McCannon, D., 2013.

'And Also'

I was invited to curate and exhibit within this exhibition celebrating the work of women artists who were directly influenced by 'folk arts' in their work.

And Also – Oriel Wrecsam
October 29th 2013- January 4th 2014

Works by Cornelia O’Donovan, Rose de Borman, Sian Bailey, Abi Efnisien, Laura Knight, Desdemona McCannon, Yadzia Williams.

‘Folk’ art is often strange to us, reflecting lives and beliefs that we no longer have access to, and for whom no history exists. The word ‘folk often conjures up a set of associations, to do with objects that are hand-made, utilitarian or decorative, and part of everyday life and its rituals.

For the artists, makers and illustrators involved in this exhibition, the word ‘folk’ has enabled a kind of social imaginary, where nostalgia for a pre-industrial past, magical thinking and fascination for fragmentary and lost ‘lore’ can be explored.

The work represented here is not easy to categorise as ‘art’, ‘illustration’ or ‘decorative design’, as all the artists involved work across many disciplines and media. Textiles, pattern, illustrated books, ceramic objects and toys for domestic settings become part of the patina of shared memory in everyday life, more often destined for the shop than the gallery.

The title ‘And Also’ comes from my love of carved lettering on gravestones, and reflects my desire to foreground these overlooked interstices in the history of art and design, the place where ‘folk art’ sits.