Artist Book, Book Arts, Book Sculpture, Exhibiting, Press

I was most fortunate to be interviewed by the lovely Clare Kendal Bate on behalf of Hertfordshire Visual Arts. They produce a monthly newsletter, and I am fortunate enough to be chosen as one of their featured artists.

Go to interview

HVA is run by an enthusiastic voluntary Organising Group, with members from all areas of involvement in the visual arts.

HVA aims to:

Provide ways for artists of all disciplines, amateur or professional, to meet and exchange ideas and information.
Encourage professionalism and high standards in its members and their dealings with artists’ employers, facilitators, galleries and supporters.
Raise awareness of and promote accessibility to the visual arts in Hertfordshire.
Lobby for wider opportunities for artists and better facilities for the visual arts.
Represent the County’s artists to Local, County, Regional and National bodies.

Exhibiting at Trestle Arts Base

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Jo Howe in Book Arts, Book Sculpture, Exhibiting

I am pleased to announce that my exhibition, ‘Echoes of Fragrant Voices’ will be showing at the lovely Trestle Arts Base in St Albans for a month, opening this Saturday 11th January. Please ensure you check the website for opening times.

Trestle Arts Base

Great start to a new year!

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Jo Howe in Artist Book, Book Arts, Book Sculpture, Exhibiting

Variation of surface intensity-detail jo howe book sculpture — Variation of surface intensity-detail

Super delighted to have found out today that I have been once again accepted for Turn the Page.

Turn the page artists’ book fair is a UK and international exhibiting and selling platform for artists who are creating work that is inspired by the structural and conceptual properties of the book form.

The event is held over 2 days in the spectacular atrium
at the Forum, Norwich and is fast establishing its place amongst the top UK Book Art events.

Dates this year are Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd May 2014

I really enjoyed this excellently organised event last year. The quality of work on offer was very high, the artists engaging and exciting and the visitors were just lovely!

Looking forward to May!

🙂

Seasonal Greetings

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Jo Howe in Book Arts, Book Sculpture

Xmas2013

Just wanted to wish one and all a bright, joy filled holiday season and an incredibly dynamic, productive and healthy new year.

Best Wishes

🙂

Exhibitions…Just like the buses!

Posted on November 22, 2013January 8, 2014 by Jo Howe in Book Arts, Book Sculpture, Exhibiting

Isn’t it always the way. A drought in viable exhibiting opportunities then four come along at once!

So, and of course not pointing this towards my American readers (commute would be a bit of a stretch!), here’s what’s happening very, very soon.

Oh, and yes, fingers crossed does work sometimes 🙂

Solo show – Between the Lines

Private View 27 November 2013, 6pm to 8pm

Showing a small sample of work in the new Brent Civic Centre.
Between the Lines Jo Howe solo exhibition

In Search of Secrets

Another group ‘Pop up Exhibition’ organised by the lovely Rebecca Jarvest , showing two of my works.
TP_Flyer

East Contemporary Art: A Collection of 21st Century Practice

26 November, 6pm – 8pm, Waterfront Art Gallery, University Campus Suffolk, Ipswich.

An evening of conversation in the Waterfront Gallery. ‘What is a 21st Century Collection?’ an exchange of ideas plus the second exhibition of the collection featuring one of my works from the collection.

And last but not least, I have been most fortunate to have been selected to show in UH Galleries Eastern Approaches
Open to the public from Thursday 5 December 2013 until Sunday 12 January 2014 at The Museum of St Albans
Easten-Approaches-2013

Fingers crossed!

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Jo Howe in Artist Book, Book Arts, Book Sculpture

I have finally got some new work to completion, just in time for a submission deadline (fingers crossed). There is something quite interesting about completing work and then not having long to sit with it before it leaves the contemplative space that is my studio. I tend to sit with my work and communicate with it for some time after it has been completed. It is not necessarily that the work shifts. I think it is almost an honouring exercise, a re-engagement with the work from more of a distance than when in the throws of process, offering alternative perspectives.

This does have it’s downside of course. I have been ‘honouring’ a piece of work now for about a year! It is just not ready to leave. I am listening to that wisdom… some day it will be ready, perhaps.

Variation of surface intensity

Book pages, wooden chest, pyrography, acrylic boxes.

Pyrography text on box reads…

From the core, an eruption of significant emotional magnitude penetrates the outer shell.

The outpouring is chaotic yet strangely structured, but always hard to predict.

The waves of internal detritus and debris are powerful and all consuming.

Those close enough to witness this explosion are never unaffected.

All ground beneath us shifts, cracks and dissolves the solidity that holds one upright.

The vibrations are felt for hours afterwards, slowly but surely their magnitude dissipates until, eventually, all is still.

This stillness, an uncomfortable calm, both quiet and loud in its silence.

Eventually a soft noise breaks into one’s consciousness, like a chink of light cutting through the rock that veils the valley floor, illuminating our path.

The reality of one’s very existence? Perhaps the way forward?

Variation of surface intensity

Variation of surface intensity (detail)

Pandora’s Box

Book pages, apothecary jar, cardboard box.

Pandora’s Box

Pandora’s Box (detail)

Pandora’s Box(detail)

Good conversation and other reading structures: An adulteration of truth through incessant alteration Jo Howe Book sculpture

Unexpected diversions

Posted on October 20, 2013October 22, 2013 by Jo Howe in Artist Book, Book Arts, Book Sculpture

So, I have been able to get to the studio a little more of late, which I can say, is a real joy!

Something has definitely shifted recently, and the impact on my work for me is very noticeable. I seem to have given myself permission just to create without questioning, and that really feels right. This has generated new paths and a slight redirection in approach.

Many developments in current works are occurring, including getting ridiculously over excited about my latest purchase.

I Love its worn, haphazard appearance, the sense of its history. Absolutely perfect to complete an ongoing work.

I have today, spent the five hours marking out text on this little beauty. I am very excited about getting this piece to completion. Not long now I feel.

I have, noticing this quite unusual behaviour for me, that I have been working on three different pieces at the same time.

This one popped up, quite unexpectedly. It seems a bit of a diversion from the other work on the go, and yet rather delightfully, I have a sense of the connection and cohesion in my thinking.

Note: There are multiple ways of ‘reading’…this is a playful exploration of this idea.

And my little book cups (for want of a better term). I continue to experiment with these forms, and I continue to be fascinated with the addition of water to the work, the impact on the reading of the work as it evolves over time, the shift of balance between object and residue.

Experiments Jo Howe Book Sculpture — Cups (experiments)

I think these will grow into a larger piece that will become almost its own performative piece…

All I need is to find the right book for the work and the location to show this…

There is wisdom everywhere…

Posted on October 9, 2013October 22, 2013 by Jo Howe in Artist Book, Book Arts, Book Sculpture, Experimentation

I believe in a wisdom in what we do, how we behave and what choices we make on a sub conscious level and yet, so often, that wisdom’s clarity eludes us.

Occasionally, it slaps us right in the face!

Sometimes, we can gain a greater understanding on reflection, when you are not swamped with less useful brain activity… but sometimes, not.

Sometimes, we create in what appears a void, and yet, we cannot exclude ourselves from the process.

And that process… well, we just have to trust in it, no matter how scary that can be.

Sometimes we just have to trust in the process, else would we ever start out on the journey in the first place?

Some random musings for some rather random, if not slightly intriguing work.

A little serendipitous photography

Posted on October 5, 2013October 22, 2013 by Jo Howe in Artist Book, Book Arts, Book Sculpture, Experimentation

Isn’t it strange … if we can just respond to impulse without question … what may be the outcome? Not to stop and question, but just do. You may end up with nothing exciting at all or It may sing to you in joyful voice or perhaps, make you groan inwardly. Whatever the outcomes are (and many of mine are languishing at the depths of the rubbish bin) there may be some that you want to capture for examination and enquiry… these are a couple of those moments.

Quite fascinating the choice of angle for the photography…. I didn’t read the text on the pieces until I looked carefully at the photographs…

Amazing!

I think I need to let go a little more often!

Further experimentation – Variations of surface intensity

Posted on September 19, 2013October 22, 2013 by Jo Howe in Book Arts, Book Sculpture, Experimentation

From the core, an eruption of significant emotional magnitude penetrates the outer shell.

The outpouring is chaotic yet strangely structured, but always hard to predict.

The waves of internal detritus and debris are powerful and all consuming.

Those close enough to witness this explosion are never unaffected.

All ground beneath us shifts, cracks and dissolves the solidity that holds one upright.

The vibrations are felt for hours afterwards, slowly but surely their magnitude dissipates until, eventually, all is still.

This stillness, an uncomfortable calm, both quiet and loud in its silence.

Eventually a soft noise breaks into one’s consciousness, like a chink of light cutting through the rock that veils the valley floor, illuminating our path.

The reality of one’s very existence? Perhaps the way forward?