Natalie Kane

People who are doing wonderful arty things…Two Brighton Artists: Anika Carpenter and Allison McGechie

I spent the day with these two wonderful ladies at The Jerwood Gallery in Hastings, which I’ll write about later. I’m completely, ridiculously impressed by their work and attitude to their work, and I’m looking forward to their next exhibitions.

Anika Carpenter - Emphatically Light Daydream Ego I, 2008, dimensions variable, mixed media

Anika runs Talking Art which runs short contemporary art courses in Brighton for adults. She’s a Fellow of the Academy of Higher Education and loves Cy Twombly as much as I do. She’s also a Volunteer at Fabrica, which is how I met her. Here’s an explanation of her work in her words:

‘Carpenter’s work is an exploration of the nature of memory, the pleasures and frustrations of attempting to accurately preserve passing moments. In her work, the origins and meanings of private jokes are misplaced, roses given at specific times for specific reasons become generic dried blooms, and evenings spent with friends are transformed into an indecipherable and increasingly uneven ‘map’.’

Her Website, with further work: www.anikacarpenter.com 

Allison McGechie - Gut 

Allison is a sculptor, painter and a fiery individual. As a retired teacher, she’s been able to make these wonderful visceral sculptures. as for her, the human element is ‘vital’. She has this wonderful piece called ‘Wimple headdress’ which plays with the idea of virginity, restraint and the body particularly well.

Website: http://www.alisonmcgechie.com