Common Folk
A solo exhibition by Emily Brookfield
“Back in the 90’s my mum would take me to folk art classes after school that were held in the back room of a haberdashery shop”
“Context?” I hear you ask…
The end of the year is fast approaching and for many months I have been working away on a body of work between collection releases, teaching pottery classes, and packing up and moving my studio from the Yarra Valley to Geelong.
I am still settling into my new surroundings but I have received the warmest welcome into the local ceramics community here. After haphazardly setting up a temporary studio space in my garage and constructing a kiln shed with the help of my wonderful partner Rob, I am excited to finally share what I have been making and introduce myself to the creative community of Geelong.
So, What the heck is Common Folk?
The title of my upcoming solo exhibition at Boom Gallery this December!
The show comprises of 10 tiny-scapes and 20 tiny chair sculptures, all unique and made by my hands from beginning to end.
Image by Carli Wilson. Chair sculpture by Emily Brookfield
Image by Carli Wilson. Chair sculptures by Emily Brookfield
“Coming together in community to share knowledge and tradition is important to me ”
About the show
Back in the 90's when I was in primary school, my mum would take me to folk art (tole painting) classes after school that were held in the back room of a haberdashery shop in the suburb that I grew up in. It was one of my first real introductions into the arts and has heavily influenced my preference for working in a craft based medium. Women of all ages would attend the class each week and I remember it being a very nurturing creative experience.
'Common Folk' draws on the nostalgia of this experience as a child and reflects the patience, care and attention to detail that craft based practices embody. Coming together in community to share knowledge and tradition is important to me and these pieces honour the skills passed down through generations and celebrate the art of the 'common folk', which is often valued less than its fine art counterparts. Each chair is fired to stoneware temperatures causing their delicate frame to bend and buckle which almost gives them a persona all of their own. My choice to alter the scale of a utilitarian object like a chair is to shift the value we place on everyday objects, rendering their form more important than their intended function.
The details
Common Folk will be on show at Boom Gallery 11th - 20th December
Join me for opening celebrations 11th December 5pm - 7pm
41 Pakington Street, Geelong West
View the work online from December 4th and in person from 11th December during gallery hours 10am - 4pm Tuesday to Saturday
Image by Carli Wilson. Sculpture by Emily Brookfield
Image by Carli Wilson. Sculpture by Emily Brookfield
Image by Carli Wilson. Sculpture by Emily Brookfield
Thanks for reading along! If you’re in the Geelong region or fancy a day trip from Melbourne to see the show, please share your visit with me on Instagram @emily_brookfield
P.S
The tiny scapes double as incense and jewellery holders. The little gold chimney has a hole in it to hold a stick incense and the trees are perfect for stacking rings around!