Hannah Mathison whose roots have been in the Cotswolds since the age of three, has been a decorator, gardener and groom, amongst other things, over the years.
She gained a first class honours degree in Fine Art Sculpture in 1997, prior to bringing up a family. This gave her the chance to explore and develop her creativity, which continued to find its way into the spaces in her everyday life – it still does.
Today, as she finds herself in the cut and thrust of an office environment, something she never envisaged for herself, her creativity has become more important than ever.
Talking about her creative process, Hannah says:
“Spending time in my shed reconnects me to my creative self. Wherever I go I collect objects that intrigue or inspire me. I take them home where they wait patiently to be cast in their roles in a new narrative.
The transformation of these objects comes from a quiet but vital part of me that can’t always be heard over the hubbub of the everyday.
The finished pieces are all unique and are made in reaction to my thought processes at the time” (July, 2021).
You can follow Hannah’s work and project on Instagram at hannahccmathison.
Exhibiting artists:
Hannah Mathison
CF Sherratt
John Stadnicki
TU : PLEI is an invitation to engage with the ludic self then to share the experience with others.
TU : PLEI is an art exhibition which brings together drawing, painting, photography, collage, prints, sculpture, installation and montage from artists with a perceptive and individual interpretation on contemporary playfulness.
The exhibition TU : PLEI will be open 20-25 July 2021 at Stroud Brewery, 9am-5pm.
While writing Buried Gods Metal Prophets I often looked back at my childhood games and wondered what they meant then, whether time has given them a different meaning or not. It might have. But surely when the Guillemot Press editors worked on the manuscript, there were moments when my siblings’ chasing in the backyard or ‘soldier-soldier’-game felt untouched and sacred. Precious and private.
At first, sacred to me, later just sweet reminders that childhood play and joy are universal experiences. A child’s laughter and falls and bruises and tears have a collective ‘sameness’ yet our experiences give them unique meaning. A bit like different interpretations of what ‘freedom’ and ‘enjoyment’ are all about. A bit like what being human is all about. After all, war and tragedy, love and disappointment, growth, learning, failure and success are human experiences that repeat themselves despite topological or temporal differences.
Alongside the artwork, I will be reading from Buried Gods Metal Prophets on Thursday 22nd July 6pm. FREE entry! All welcome!
Buried Gods Metal Prophets is published by the Guillemot Press, edited by Luke Thompson and Sarah Cave.
Illustrations and design: Antonia Glücksman.
The book is available here.
© Maria Stadnicka, July 2021
Maria Stadnicka 