DECOUVERTE/COUP de COEUR ….. Rachel BLAIR from Glasgow School of Art
Rachel Blair – A Sense of Place
Rachel is a recent graduate from the Glasgow School of Art, 2015 (Degree Show 2015). She is a Jeweller, designer, maker from the Northern Isles of Orkney. She is interested in creating pieces with contain balance in material and tension. Her work is an expression of her constant longing for a sense of belonging. She is interested in the phycology of attachment to place and the memories and thoughts alluded from the feeling of belonging. Her work this past year has been focussed on the idea of a ‘sense of place’, through this she has been investigating her own honesty. Her pieces are true to the original materials; she does not try to conceal construction. The sensitivity of the fragile papers held in by pressure and tension create uneasiness, however aesthetically beautiful.
Rachel Blair – « overwhelmed » folded brooch - white metal & ink stained paper
Rachel Blair – detail of « overwhelmed » folded brooch - white metal & ink stained paper
« My pieces are mainly constructed from silver and gold wire frames with tension set wound papers. These papers are all hand dyed and wound individually to create intricate patterns incorporating the flaws and ripples. I uses papers to create pieces that have a sense of preciousness, papers that are usually worthless, but when manipulated and set in a precious setting have a much greater meaning. By using paper, my pieces have a limited lifetime. It is the wearing away of the precious papers within a materially precious band that is the interest. The piece is always under tension and stress, but aesthetically complete. » Rachel Blair
Rachel Blair Neckpiece: Held’ Goldsmiths Precious Metal Bursary, 2015 – Yellow metal, white metal & ink stained papers – 18 x 45 x3 cm – Photo by: Rachel Blair
She has been working closely with drawing materials in her pieces. Drawing is an integral part of her design process. It is the love of the tangibility and immediacy of a sketchbook, and how private and controlled a sketchbook can be; that is the catalyst to transfer those qualities into her work conceptually and aesthetically. Her pieces are constructed from silver and gold wire frames with tension set papers. These are hand dyed and wound individually to create intricate patterns within the layers. She uses papers to create pieces that have a duality of preciousness, papers that are usually worthless, but when manipulated and set in a precious setting have a much greater meaning. By using paper, her pieces have a limited lifetime. It is the wearing away of the precious papers within a materially precious band that is the interest. The piece is always under tension and stress, but aesthetically complete.
« I have been teaching Rachel Blair at Glasgow for the past four years and have watched how her work has grown in confidence and skill.
Her degree body of work focuses on her love of her home, Orkney. The work explores ways of capturing a sense of place and communicating visually her connections to the island. From this exploration of emotions and memories colour and material exploration has become a key component of her work. Through a thorough research investigation into paper and the use of colour Rachel has created complex yet simple pieces using ink and paper. Gradients of colour, washes of blues and browns create warmth and detail in tightly bound paper structures. This is an unconventional choice of materials within a jewellery degree and showcases Rachel’s efforts to challenge convention. / Jonathan Mathew Boyd, Lecturer Glasgow School of Art, 2015« (Glasgow School of Art 2015 Degree show)
Rachel Blair - 1st visual « shock » when entering on her website/gallery !
Rachel Blair - « overwhelmed » ripple brooch - white metal & ink stained paper
Rachel Blair- reverse of « overwhelmed » ripple brooch - white metal & ink stained paper
Rachel Blair jewellery – Bound neckpiece – white metal & ink stained tape
Rachel Blair – Bound neckpiece detail
Rachel Blair - Glasgow degree show 2015
Rachel Blair. Glasgow School of Art. New Graduates 2015. – Neckpiece: Honesty, 2015 White metal, ink stained papers 5 x 7 x 7 cm Photo by: Rachel Blair
Rachel Blair Brooch: Restricted’ Deep Yellow, 2015 White metal, ink stained papers 8 x 8 x 4 cm Photo by: Rachel Blair
