Diane Eagles

Statement

Diane is a London bsed ceramic artist. Her work is inspired by ritual, emotional and spiritual inestment in objects, healing and power, and the historic resonance within place. She is chair and founding member of the ceramic arts collective The Associated Clay Workers Union and is a member of the Arts territory Exchange.

Biography

Work and Exhibitions The Lamb at the Gate: Current site-specific project with The William Blake Society, Blake's Cottage, Felpham and Bunhill Fields, Felpham and London 2019 - 2020 Life size ceramic Lamb incorporating soil and contents from the re positioning of William Blake's grave in Bunhill fields, also incorporating soil and contents from Blakes cottage in Felpham. The Lamb will be photographed in both locations, a commemoration of Blake, his poems and beliefs. ‘The Lamb’ alludes to a pastoral idyll as well as the grave being the ‘Golden Gate’ of Heaven and the gate in ‘Jerusalem’s wall’, a journey which we may all travel. Sheltered: Southwark Cathedral, London Nov - Jan 2020 Members of ACWU exhibiting ceramic art works on the theme of homelessness, coinciding with ‘The Big Sleepout’, hosted by Southwark Cathedral in support of the charity ‘The Robes Project’, providing shelter for those affected by homelessness. Showing Home: Works made in an afternoon workshop by Robes guests on the theme of homelessness, each picking up an aspect of the importance of home. https://www.southwarkcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/sheltered-by-the-associated-clay-workers-union/?d=637148448000000000 Hallowed Earth: Daily Instagram images during second Artists residency at The Ness of Brodgar Archaeological dig, August 2019 Ceramic deposition images photographed around ‘The Heart of Neolithic Orkney’ and photo printed displayed alongside objects at ‘The Ness’ Open Day https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/from-the-art-hut-2019/ Cover of ‘Arts & Health’: Volume 11 Issue 2 June 2019 Work shown ‘Expulsion’, the third of the ceramic Garden of Eden trilogy, sculptural pieces inspired by African spirit pots depicting the creation. In Expulsion Adam and Eve are overcome with grief and crushed by shame, expelled from Eden for transgression, they are changed, aged, drawn, spent. https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rahe20/11/2?nav=tocList Potteries and Potters – London Delftware explored, Southwark Cathedral, London 11th May 2019 Joint large-scale clay sculpture project with Clayground Collective and ACWU, offering a free public workshop at Southwark Cathedral on London Delftware ‘doodles’. https://www.londoncraftweek.com/makers_partners_experts/associated-clay-workers-union#sthash.0RSGNDEk.dpbs Cover of ‘The British Journal of Psychiatry’: Feb 2019 Vol 214 No 2 Work shown ‘Temptation’, the second of the ceramic Garden of Eden trilogy, sculptural pieces inspired by African spirit pots depicting the creation. In Temptation Eve is seen with a sly expression; in her mouth is the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge. Transfigured, she takes the form of a snake wrapped around Adams neck, seductive and dangerous. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/issue/EFED7B169DFDB1A07CFACC742C670572 Feast and Found: Southwark Cathedral, London Jan- Feb 2019 Ceramic works inspired by the Orkney Ness of Brodgar Archaeological dig https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/media/2184/19-whats-on-spring.pdf The Ghost Tide: Showing ‘Pipes’, from the London Bridge project at the Thames-Side Gallery, London 20 October - 3 November 2018. https://www.thames-sidestudios.co.uk/news/exhibitions/the-ghost-tide-curated-by-monika-bobinska-and-sarah-sparkes-20-oct-3-nov-2018 Votives: Totally Thames exhibition and interactive gifting to the Thames in association with Southwark Cathedral, September 2018. Part of Thames festival Showing: Hoard A month long exhibition of ceramic art work made by ACWU and Morley College ceramic artists in response to the theme of Votives and gifting tokens to the Thames. At the end of the month, the unfired ceramic works will be recorded being gifted to the Thames. The public and Church congregation will be invited to join in and witness the gifting. https://totallythames.org/event/votive Feast: Ceramics made and inspired by a 3-week residency on the Ness of Brodgar Archaeological dig, Orkney. Talk presented at Pier Arts Centre August 2018, exhibition to be held at Southwark Cathedral February 2019 https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/from-the-art-hut/ Gifted: Artefacts and Inspirations from the Ness of Brodgar. Stromness Museum, Orkney, April – September 2018 Initial works as part of research for a 3 week summer residency at The Ness, using Orkney clay to make ceramic sculpture inspired by the Archaeological dig and Neolithic ceramics. The Humble Servant: Ceramic art inspired by William Blake and Emanuel Swedenborg. A month-long exhibition at Swedenborg House, London, October 2017. Part of the Bloomsbury Festival Four ceramic pieces inspired by the engravings of William Blake for a pattern book of Josiah Wedgwood’s queensware tableware in 1817. Adorned with quotations from Swedenborg's writings and echoing the style of Blake’s hand coloured plates from his Lambeth poems, the ceramics replicate creamware of the period, with hand applied coloured Lead glaze and transfer printing. https://www.swedenborg.org.uk/media/swedenborg-review/swedenborg-review-0-01/ Remaking Nature: The Wellcome Collection, London, May 2017 Online exhibition exploring connections with nature. https://sharingnature.wellcomecollection.org/theme/remaking Ladies and Gents: The Bawden Kingston Tile Project, Kingston Guildhall & Morley College, Kingston & London, April 2017 Ceramic tiles designed in response to tiles by Edward Borden and Truda Carta being ‘found’ during refurbishment of Kingston Guildhall. Metal framed tiled panels holding new tiles and retrieved tiles hung at Morley College and Kingston Guildhall https://www.black-architecture.com/kingston-guildhall/ Site Fringe Exhibition: Transgender, Gender & Psychoanalysis, Draper Hall, London, March 2017 An exhibition of art work inspired by sexuality and gender to accompany The Site conference fringe week. Exhibited piece Oracle, an androgynous male and female twin headed divinatory instrument London Bridge Project: ACWU at Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge. January – March 2017 An exhibition of site responsive ceramics by ACWU members using clay dug from 30 m below London Bridge Station. Exhibited work ‘Pipes’, celebrate the past industries speciﬁc to the area at the time the station was originally built, including hat making, leather manufacturing, rope and hop trades. Beneath us’, a series of rough clay fragments highlighting the language of development and change. https://www.scarva.com/en/gb/Ceramic-Review-Issue-284-MarchApril-2017/m-6363.aspx Cover of ‘The International Journal of Art Psychotherapy’: Vol 21 Issue 3 Nov 2016 Work shown ‘Creation’, the first of the Garden of Eden trilogy, sculptural pieces inspired by African spirit pots depicting the creation. In Creation, Eve is emerging from Adams rib. The couple are youthful, happy, innocent together, with a potential for emergence, re connecting through intercourse but with a bitter future ahead. Dulwich Artists open house: West Norwood, London 2009 – 2016 Lambeth Open: ACWU at Cressingham Gardens Estate, Brixton, London. October 2015 An exhibition of site responsive ceramics by ACWU members reflecting upon Cressingham Gardens Estate and its potential development Work shown, ‘3 Blue Plaques’ commemorating the work of Edward Hollamby, John Major and Ken Livingston in the development of the Estate. http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2015/10/lambeth-open-artwork-at-cressingham-gardens-addresses-social-cleansing-policy-put-in-place-by-lambeth-council/ Made Ceramics: Morley Gallery, Waterloo, London 2015 An exhibition of Morley College students. Works shown, Tripod, Depressions, Furuncle London Potters Annual exhibition: Morley Gallery, London 2012 – 2015 Judges Commendation prize 2012 and 2013 ACWU at Arts Lav: Kennington, London. April 2015 A week long exhibition of ceramics by ACWU members in an Edwardian gents toilet/community arts centre Handmade In Britain: Contemporary Crafts & Design Fair, Chelsea, London 2014 Weekend participation in Craft and Design Fair with ‘The London Potters’