Photos: Jo Clement
Bethany is currently part of the prestigious Hothouse 5 cohort of emerging makers by the Crafts Council England. She won the Pre-Incubation Award from Falmouth University. Bethany has exhibited in exhibitions and spaces including New Designers, The Poly, Truro Cathedral, Trelissick Gardens, Newlyn & Exchange Galleries, Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, The Curious Hall and The Lander Gallery.
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Mesmerised by nature, intricate detail and beauty in the macabre Bethany creates: three-dimensional jewellery, transformed from natural objects into precious metals, sculpture ranging in scale, and installations. These forms are actualised through processes that involve exothermic solidification utilizing a combination of materials such as metals, resin, jesmonite and casting polymers. Her uncanny sculptural forms develop through the material process, conjuring imagery of alchemy, science and curious anomalies in nature; emphasising the beauty in organic imperfection and irregularities. Bethany has adoration for flora and fauna and views her fascination with the deceased life form a celebration of the organism. Bethany’s jewellery is created using an extensive mould making process, combined with wax injection and lost wax investment casting. As a result, the forms and detail she achieves are irregular amongst the hand made. Her jewellery began as a by-product of sculptural work; “body and soul” ,a sculpture depicting a cast sparrow with its soul leaving its body, required the use of the above processes to create the intricate detail in the feet. Bethany realised each foot worked as an individual piece of sculptural jewellery. Since this revelation she has gone on to cast miniature skulls, bones and seedpods to add to the collection. Her sculptural work can be created through many processes but often encompasses some form of production mould making as the materials she is fascinated with transform from solid to liquid. |