MY WORK.

1. Family secrets

Handmade paper, ink, machine embroidery with inclusions found on the Blast beach, Seaham.

2. 'Stack'

Handmade paper with rusty found object. Size unframed 15 cm x 20cm.
The found object in this work is a rusty piece of metal found at the Blast beach, Seaham. The paper is handmade cotton wool paper.

'Transformations' - 1

Rust dyed cotton bed sheet, machine embroidery.
Size of each unframed 32cm x 42cm

The rusty objects that were used to dye the fabric were found on the Blast, remnants of industry, and they had been hidden, then exposed by the sea before starting their new lives as my muse. The words on the rust dyed cotton describe the revealing of the objects by the sea, however these words can also be used as a metaphor for life and the challenges faced by the individual as they grow and develop.

/ 'Transformations' 2

/ 'Transformations' 3

/ 'Transformations' 4

7. Blast beach layers

Watercolour, ink, wax on watercolour paper.
Pen and ink on cartridge paper.

8. Blast bowl

Hand made cotton wool paper with inclusions, machine embroidery.
Size 12 cm high x 12 cm wide.
The rope inclusions came from the Blast beach ledge. A juxtaposition exists between the use of handmade paper and the environment of the Blast. It is fragile!

9. Ghost Nest

Indiscriminate in its catch, the abandoned fishing net had continued to silently kill, even after being washed up on a beach. Entangled, trapped, starved, lacerated, infected, exhausted, suffocated, drowned - giving a slow painful death over hours, days, months, even years.

10. Sanctuary

Nappies, steel chain, flat iron and vintagemannequin
Featured in 'A Tale Of A Few Cities' project 2021

Breastplate 1

Organza, machine embroidery

How dare they: my first reaction on hearing about the loss of trees, hedge and habitat caused by Northern Powergrid in april 2021. Without permission they cut and pulled out 20 metres of ancient Hawthorn hedge and trees. Visiting this site I found a muddy, scarred landscape with upturned roots. The once lush species rich area transformed into a battle site, reminiscent of WW1. It was painful, triggering past emotions relating to lack of respect by others for nature, the planet and historic landscape. Compensation will be paid, but this will not restore the wind sculpted trees, nor the ecological system lost. Disconnection to nature is happening all over the world, threatening our planet's existence. Hawthorn used in this work was cut up on site.

/Breastplate 2

Hawthorn, steel wire, mirror

1. Lumiere Installation, Durham 2023

Title: 'Ghost Nest'

2.

Title: 'Ghost Nest'

3.

Title: 'Ghost Nest'

3 LED spotlights in the centre which are programmed to glow then slowly fade.

4.

Watering can detail from 'Ghost Nest'.

5.

Title: 'Ghost Nest'

Dolls Head detail - Objects are programmed to glow and fade.

6.

Title: 'Ghost Nest'

7.

The ideal spot.

8.

Rescue

Appliqué with machine embroidery

'Rescue' is my commentary on the RNLI's work to save lives at sea, a topic which has been thrust into the political spotlight in recent years, especially so in the run up to, and during, the current UK General Election.

ANGELA SANDWITH
Visual Artist

After a career in design education spanning almost 40 years, teaching both in secondary schools and for the last 20 years as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sunderland, Angela left University to focus on her art practice.  Angela works from a former granary which overlooks the countryside and the East Durham Coast, and also from a 1970’s caravan which she converted using reclaimed and recycled materials.

Angela works with a variety of media, but she is probably best known for textiles and site specific installations. She often uses discarded, found and unusual materials which challenge the perspectives of the materials and traditional techniques used. Using materials as metaphors she repurposes and gives a second life to them with a message and a hint of the past life. Global issues, in particular environmental, and concerns surrounding familial nurture and protection inform her work. Over the last few years her daily dog walks have become an essential part of her art practice. She collects objects, take photos and writes whilst out walking. Back at the studio she collates the materials ready to be given a new life within a project or as her muse.