Jennie Pedley & Ruth Franklin
Musée-le-Petit
Top: Curated Barn Exhibition, by Ruth Franklin, of Château attic finds and Ruth’s handmade cloth tools.
2nd Row: Stills from films Gendarme and Sugar by Jennie Pedley.
3rd row (Ruth): (left) Handsewn electric drill. (right) Handsewn collage blouse.
4th row (Jennie): (left) Miniature stage set for the film Sugar. (right) Gendarme Guarding Palace drawing and found objects from Sacy.
5th row (Ruth): (left) Barn exhibit detail - Ruth’s handmade collage workglove and château tools. (right) Handsewn collage blouse.
Bottom: Short films Sugar and Gendarme by Jennie Pedley with music played by the local band Harmonie de Chevrières.
My first encounter with a Gendarme was between old paving stones at the foot of Château de Sacy. The red and black heraldic shield bugs were in their spring time formations, maybe marching to protect the walled garden from the invasion of intensive agriculture beyond. The name Gendarme may come from the red coats of the French Swiss Guard who died attempting to protect the Palace of Versailles during the French Revolution. The only guards to survive were keeping a consignment of grain safe from the people who needed it most. This story inspired my playful short film Gendarme and my installations of beetle drawings and palace-style toy bricks from the Château attic.
The film Sugar suggests the fields and factories dedicated solely to the production of sugar around the wild garden at Sacy and where I live in the UK. Surprisingly it was Napoleon who started this trend for highly processed food, inspired by a British blockade of sugarcane imports from the
colonial plantations. The growing of sugar beet made the family fortune and the derelict farmhouse became a ‘Château’. The Toile de Jouy pastoral wallpaper at the Château has provided me with a new visual language with which to explore environmental issues and a temporary obsession with the colour pink. The music for both films was recorded at the Victory Day celebrations, played by the local band Harmonie de Chevrières.
Jennie was also an artist-in-residence at Sacy in 2005 - you can see the short film here.
Jennie Pedley
Whilst studying on the MA Printmaking Course in 1998, I began looking back to my childhood and realised how familiar household artefacts uncovered childhood memories and family history. My Jewish Grandparents fled Poland and Russia in about 1915 for a safe life in England. They settled in the East End of London where they set up a tailor’s workshop to continue their trade. Reflecting on their lives and family professions brought up ideas about sewing and making, and has inspired me to make work about their lives and professions ever since.
Recalling my father’s professions as a women’s hairdresser and wigmaker, I have created hairdressing ‘objects’ through amalgamating old workshop tools, hairdressers’ utensils, as well as sewn paper and dyed cloth forms. Inspired by the Château de Sacy and its history, finding collections of old metal tools within the sheds as well as 1940’s clothes within the attic resonated so strongly with me and my on-going work of family and professions. I made new sculptural and sewn forms inspired by these objects and collections, while within the large barn I curated an exhibition of these uncovered objects.
Ruth Franklin
Previous Work
Top left: Jennie Pedley - Still from the film Particulate Matters, 2020
Top right: Ruth Franklin - Red Sewing Machine (waxed paper, thread)
Bottom left: Ruth Franklin - Re-Imagining tools, 2022
Bottom right: Jennie Pedley - Pod
Jennie Pedley
Websites:
jenniepedley.co.uk,
edibleeast.org.uk
Instagram:
jenniepedley
Selected one person exhibitions and projects
2022-ongoing
Edible East Community Interest Company
- created and run to promote a healthy and sustainable future for everyone through creative workshops, community gardening and cultural events, all informed by the latest research.
2021-02
Art Science trail about the Future of Food
- conceived and co-curated with Norwich Research Park, funded by the Peoples Postcode Lottery.
2021
Film commission to explore the work of author, botanist, philanthropist Priscilla Wakefield for Bruce Castle Museum, London.
2020
Particulate Matters 2.5
- Film commissioned by the Peltz Gallery, Birkbeck, London University, online exhibition, ‘Lessons from Lockdown’.
2019
Art of the Gut
- Residency at the Quadram Institute, Norwich Research Park, supported by Arts Council England, exhibited at Norwich Science Festival.
2015
Shadow Sign Exhibition
, The Point Gallery, Doncaster, developed with deaf actress Jean St Clair and deaf communities, funded by Grant for the Arts, Arts Council England.
2012
Great Ormond Street Hospital and Go Create
- Workshops and exhibition.
2011
Cultural Olympiad
, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust - films made with schools shown on Nature Reserves. A Breath of Fresh Air project with Ignite!
Permanent installation of art and workshops, National Trust, Calke Abbey stables.
2010-11
Unfolding Exercise
- Toured London hospitals and Original Gallery, funded by Wellcome.
2009
Silhouette Journey
- Permanent installation and live show at Royal Brompton Hospital, toured hospitals in Sweden. Supported by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
2007
Idyll
- one person exhibition at Royal London Hospital, with Vital Arts, funded by Wellcome.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023
Musée-le-Petit
, Château de Sacy, Sacy-le-Petit.
2022
Enduring Circumstances
- three person installation of commissioned films at the Peltz Gallery, Birkbeck University, London.
Norwich Good Economy
- exhibition capturing concerns of local communities.
2018-19
Transitional States: Hormones at the cross roads of art and science
- international tour.
2018
We Need More Forests We Need More Homes
- commission for Firstsite, Colchester.
2014-16
Street Art with schools
, funded by Grant for the Arts and Haringey Council.
2013-17
On Aristotle as a biologist
- Commission for film supported by the Art Fund, D’Arcy Thompson Museum of Zoology, Dundee, toured to Edinburgh City Art Gallery.
2012
Magical Journey
- film for Paintings in Hospitals, Whipps Cross Hospital, London.
2011,12
Natural History Museum Lecture for staff and judge of art competition.
2011-12
Coming of Age: The Art and Science of Ageing
, Great North Museum, Newcastle Upon Tyne and GV Gallery, London, funded by Arts Council England and the Wellcome Trust.
Mini Shadow Theatre
- a product supported by Wellcome. Sold at National Theatre Shop, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
2005
The soul and the feather
- residency and exhibition, Cháteau de Sacy, Sacy-le-Petit, France, British Council Travel Award, 2.
2001-04
Memory Island
- residency then exhibition at Camden Arts Centre, London. Virtual reality world investigating life-stories of people with cerebral palsy, supported by Wellcome Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Moose Foundation, Juliet Gomperts Memorial and Janet Konstram Travel Awards.
1999-02
ValeTown
- virtual world made with students at the Vale Resource Base, funded by NESTA.
1999
Whitechapel Open
1998-99
Bed Time Stories
, Gallery de Ger, Germany and Coville Gallery, London.
1994
BP Portrait Award
, National Portrait Gallery.
Publications
Chapters in:
Seeds to Solutions,
Coming of Age,
Conversations in Art and Science.
Many exhibition catalogues - see website CV for details.
Education
BSC Physiotherapy, BA, MA Fine Art. British Sign Language Level 1, 201 and 301.
Ruth Franklin
Began her working life in advertising and as an art director. Since then, her creative work has developed in many directions and mediums, often with graphic and drawn elements. She has worked in clay for several years, creating sculptural forms that express her own experiences and passions. Combining two careers, Ruth has always taught Art part time, primarily at Camberwell College of Art, and The City Lit, London.
Website:
ruth-franklin.co.uk
Instagram:
ruthfranklin_artist
Exhibitions
2023
Musée-le-Petit
, Château de Sacy, Sacy-le-Petit.
2022
Re-Imagining tools
, M2 Gallery, Peckham – 2 person Show, Ruth Franklin & Robert Cooper.
m2Gallery Artists: Recent Work
, 2ASC Gallery, London SE17.
Traces
, 155A Gallery, London.
2020
Group show, 155A Gallery, London.
2019
Colour Space
, The Pie Factory, Margate – invited artist.
Unearthed
, House-Mill, Bromley by Bow.
2017
Coleridge–inspired show
, Omnibus, London – invited by Michael Glover, art critic.
Omnibus, London – 2 person show, Ruth Franklin & Ruth Dupre.
Something Borrowed
, Arthouse 1, London.
2016
Edward Lear–inspired show
, Omnibus, London – invited by Michael Glover.
The Discerning Eye
, Mall Gallery, London – invited by Michael Glover.
2015
Solo show, Ideas Store, Whitechapel, London.
Townhouse, 5 Fournier Street, London E1.
2014
Zetter Hotel, London – 2 Person show.
2012
Tradition & Innovation – Five Decades of Harrow Ceramics
, Contemporary Applied Arts.
2011
Group show, Rochester Art Gallery – Robert Cooper, Sarah Radstone, Kate Wickham, Annie Turner, Dan Kelly.
2008
City Lit Ceramics Diploma - 20 years Show
, Barrett Marsden Gallery, London.
2002
Dangerous Corners
, Cork Street, London.
Commission and Show, Rugby City Art Gallery.
2000
Print Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol.
Printmaking Exhibition, Ropewalk, North Lincolnshire.
Form & Transfer Exhibition
, Drumcroon Education Art Centre, Wigan.
A Taste of Pop
, Staffordshire Arts – Touring Show.
1999
Contemporary Print Show
(Print Award), Barbican Centre, London.
1998
Postgraduate Printmaking, A Survey
, Barbican Centre, London.
1997
Hats off to Hackney
– procession, commissioned hat in V & A Collection.
1995
Galerie Vromans, Amsterdam, Holland.
1994
The Tricycle Gallery, London.
The Summer Show
, Contemporary Fine Art, London.
1993
The Crafts Council Collection
, The Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
1991
Handwerksmesse
, Koblenz, Germany.
1989
The Harrow Connection
, The Crafts Council.
1986
68-86
, Oxford Gallery, Oxford.
Top Office
, Business Design Centre, London – Sculptural commission for Michael Peters, graphic designer.
The Circus
, Sunderland Arts Centre – Touring Show.
1983
Terres
, Centre George Pompidou, Paris.
Blond Fine Art Gallery
Contemporary Ceramics
, Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
Opening Show
, Aspects Gallery, London.
Ring Exhibition
, Aspects Gallery – touring to Galerie Spectrum, Munich and Willem Matter Gallery, Cologne, Germany.
International Contemporary Art Fair
, Olympia, London.
Solo Shows
2022
Traces
, 155a Gallery, London
2015
Idea Store, Whitechapel, London
1987
Edinburgh Art Gallery
1986
Cleveland Museum
Sunderland Arts Centre, Sunderland
1982
Harvest Too Gallery, London
Public Collections
Victoria & Albert Museum, London – Contemporary Ceramics & 20c
Hat Collection, Paisley Museum, Scotland
Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
Ulster Museum, Northern Ireland
The Crafts Council, London
Bedfordshire Education Authority, England
Artist in Residence
2011-2013
At the ‘Un-Library’, Hornsey Library, London
Teaching
2003
Kent Institute of Art & Design, BA Illustration.
Central St Martins College of Art – MA Printmaking.
Wood Lane School – Art Residency for children with special needs, inspired by Peter Blake Exhibition. Set up by The London Institute.
2002-present
The City Lit. Tutor Co-ordinator (2005-2014).
2002-2004
Oaklands School, Hounslow, Middlesex. Art Project for children with mild to severe physical disabilities. Set up by The London Institute.
1985-1994
Camberwell College of Art – BA Ceramics.
1982–2002
Camberwell College of Art – Foundation Course.
1978-1984
Lecturer on BA Courses at: Camberwell, Harrow, Farnham, Croydon, Loughborough, Medway, Guildhall & Epsom Colleges of Art
Foundation Course at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, High Wycombe.
Camden Arts Centre, London.
Education
1996-8
Camberwell College of Art – MA Printmaking
1973-5
Harrow College of Art – Ceramics Diploma (transferred from Croydon College of Art)
1972-3
Croydon College of Art – Ceramic Degree
1966-7
Hornsey College of Art – Foundation Course
