Melanie Guy

About the artist

Current Work

Sculpture/'smithing

Melanie Guy

Sculptor, Designer, Maker, Painter, Ceramicist

Callington
Cornwall
United Kingdom

Current Exhibitions

28/08/2010		Drawn to the Valley OPEN STUDIOS - Climson Barn, Callington
01/06/2010		SUMMER EXHIBITION - SDC Gallery, London
06/11/2009		PEWTER LIVE - Butcher Works, Sheffield
17/10/2009		EXPLORE THIS SPACE - Barrow Centre, Rame Peninsular
02/10/2009		EXHIBITION OF PEWTER WORK - Duchy Square Gallery, Princetown
19/09/2009		AUTUMN SHOW - Limekiln Gallery, Calstock
19/08/2009		DRAWN TO THE VALLEY - Tavistock Town Hall, Tavistock
07/08/2009		CONTRAST - Open Space Galleries, Penryn
10/07/2009		WAYS WITHOUT WORDS - The Gallery - Dartington College of the Arts, Totnes
10/06/2009		PEWTER LIVE DESIGN COMPETITION - PEWTERERS HALL, London
30/05/2009		TEN - BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY, nr Wolverhampton
27/05/2009		1984 - KOWALSKY GALLERY, Designer & Artists Copyright SocietyDACS, London

Galleries

BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY, nr Wolverhampton

KOWALSKY GALLERY, Designer & Artists Copyright SocietyDACS, London, EC1V 0DX

The Exchange, Penzance

Limekiln Gallery, Calstock

Butcher Works, Sheffield

Barrow Centre, Rame Peninsular

Open Space Galleries, Penryn

Climson, Callington

Climson Barn, Callington

SDC Gallery, London, EC2A 3DU

Statement

" The dividing line between art, craft and design grows less distinct...I work mostly in pewter metal, designing and extending the possibilities of this metal as an art medium; procuring a purity and refinement which has taken years to mature

With dramatic gesture I make a primal cry on nature's behalf in an effort to highlight the abuse of our fragile environment. Through practical and meditative process I turn a symbiotic evolution of rhythmical energy and material into sculptural work.

This expression utilises reflected light on pewter forms derived from interpretation of landscape and observations of the sea, where each molecule of water has effect on the next. When passing by, light moves on the metal surfaces, it is ethereal and transient, resembling delicate impermanent qualities such as in the balance of the natural world.

The statement can be seen as an opportunity for self examination too – our own image, as a vague reflection flickering on and off the simple lines and forms; 'the essence' is indistinctly seen on the metal, a metaphor for our own inconsistent commitment to the welfare of the environment which we so exploit. As natural organisms Nature sustains us and yet our responsibility to empathise and preserve her is fickle and superficial."

Working in this abstract mode on a universal message uses a language that is devoid of cultural reference. Melanie's experience is extensive. She has taught for many years, is a partner in a design company and has been exhibiting her own work for eleven years or more.

Biography

2007

Member South West Sculptors Assn

2004

Fellow Society of Designer Craftsmen

2002/3

p/t lecturer Plymouth College of Art & Design

2002

Member Plymouth Society of Artists

1999

BA (Hons) Applied Art

1983-98

Head Art Dept St Joseph's School Launceston Cornwall

1971

Cert ED & Diploma in Art & Design - Ceramics

Her experience is extensive. She has had a family and a career in education; she is a co-director of a design company and has been exhibiting her own work for eleven years or more.

'I currently work with pewter extending the possibilities of the metal into expressive forms. Much of my work is sculptural relief, suitable for the domestic or the corporate market. I use innovative methods to colour the metal and create different products. I am a Fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen and exhibit with them regularly.

Also I design for a company specialising in exciting creative constructions for the natural play environment - www.alastairguy.co.uk '

...and see www.axisweb.org/melanie guy - http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/melanie guy www.societyofdesignercraftsmen.org.uk - www.commissionacraftsman.com/melanie guy www.drawntothevalley.co.uk/melanie guy - www.swsculptors.co.uk/melanie guy www.marypenley.com/melanie guy - www.openspacegalleries.com/melanieguy

Exhibition History

2nd October-9th November2009		'A Celebration of Innovation in Pewter' DUCHY SQUARE GALLERY, Princetown, Devon
September 2009		LIMEKILN GALLERY Calstock Cornwall
10th-19thJuly 2009		THE GALLERY DARTINGTON Coll of Arts, Totnes Devon SW Sculptors in 'Ways Without Words'
27thJune-17thJuly 2009		DUCHY SQUARE GALLERY Princetown Devon
9th,10th,11th June 2009		PEWTER LIVE DESIGN COMPETITION Pewterers’ Hall, Oat Lane, London EC2V 7DE
27th May-21st August 2009		KOWALSKY GALLERY, DACS, 33 Gt Sutton Street, EC1V 0DX
2nd-23rdMay 2009		ARTMILL GALLERY 83Hyde Park Rd, Plymouth-Plymouth Soc of Artists
May30-22Aug2009		'TEN' at BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY West Midlands
2008-2009		'CRAFTED' at Winchester Discovery Centre SO23 8RX
2008		SWSA Ariel Centre Totnes Devon TQ9 5JX
2008 and 2009		CRUX FAIR Rattery Devon TQ10 9LD
2002 ongoing		PLYMOUTH SOCIETY of ARTISTS Plymouth Museums & Arts Galleries
2008 and 2009		DRAWN TO THIS PLACE Mount Edgcumbe Gallery PL10 1HZ
2008		100% DESIGN Earls Court London
2008		DTTV Open Studios at Mary Newman's Cottage, Saltash Cornwall
2008 and 2009		WAYS WITHOUT WORDS Dartington College of the Arts
2007 and 2008		CUBE3 Gallery Plymouth University - life work with DTTV
2008 and 2009		OPEN SPACE GALLERIES Penryn Cornwall
2008		THE CONTEMPORARY CRAFT FAIR Bovey Tracey Devon
1999 - 2008		DESIGNER CRAFTS 2008 Mall Galleries London
2007 and 2009		SDC GALLERY Shoreditch London
2007		ROYAL WEST of ENGLAND ACADEMY Bristol
2007		LIMBERHURST ARTS CENTRE Cambridge
2003 - 2009		RCA Secret Exhibition
2006		WESLEY-BARRELL Craft Awards touring, ORIGIN Somerset House
2006		GREAT ART FAIR Alexandra Palace London
2006		SALTRAM HOUSE Gallery Plymouth
2006		ROYAL WILLIAM YARD Plymouth 'Urban Splash'
2004		OXO TOWER Gallery London