Out of This Earth is a course devoted to the use of pigments, soya milk and cloth. Pigments have been used for thousands of years to make marks and to draw and are still relevant today.
So why the title of this exhibition – ‘Traces’. Pigments reveal themselves in the landscape through seams of colour – sometimes several colours in one seam. When students work with pigment, traces are seen on their hands and in their fingernails! Pigments leave their trace on the cloth when we bind them using the protein from home-made soya milk. The soya bean itself is left as trace, through the pulp we throw on to our gardens, compost heaps or food waste bins (which earthworms love).
Traces of colour, line, shape and texture are seen on the cloth we’ve worked on. These traces vary according to what techniques we’ve used. Sometimes ethereal, mysterious and organic, speaking of the natural world. At other times strong, graphic and bold, speaking of structure, pattern, text or the urban environment. All of this is trace evidence of our hands, minds, spirits and process.
Although students who participate in Out of This Earth must first get to grips with the media and the processes, the aim is to always create art of some kind. In making an artwork, we aim for the work to transcend the materials and methods of its making – in other words, we aim for craft to be in service to art. We hope the pieces shown here resonate with you, provide that intangible ‘something’ that holds you and keeps you looking.
Making art isn’t easy and often requires risk-taking and leaps of faith. I’ve been delighted by the student’s willingness to grasp the nettle and forge on; layering, over-painting, cropping, stitching and collaging - whatever it takes to get a finish line. The encouragement and support within the community platform is – as ever - generous, supportive and invaluable and I’ve enjoyed every moment.
I offer thanks to everyone who signed up to discover this great approach to art-making and hope that you - the viewer - enjoy where students have taken it.
Claire Benn
www.clairebenn.com 
