Lecture

Lecture:  Jane offers a 90-minute lecture on site-specific art.  She begins with a 30-minute PowerPoint talk filled with anecdotes and insights into her work. She then leads participants through a live demonstration of her mould-making techniques. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and get hands-on experience with the materials.

Cost: £180 + travel

Topic:  Memory, Place, and Materiality: A Site-Specific Art Practice.

‘In this lecture, I will take you behind the scenes of my work at Sunny Bank Mills, a site that has undergone loss, change, and rematerialisation. You will learn how I went about my initial research, who I involved, and why a box of dust holds such importance.

We will explore together the ways in which derelict buildings can invoke memory and feelings, and how site-specific interactions can bridge the gap between memory and place in the absence of these buildings.

Along the way, you will hear about the people who worked at Sunny Bank Mills and learn about their lives and experiences. You will also discover the secrets of my clay impression and Jesmonite casting process, and see how I use these techniques to create tactile and sculptural pieces that maintain a physical and visual link to the site.

This is a talk that will challenge your perceptions of art and memory, and leave you with a deeper understanding of the relationship between place, people, and the past.

Feedback from previous participants:  ‘I really enjoyed it – so much food for thought on my own practice and project.  I was happy to see proof that ceramics and textiles can coexist’.

‘It was very interesting to hear how deeply the mill influences your work and lovely to get up close and touch some pieces’.

‘I’ve seen the at work of Jane Walkley for a few years, but never really ‘got’ it.  Jane’s talk completely changed my mind!  By uniquely adding dust and paint flakes to the resin pieces she weaves into her amazing tapestries, her work is modern & innovative, but also directly relates to key points in the history of the 180 year old Weaving Shed and the people who worked there.  Her processes really resonated with me, and I found this new perspective of her work made it so emotional and relevant.  I can’t recommend Jane and her amazing woven art pieces highly enough’.