Outcome – An Exhibition

Outcome – An Exhibition of Three Postgraduate Projects

If you have followed my research for some time you will already know about the philosophical, neurological and political undercurrents that inspire and drive my practice. With the exhibition of Outcome coming to an end, it seems like an appropriate time to examine these ideas and being my Fellowship to a close.

A Thousand Plateaus and Soft Ground Etching

My Fellowship began with soft ground etching. After beginning to read the work of Deleuze and Guattari my first inclination was to begin to explore it physically. For me, the most intuitive way was through the medium of soft ground etching. Adapting the traditional method to suit my needs I allowed the allowed impure water to settle and oxidize on the plates. As the oxidization formed it created pathways that formed streams, which in turn informed the soft ground and eventual etch.

Outcome, Artlab, PhD Fellowship and AA2A 2017 2018 Exhibition Jane Elizabeth Bennett Close Up Etching
‘Outcome’, Artlab, Ph.D. Fellowship and AA2A 2017 2018 Exhibition Jane Elizabeth Bennett Close Up Etching

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Outcome

Outcome Exhibition Banner, PR1 Gallery, PV 19th December 2017

Private View 19th December 16:00 to 19:00

The exhibition continues 20th December 31st January Monday to Friday 10:00 – 16:00 

I am extremely excited to invite you all to the private view of ‘Outcome’. An exhibition of three postgraduate projects based across Artlab Contemporary Printmaking Studios and Silicate Research Unit.

 

Invite to the Outcome Exhibition, PR1 Gallery Preston
Invite to the Outcome Exhibition, PR1 Gallery Preston

Over the past twelve months, I have been working at the University of Central Lancashire as an artist in residence on the Ph.D. Fellowship. Working with staff across a number of departments I have begun to develop a Ph.D. project and refine my practice-based research. The Fellowship has allowed me to develop my practice within an academic context and given me an opportunity to explore the diversity and sometimes restrictive nature of practice-based research. I am excited to be showing four new prints, ‘Intermezzo’ a screen print on Southbank Smooth and ‘Plateau Three’ a series of three new soft ground etchings on Somerset Satin.

Close up of Intermezzo, Screen print on Southbank Smooth, Jane Elizabeth Bennett, 2017
Close up of Intermezzo, Screenprint on Southbank Smooth, Jane Elizabeth Bennett, 2017

The exhibition also includes artists from the Artlab Fellowship, which I was awarded, in 2010. The Artlab Fellowship offers a graduate or postgraduate one years worth of access to the Artlab Facilities, to further develop their printmaking practice. This year’s cohort is showing experimental installations and contemporary prints.

Artists from the AA2A scheme will be showing as part of the exhibition. It has been a great networking experience to work alongside artists with such different practices, methodologies and career paths to my own. I really hope to work and exhibit with these artists in the future.

Screen Printing From Darkness to Light – Experimental Screen Printing

From Darkness to Light, Monochromes and Gloss

I have always enjoyed being experimental in my printmaking and enjoy having the subtle effect of over printing in the same colour; for example, white on white or gloss onto acetate. With pale colours, a shimmer or glowing effect can be achieved and I have always adored this.

This is the first time that I have begun to print with black ink on to black paper. As any printmaker knows the quality of the paper is imperative and quality black paper in a reasonable price bracket can be difficult to source and manipulate. For this reason, I have never experimented with it, but with new contacts made and research done, it is time to start experimenting.

Experimental Screen Printing Monochromes Gloss Rhizome
Developing the printing process, Jane Elizabeth Bennett © 2017 Screen printing.

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A Ph.D. Development Fellowship with UCLan

I have had a fantastic time during the last year, working hard on my Ph.D. Development Fellowship.

The Artlab Contemporary Printmaking Studios is about to close down for the annual Summer break, and most of the Academic staff have left to take on their own research projects. For me, this means that for me the Ph.D. Development Fellowship has come to a close. Over the last year, I have immersed myself in new texts, written proposals and grown a professional academic network; something that I think would have been difficult to fully commit to without the support and guidance provided during this time.

I’d especially like to thank the staff at the Unversity of Central Lancashire

Dr. Andrew Broadey

Tracy Hill

Magda Stawarska-Beavan

Bev Lamey

All that is left to do now is organize the Ph.D. Development Fellowship, Artlab Fellowship, and AA2A Programme Exhibitions which will take place in the PR1 Gallery between the 16th December 2017 and 11th February 2018. I look forward to showing prints and installed works from my ‘1000 Plateaus’ project.

1000 Plateaus, Jane Elizabeth Bennett, Etching 2017 ©

I’d also like to announce that, due to this fellowship I have exciting new prospects on the horizon! I will be announcing these projects over the coming year.

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Printing with Impurity and the Rhizome

As the academic year comes to a close and the printmaking studio empties of frantic students I have found some time to begin experimenting with impurities and the rhizome.

I have been very kindly given a number of large, lightly etched zinc plates. My usual practice is to, grain, aquatint and etch zinc multiple times with a deep bite, so the light etch would not interfere with my work, but as I occasionally laminate plates with photopolymer it is best to start with a neat surface.

Whilst graining the plates by hand, using a medium carborundum, block and sandpaper I removed a substantial layer of the original etch. As hand graining with a block is a laborious process I broke the monotony by periodically inking and printing the plates. I thought that if nothing else I would be left with a series of prints showing the reduction of an etch and the appearance of a ghost like ‘nothingness’.

intaglio, printmaking, etching, impurities, soft-ground experimental
Air dried hand grained zinc plates, UCLAN Printmaking Department

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