Melanie Guy

profile

Melanie GuyMelanie Guy

Galleries

Statement

 

 

 “My influences are from all things natural and with the Zen-like philosophy that ‘less is more’ I shed extraneous material to express the essence of Nature’s energy and refine interpretations of my experiences and emotions using pewter metal as my chosen medium.

 

I lived on the sea for some years and the elements and the environment, its moods and contrasts, are interpreted in abstract work where light animates the sensuous, undulating forms and the mark-making. When passing by, light appears on the surface but is gone the next. It is ethereal and resembles transient and delicate qualities in the balance of the natural world. 

 

The metal is to some degree reflective and can be seen as a metaphor for self examination – our own image seen against that of nature, her essence portrayed by the simple lines and forms. We are natural products and yet like the light, our empathy with Nature as a vulnerable entity waxes and wanes – a post industrial whim or a dangerous fact? In making a primal scream on nature's behalf, my work is replete with feeling, hoping it will kindle awareness of our ruthless treatment and devaluation. Our continued disregard is having unimagined consequences.

 

In this mode I use a universal language which is devoid of cultural reference. I hope to stimulate empathy with Nature’s fight and promote a review of her beautiful 'essence' of form; all this, in celebration of her amazing ability to regenerate and her pure creative energy." 

 

 

Biography

2009DACS artist
2007Member South West Sculptors Assn
2004Fellow Society of Designer Craftsmen
2002/3p/t lecturer Plymouth College of Art & Design
2002Member Plymouth Society of Artists
1999BA (Hons) Applied Art
1983-98Head Art Dept St Joseph's School Launceston Cornwall
1971Cert ED & Diploma in Art & Design - Ceramics

 

Melanie’s extensive experience includes a family and a career in education; she has been a professional, exhibiting artist for eleven years or more and is a co-director of a design company. 

'I currently work with pewter extending the possibilities of the metal into expressive forms. Much of my work is sculptural relief, suitable for the domestic or the corporate market. I use innovative methods to colour the metal and create different products. I am a Fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen and exhibit with them regularly.

Also I design for a company specialising in exciting creative constructions for the natural play environment - www.alastairguy.co.uk '

...and see www.axisweb.org/melanie guy - http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/melanie guy  www.societyofdesignercraftsmen.org.uk - www.commissionacraftsman.com/melanie guy  www.drawntothevalley.co.uk/melanie guy  - www.swsculptors.co.uk/melanie guy  www.marypenley.com/melanie guy - www.openspacegalleries.com/melanieguy   

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibition History

3rd May-25th June 2011RECEIVED WISDOM - ARLINGTON ARTS CENTRE, nr.Newbury, Berks.
01/05/2011SCULPTURE AT BUCKFAST ABBEY - Medieval Hall and grounds, Buckfastleigh
26/03/2011ART AT THE WORKS - Art At The Works, Tavistock
22/03/201121st CENTURY FURNITURE III - The Millinery Works, London N1 3JS
29/01/2011PLYMOUTH SOCIETY OF ARTISTS - Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth
08/01/2011DESIGNER CRAFTS 2011 - The Mall Galleries,, London
21/10/2010EXPLORE THIS SPACE - Barrow Centre, Rame Peninsular
2010SEPTEMBER - Open Space Galleries, Penryn, Cornwall
2010SUMMER - SDC Gallery, Shoreditch, London
2010PLYMOUTH SOCIETY OF ARTISTS - Art Mill Gallery
2010ALTERNATE - Exchange, Penzance
2009EXPLORE THIS SPACE - Mount Edgcumbe, Cornwall
Oct-Nov 2009'A CELEBRATION OF INNOVATION IN PEWTER' Duchy Square Gallery, Princetown, Devon
September 2009LIMEKILN GALLERY Calstock Cornwall
July 2009THE GALLERY DARTINGTON Coll of Arts, Totnes Devon SW Sculptors in 'Ways Without Words'
June-July 2009DUCHY SQUARE GALLERY Princetown Devon
June 2009PEWTER LIVE DESIGN COMPETITION Pewterers’ Hall, Oat Lane, London EC2V 7DE
May-August 2009KOWALSKY GALLERY, DACS, 33 Gt Sutton Street, EC1V 0DX
May 2009ARTMILL GALLERY 83Hyde Park Rd, Plymouth-Plymouth Soc of Artists
May-Aug 2009'TEN' at BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY West Midlands
2008-2009'CRAFTED' at Winchester Discovery Centre SO23 8RX
2008SWSA Ariel Centre Totnes Devon TQ9 5JX
2008 and 2009CRUX FAIR Rattery Devon TQ10 9LD
2002 ongoingPLYMOUTH SOCIETY of ARTISTS Plymouth Museums & Arts Galleries
2008 and 2009DRAWN TO THIS PLACE Mount Edgcumbe Gallery PL10 1HZ
2008100% DESIGN Earls Court London
2008DTTV Open Studios at Mary Newman's Cottage, Saltash Cornwall
2008 and 2009WAYS WITHOUT WORDS Dartington College of the Arts
2007 and 2008CUBE3 Gallery Plymouth University - life work with DTTV
2008 and 2009OPEN SPACE GALLERIES Penryn Cornwall
2008THE CONTEMPORARY CRAFT FAIR Bovey Tracey Devon
1999 - 2008DESIGNER CRAFTS 2008 Mall Galleries London
2007 and 2009SDC GALLERY Shoreditch London
2007ROYAL WEST of ENGLAND ACADEMY Bristol
2007LIMBERHURST ARTS CENTRE Cambridge
2003 - 2009RCA Secret Exhibition
2006WESLEY-BARRELL Craft Awards touring, ORIGIN Somerset House
2006GREAT ART FAIR Alexandra Palace London
2006SALTRAM HOUSE Gallery Plymouth
2006ROYAL WILLIAM YARD Plymouth 'Urban Splash'
2004OXO TOWER Gallery London