I am a visual artist and creative educator, currently looking at alternative ways into drawing from a neurodivergent perspective. I consider drawing as a place of inquiry, a way of thinking and communicating, a method for connecting, sharing and enriching sensory capacities that are fundamental to our human experience.
I am exploring standard and non-standard drawing processes and developing work from architectural and engineering diagrams.
I have reached a critical point in my investigations and a pivotal moment in my career; This funding would allow a concentrated period of time away from my educational roles to reach the full potential of this work. It would enable me to take creative risks, extend and deepen my research, and increase my confidence and clarity of practice. I will consolidate a body of work for exhibition, respond to community opportunities in Darlington and extend my national and international networks.
The Dover Prize would raise my public profile and visibility as a contemporary artist, re- situating my art practice as the most prominent aspect of my career.
I will use this funding to fully interrogate intuitive and impulsive drawing in conjunction with diagramming and information-based drawing. In Darlington, London and abroad.
Activities:
• Archive research into architectural and engineering drawings from inside and outside Darlington including,
Durham University archives, The Stores, Hopetown Darlington, The Railway Museum and the National Archives.
• Visits to ‘Drawing Matter’ architectural drawing archive, considering theoretical and expressive architectural
drawing language with Jesper Authen.
• Research trip to the ‘Emma Kunz Centre’ in Switzerland, exploring Kunz’s radiesthesia drawing methods.
• Further research into non-standard drawing including works of Hilma Af Klimt and Georgina Houghton
• Producing exploratory drawings in response to my research.
• Expanding networks in Darlington and surrounding area in art, educational and community arenas.
• Developing collaborative works by engaging with the Darlington community through drawing workshops using
inclusive teaching practices to reframe drawing teaching methods.
• Production of finished works for public exhibitions.
I aim to articulate a new position for my drawing practice, evolve and exhibit a new body of work in Darlington, find new audiences and disseminate discoveries around drawing beyond looking.
I am particularly interested in The Dover Prize as it will enable me to investigate Darlington’s rich architectural and engineering provenance. I will collaborate with Darlington organisations and individuals, exploring archives and evolving dialogues to develop my knowledge of engineering and architectural drawing language as a source of inspiration, to build on my expressive visual language.
As part of this work, I shall reconsider drawing approaches and reframe drawing teaching practices. My ambition is to develop art works with Darlington community groups through a range of inclusive drawing workshops – blending my creative practice with my teaching experience, working as an artist collaborator in non-formal educational environments.
Through transcending my own barriers to drawing, my hope is to reach others, exchanging ideas and experiences through expanded drawing. Inspiring non-drawers to draw, to redefine drawing parameters and find new inclusive ways of working.
Bringing my investigations to Darlington, expanding and practicing in Darlington, I will develop a new body of work centred on its significant technical drawing heritage. I aim to further disseminate discoveries around drawing approaches, to exhibit in Darlington and other linked cities, continuing the connection of different regions through drawing, raising my profile and the Darlington creative arts.
Due to my cognitive differences, I have used automatic drawing impulsively since childhood as an occupation strategy to keep me connected to the present moment. Understanding these inherent physical actions as an intrinsic part of my art practice is a revelation which has completely transformed the direction of my work – from a found object and installation-based practice to exploring alternative drawing processes which I previously thought unattainable. I am currently developing my automatic drawing, using drawing tools, intervention and experimental sensory methods of drawing as a way to translate philosophical ideas that align with the contemporary thinking around diversity and inclusion. As part of this drawing exploration, I have been intervening in architectural plans and engineering drawings, developing a metaphorical visual language by reinterpreting the shapes and symbols within these information diagrams, bringing alternative interrelationships and patterns to the fore. I understand these found drawings conceptually as an empirical base from which to build from but also challenge and redirect a mechanistic paradigm to a more philosophical, sensory and inclusive understanding. Working with drawings and reconfiguring them to represent a change in previous structures and ways of doing things, to consider alternative potentials with increased complexity and possibilities for difference and uncertainty. Selected opportunities since my MA, FA Sculpture, 2008 (dist.)
Axis Bursary, Developing Practice 2024
Art of the Possible, Pitzhanger Manor, Ealing, 2014
Wonderlust, APT Gallery, Creekside Deptford, 2011
Normalcy Bias 2, Listros Galerie, Berlin, 2011
(N)everland – The Nunnery Bow Arts Trust, Bow, 2009
Axis MA STARS, 2008
Future Map, David Roberts Foundation Fitzrovia, work in collection 2008
2008 – MA Fine Art: Sculpture, Distinction, Wimbledon, University of the Arts London
1992 – BA (Hons) 3D Design (Glass), First, Wolverhampton University.
Interestingly thinking about my focus on inclusive drawing approaches has a bearing on my own creative education. I was conceptual in my outlook but couldn’t draw in the expected observational way that is still the case in current teaching practices in schools and colleges. Consequently, although I would have been more suited to a Fine Art Degree, I was encouraged to pursue 3D design. I liked the idea of doing glass as I had never done it before, and it encompassed many different materials and making skills. The course was brilliant, it taught me a real appreciation of the handmade and a firm grounding in materials and processes, it didn’t however develop my conceptual and philosophical thinking which wasn’t addressed until my MA. It did clearly define me as an artist. I was the first female to receive a first on the course, I think this was principally because my work stood out as non- design, being large sculptural installations constructed mainly from found objects with some glass in it, being different sometimes pays off.
Axis Bursary, Developing Practice 2024 – This award really was the springboard that gave me the time and space to further my drawing which transformed my work, from a found object and installation-based practice to exploring alternative drawing approaches.
In 2003 I founded the Just Glass Society as a platform for students, alumni and staff to exhibit and develop creative opportunities, it’s still a going concern having had several exhibitions and seminars with over 70 members.
In my educational roles including Head of Richmond Art School, I have initiated and collaborated on hundreds of creative opportunities for others working with different art organisations and community groups.
I am a member of Axis Arts where I regularly contribute to artist peer groups.
I have organised group shows and events for example, artists in conversations with Peter Suchin, at the (N)evenland group show at the Nunnery in Bow.
As the course leader for Foundation Art & Design at City Lit, I organise, and curate shows every year in London galleries.
My MA work, Delirium of Joy, was purchased by the David and Indrė Roberts private and public Collection in 2008
Craft & Design –The Just Glass Story, S. Prendergast Jan Feb 2015
South London Art Map
Evening Standard review Future Map
Bloomberg.com
Timeout review Cannizaro Park installation
Email: jeraxmay@gmail.com
Address: 16 Springfield Grove, Sunbury on Thames, Spelthorne, TW166NT, GB
Local Authority: Spelthorne
