Jack fell down (Courtesy of the artist)
Alison Lowry is an artist who is interested in textiles and fabric as a "vessel for memory" and she is facinated by glass. Again her work is very much from the heart, is intimate and draws you close. Alison will be exhibiting with Rachel Dickson in the Kilkenny Arts Festival at the County Council Offices from August 5th. Thanks Alison for your very open on-line interview which is inspiring to all late comers to art and gives an insight into what we can expect from the show. I for one am so looking forward to it!
Ireland isn't big on visual art, what influenced you in your life towards a career in art? What artists have influenced you?
I always enjoyed drawing as a child, but never felt I would be 'good enough' to become an artist. I returned to University as a mature student and graduated two years ago....and am now doing it!! My most recent artistic influences would include Louise Bourgeois and Silvia Levenson, though I enjoy going to exhibitions of any genre of art. I recently went to the Alexander McQueen retrospective ant the Met and it just blew me away.
Do you have a handy definition of “Art” ? What is it for you? Is there such a thing as good and bad art?
I can only define 'art' in my own terms I suppose, I have no universal defining system. Art, for me its a very personal thing. The 'best' art (or the art I like the most) is true and from the heart (if that doesn't sound too cheesy!) It affects you in some way, it creates a response, be that a negative or positive one
What do you do everyday, what process do you use for developing your work? What is your studio, workplace like?
I am a mother of three small boys, so my life is really the daily grind of being a housewife and mum. I work a lot in the evenings and Tuesday is my 'studio' day. I am very economical and organised with my time when I'm there! I have learnt that it takes a long time to develop and refine a body of work. I think the nice thing with the "vessels of memory' project is that we've had a whole year of touring it and the show has changed and matured as it's gone along.
I really feel I have to work to stay sane! I'd like to spend more time doing what I'm doing, but thats just not possible currently. I supplement my income teaching workshops and masterclasses in various glass techniques. If you fancy having a go , just contact me! Can't say I'm making much of a living 'through art' currently . . . but maybe in years to come (I live in hope!)
What for you is the most rewarding part of your life as an artist and what is most challenging? (A photo of you would be great here)
Every so often you make a piece that really stands out, that maybe expresses something you didn't even know you felt...that makes it all worthwhile. Unfortunately there's probably 20 scrap pieces behind it just to get to that one!
What is your Kilkenny show about? Is it part of what you do to have an audience? Do you like to communicate with the audience?
The Kilkenny show is about how objects, no matter how trivial, can become containers for memory. In my work I play with the perceived meaning of the object and examine the nature of childhood.
For more information and images of Alison's work go to www.alisonlowry.co.uk
All photographs are courtesy of Alison
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