Author: Sally Wakelin

Systems – Rotation, Reversal, Chance

Art, Sculpture

Playing around with a system of rotation and reversal of a simple shape, I corrugated the paper cut-outs which adds an element of chance in how the light falls, the pieces are not attached and naturally curl up in random ways. Half the cut-outs were corrugated top to bottom, the rest side to side. Of course the corrugations shortened the lengths so the pieces no longer fill the squares properly. For a few moments this looked wonderful in strong sunlight but now it’s cloudy again.  


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Colour Change Hex

Art, Painting

I should have said before but the reason I posted the photo of my mother’s painting yesterday was because I had been reading Andy’s (Patterns That Connect) article. https://patternsthatconnext.wordpress.com/2015/01/20/chance-and-order-at-eagle-gallery/. I do so wish I had seen that exhibition.

Here’s another of her paintings from the mid 70s, similar in theory perhaps to Andy’s intricate paintings from 2015. A fascinating link to four decades ago.

http://www.andyparkinson.co.uk/gallery-2015.php

R. M. Wakelin

 

 

 

 

 

Striped Polygons

Painting

A painting by my mother dating from the early 70s, it is 1.4m square and hangs on my living room wall. The pattern is based on a complex series of rotations and mirroring at more than one level as well as another set of rules governing the colour changes. I’ve spent many hours trying to decipher the rules and have made progress but there is still some areas of mystery.

My parents experienced first hand the theories behind abstract art in the 70’s whilst attending the unique Barry Summer School in South Wales set up by Lesley Moore, educator and painter. Geoffrey Steele, Kenneth and Mary Martin and many others shared their ideas and theories in a series of workshops. 

It is a great privilege to have this painting on my wall, maybe I am biased but I think it would stand its ground in the Tate Modern.