Rachel Johnston
Senior Lecturer Fine Art
Tel: +44 (0)1243 816262
Email: R.Johnston@chi.ac.uk
Specialism: community and socially engaged art practice, textiles and mixed media.
The area of socially engaged art represents a significant component of my practice and research. Continued work in the studio provides the opportunity to experiment with materials and ideas, making pieces for exhibition and commissions, but also informing the work that I do with people.
My interest in public and community art began whilst working for Free Form Arts Trust in Hackney, London. Working as part of a team of architects, designers and artists to develop schemes of art for inner city environments, I realised the potential application of art outside the studio and gallery, and the value of involving communities in the decision-making process. I have also worked as an ‘artist consultant’ for Essex County Council’s ‘Artists in Architecture’ scheme, collaborating with architects, planners and landscape designers to incorporate art work into schools and public spaces. Other commissions have included works for the children’s ward at Colchester and Tendring Hospital, a community artwork for Pallant House Gallery in Chichester and a number of pieces for day centres in Sussex and Essex. I have also worked in schools and with the public at a variety of Museums and galleries including the D-Day Museum Portsmouth, Worthing Museum and Art Gallery, Pallant House Gallery Chichester, Aspex Gallery Portsmouth and the Science Museum in London.
www.flickr.com - click on thumbnails for photo gallery
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Since 1996 I have worked in partnership with artist Emily Lawlor and storyteller Richard Neville as Mappa. We work collaboratively with institutions and community groups to explore image-making, narrative and ownership in the context of socially engaged art practice. Our most recent project was ‘Unpacking the Past’ (2007-2009) an arts project that worked with a wide range of community groups in Portsmouth. Workshops were run in collaboration with Portsmouth Museum and Records Office and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. We used the Museum collection as a starting point in our work, which generated a moving range of personal stories, memories and images. The final exhibition and accompanying publication, brought together stories, images and objects from the museum collection.
I am a member of Artspace Portsmouth, where I have a studio. I am currently experimenting with photo-etched imagery on metal, and exploring the relationship between drawing and textiles.