Artist's Statement
Jacqui brings a background in performance art into her career as a textile artist. She retains a love of the spectacular but is also fascinated by more intricate and personal work involving words, images and objects. Following the death of her husband from cancer her current work has seen a great change in style. With small scale, delicate, hand-stitched handkerchiefs she chooses to reveal graphically her personal thoughts and feelings. The intimacey of the hand-stiched line helps her to work 'spontaneously' putting her ideas onto the fabric using multiple techniques and materials.
Jacqui's Christian faith forms the basis of all her textiles and her work often includes words which form part of the narrative. The spectacular nature of the work is caught in the number of images on view which inpact from a distance while drawing the viewer in.
Influences
Jacqui is fascinated by bright colours, as found in stained glass windows [especially Chagall] and medieval manuscripts. She also enjoys the essence of design captured in Matisse's paper 'cut-outs', Michelangelo's delicate cartoons and the epic art of Blake.
Materials and Methods
For Jacqui the design of the 'whole piece' is important but so are the detailed surface areas. Together they create interest from a distance but also hold fascination for those viewing the work closely. She likes to use natural fabrics - linens, wools and a variety of silks - but sometimes finds that ideas are best translated into manufactured materials, especially transparent fabrics. She uses simple machine and hand stitches and sometimes includes couched threads, beads and found natural objects. Light is also an important element in her work, either being projected through the pieces or creating ever changing shadows.
Jacqui likes to stitch words into her work and finds biblical references stimulating. The idea of interactive textiles excites her as she believes the tactile element of the fabric is an inherent part of its allure.
Current Exhibitions
The screens on creation, the journey, angels, water of life, beatitudes, prayer, rites of passage, the lord's prayer are on view at different times in Bristol Cathedral Coventry Cathedral, Exeter Cathedral, Gloucester Cathedral, Rochester Cathedral and York Minster. Please contact individual cathedrals to see if there is an exhibition currently on view.
There are original banners of some of the screens available from The Deo Gloria Trust - please email for information.
Future Plans
Jacqui likes to work on commissions for individuals and groups inside and outside the church. Her passion is to see contemporary art work which 'speaks of Christ'. As she enjoys teaching she also likes to spend some time encouraging young artists in their work and running workshops for children and primary school teachers.