401 1/2 2012 Open Studios new photos!

'Trilobyte' and 'Ammonite' brooches displayed on an Amy Mae Ceramics apron - logo designed and handprinted by Bristol based illustrator and printmaker Lucie Sheridan.

 

Above: new 'Handle with Care' chrysalis frames now available

Below: new 'Snowflake' Christmas decorations made using 

original crochet by Amy Mae Ceramics

 

Above: Detail of 'Button' coaster, hand imprinted into clay.

Below: Close-up of components of original 'Handle with Care' installation (2012)

 

Photographs by Rabia Ahmed

Amy Mae Ceramics is delighted to be showing and selling crafted creations in their new space at 401 1/2 Studios, Wandsworth Road this weekend.  All are welcome to the Preview on Friday evening 6pm-9pm and on both Saturday and Sunday 12pm-6pm.

Looking forward to seeing you there!  Please click on the link below for travel information and opening hours:

www.401studios.org  

End of year exhibition at Kensington and Chelsea College

Thank you to everyone who came to our end of year exhibition at Kensington and Chelsea College.  

'Handle with Care' (below) was my piece for the final major project.

Ceramics, wood and MDF found display case, wood, jute string

Women’s bodies and chrysalises go through irreversible changes during a child’s and butterfly’s development and birth. The Chrysalis is left as an empty shell when the butterfly has formed and flown away. The woman’s body is also a changed vessel, although it regenerates and reknits. ‘Handle with care’ is an instruction to the viewer and but it is also an invitation to consider the perception of women and their integral role in containing and creating new life.

 

 'Period Treasures' entered in the V&A Inspired By... competition

Ceramics, satin fabric, velvet ribbon, acrylic ribbon, padding, card, crochet yarn.

Alex and Phil's blue and white porcelain wedding hearts

 

2nd June 2012
I had a honour and pleasure of working with Alex and Phil on creating porcelain hearts, which doubled as name tags for their wedding breakfast and beautiful favours to keep as a reminder of their celebration.
Made of elegant porcelain and decorated with deep blue details, these hearts matched perfectly with Alex and Phil's blue and white colour scheme.
Congratulations to the happy couple.  Long may you be happy and prosper!

An amazing year!

                                          'Period Treasures' by Amy Heard, 2012

The last year at Kensington and Chelsea College has been an exciting and energising one as I have learnet so much and been given the freedom to let my imagination run loose, whilst keeping within the project set.  My tutors and colleagues have helped me discover what conceptual and technical themes and processes are really at the core of my work.  Thank you for your support and patience.

For our first project on the BTEC National Diploma we were asked to make a piece inspired by items at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington.  It doubled as an entry to the V&A's 'Inspired by...' competition for adult craft learners.

The piece I made in response is called 'Period Treasures' and is inspired by a brass lock from the 1700s.  The concept comes from a play on the meaning of the word 'period'.  The V&A is a huge learning resource, housing all manner of period decoration and embellishment on ceramics, glass, jewellery, furniture, interiors, garden ware and much more.  'Periods' are an aspect of womens' lives which is sanitised, simplified and hushed up.  Even today they are something we joke or complain about and I wanted to create a beautiful and luscious space for the reclamation of menstruation as a positive reminder of womens' ability to give life.

I have done so by making a keep safe box for the mundane, but essential items used during menstruation.  Intricate decals decorate the surface of an ibuprofen packet and porcelain tampons, which have deep red strings allowing them to be used as necklaces.  These sit on luxurious red satin cushioning.