Rodney Harris

Rodney Harris
Spike Sculpture, Spike Island, 133 Cumberland Road, Bristol, BS1 6UN
Tel: 0117 9442004 Mob: 07773095534
www.jacksonharris.co.uk
rodney952@btinternet.com

My work as an artist nationally has mainly focused on commissioned site specific public artwork. Socially-engaged, site-specific Public Sculpture which responds to the unique character of a particular place or situation - an intuitive response in a subtle, fascinating and hopefully enchanting way which aims to positively enhance, intrigue and engage. The nature of the artwork is directly influenced by many factors including the topography and use of the space, the history of the site and surroundings, the aspirations of local people and the perceived spirit of the place. I use natural materials - clay, brick, mud and sand for example, beautiful sculptural materials which can be seamlessly integrated into a structure or space. I aim to use the materials in a new, innovative and sometimes unexpected way. Clay is easily utilised by people to explore ideas in workshops as it is an unstructured material which requires no special techniques to use. My practice includes printmaking, live art and performance.

Commissions

Major Gateway Sculpture Commission. North Somerset Council, Weston Super Mare. Revealing the Hidden – The Rhynnes Art Project. Aiming to re-engage local people with their environment. Completion early 2010.

“Giant Brick Sphere”, Sculpture Commission from Gedling Borough Council, Nottingham, to celebrate the opening of a new Community Centre. Developed in close consultation with the local community. 2008.

“Washing Machines”, Public Sculpture Commission from South Gloucestershire Council for the Shield Centre retail development in Filton, South Gloucestershire. To restore the memory of the history of the site as a Public Laundry. Designed with the local history group and a local school. 2008.

“Canal” Commissioned by British Waterways to highlight the beginning of the Bridgwater – Taunton Canal. Part made at the Somerset Brick and Tile Museum. 2008.

“Outdoor Classroom”, Public Sculpture Commission from Notre Dame High School in Norwich, Norfolk and LSI Architects Ltd. The work aims to enhance the external landscape of the school and provide a space for formal outdoor learning and recreation. 2007.

“Woodlice”, Public Sculpture Commission from Clifton Place Action Group in Bristol. Working with local community groups, especially the Somali Community, the Sculpture aims to enhance a new green meeting area which represents the identity of the multi ethnic community. The work reflects both the defensive and vulnerable nature of different communities within a multi-cultural demography. 2007.

Collaboration with Artist Valda Jackson on a major public art commission for the new Learning & Family Centre in St Pauls Bristol from Bristol City Council. Opened June 05.

Commissioned by Environment Department at Bristol City Council to collaborate on the development of innovative sculptural ideas for use in traffic management schemes. 2004.

“S-Seat”, Arts Council England South West Grant Funded Residency/Commission at Sefton Park Junior School, Bristol, to design and make in collaboration with all school stakeholders a sculpture to improve the school environment. 2002.

“Three-Piece-Suite”, Commissioned by the Department of Regeneration & Development, Thanet Borough Council, Ramsgate, Kent. The completed work was a shortlisted finalist in the prestigious Rouse Kent Public Art Award 2001. Features in the recently published Public Art in the South East, Arts Council England.

“Lungflower Sofa”, Commissioned by Exeter Health Care Arts at The Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. The work is part of the Evaluation and Research Project for Exeter Health Care Arts by Arts for Health at the Faculty of Art & Design, Manchester Metropolitan University.

Residencies/Projects/Other

Artist in education for Creative Partnerships Bristol and Thames Gateway, London, working on a variety of projects from teacher development, practical workshops and environmental improvements. Most notably “Earthworks”, the creation of a pseudo-archaeological site in Basildon Essex and as artist in residence at Speedwell Nursey School – an Arts Council School of Creativity in Bristol. 2005-ongoing.

Sculptor in Residence, Liverpool University, European Capital of Culture 2008. Based in The Science Communication Unit. 2008/9.

Creative Advisor for Creative Partnerships Bristol. Arts Council of England Initiative aimed at enhancing creativity in Education. Developing and delivering teacher training projects. Lead artist at Speedwell Technology College and Speedwell School, where I facilitated “Tree Project” which focused attention on environmental improvement and enhanced self esteem. Film launched in July 2004.

Commissioned by Performing Arts Laboratories Ltd, London www.pallabs.org) as a Co-Director of a Laboratory of Learning for Teachers and Artists who work with challenging and volatile young people. My role is to devise performative sculptural activities which address the most difficult aspects of working in this field for a selected group of teachers and artists. I am also working as Co-Director of a Food Lab, the first of which took place in November 2005.

I devise training and workshops for Education staff and children through the START scheme run by Take Art! Ltd in Somerset. This includes working with special needs children. 2000 ongoing

Company Director, Secretary and Treasurer of Spike Island Sculpture Ltd, a not for profit charitable organisation providing subsidised studio space and facilities for artists. 2004-7.

I have been devising and facilitating practical workshops for the Sir John Soane Museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, aiming to increase understanding of the range of objects which can be found in the museum collection. Ongoing.

A Director of AVAG Ltd, a limited company coordinating the sustainable ecological redevelopment of a brownfield site in St Werburghs, Bristol. 2002-3

Commissioned by Spike Island Artspace Ltd as a member of the interpretation group researching methods of understanding contemporary art. First Journal Published 2005.

2011 Artist Trustee on the Board of Directors of Spike Island Artspace Ltd, Bristol, UK.

2011 Invited Artist to the World Ceramic Biennale, South Korea.

2011 Lead Creative Practitioner on the Little Big Band Project, Take Art, Somerset.

Bibliography

2006 - World Contemporary Public Ceramic Art, Shaoshan University Press, Hunan Province, China; [Ed] Zhang Yushan

2004 - Public Art in the South East, Arts Council South East. Book.

2003 - Brickworks; Gwen Heeney, University of Philadelphia Press

2002 - ‘Loco-motiv’ The Guardian Newspaper, 5th March 02

2002 - ‘Renaissance’ LGN – Local Government News, Jan 02 2001 - Editorial, Art &Architecture PublicArtJournal, 01

2000 - Four page colour feature in Millennium Edition of Ibstock Art & Architecture.

2011 Four page feature in Sep/Oct 2011 Ceramic Review magazine.

2011 Featured in Public Sculpture of Bristol, Liverpool University Press.

Performance

2005 – “The man without a belt”, a ten minute live performance performed at Triskel Arts Centre, Cork, Ireland, during the European City of Culture Celebrations.

2001 - ITV Feature in “The House”, HTV West Production.

2007 - World Premiere "After it has been" by Love and Harris, Episode I. March, Arnolfini Live Art Weekender. Bristol.

Awards:

2001 - Arts Council South West Grant, Residency/Commission, Sefton Park School.

2001 - Shortlisted finalist for the Rouse Kent Public Art Award for “Three Piece Suite”.

2000 – Millenium Fellowship Award to develop and coordinate artists workshops during 2000 based on the exhibition The 100 Languages of Children.

1996 – Invitation to the winter atelier at the international artists studios in Keckesmet, Hungary.

1995 – The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust Award for Sculpture in Brick.

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