Alec Stevens
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My work is about revealing a playful quality in the daily world around us. I fuse craft practice (in particular, fine wood carving) and fine art thinking to create works which are humorous, revealing and thought-provoking. While exploring ideas, whether linked to a specific historic location or to the urban setting, I use wood and emerging technology to create dramatic experiences that unlock hidden or overlooked narratives.
The artwork I make is grounded in the ability to connect the onlooker with a story in the medium of wood, woods materiality and my makers touch. Identifying connections with wood and using them as the bases of research then making is a powerful technique I have developed over the past 10 years. I have honed this skill through my many heritage projects within the National Trust, museums and corporate clients.
I am a resident artist with the Pervasive Media Studio within Watershed, Bristol’s supportive community of people committed to exploring the connections between art and technology. As a studio resident I am fusing the high tech and the high craftsmanship associated with being a maker. I am being supported conceptually and logistically by their creative producer team and technological staffing to help develop and deliver ambitious scalable projects. My work has resulted in experiences that ground the viewer through the physical craftsmanship of the objects I make and elevate them concept and story using technology.
Alec Stevens
Artist ~ Sculptor ~ Researcher
e: info@alecstevens.co.uk w: www.alecstevens.co.uk
t: UK: 00447546576400
Profile
My work is about revealing a certain playful quality in the daily world around us. I fuse craft practice (in particular, fine wood carving) and fine art ideas to create works which are humorous, revealing and thought-provoking. While exploring concepts, whether linked to a specific historic location or to the urban setting, I use wood and emerging technology to create dramatic experiences that unlock hidden or overlooked narratives.
I have made nine sculptural installations within four National Trust properties; Nymans in Sussex, The Vyne in
Hampshire, Penrhyn Castle in North Wales, and Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk. I have been Artist in Residence within
two of these properties.
I am currently a Resident Artist at the Pervasive Media Studio in Bristol.
I am co-founder of ‘Polari Press’ a queer publication house exploring queer identity, language and culture
through the medium of print, performance and exhibition.
I currently live and work in Bristol where I hold a sculpture workshop within BV Studios.
Selected Exhibitions (full list available on request)
2020
Paradox, London Wetland Centre, 2020-2021. (Residency, Commission / Group)
2019
Perv, Pervasive Media Studio, Bristol, 19th Nov 2019. (Solo)
Perv, ‘Room With A View’ Residency Show, Montmartre, Paris, 2nd Nov 2019. (Solo)
RWA Sculpture Open Exhibition, RWA, Bristol, 16th March - 2 June 2019. (Group)
Anderswo ist Hier: Elsewhere is Here, Centrespace Gallery, Bristol, 8th July - 20th March 2019. (Group)
2018
New York Queer Zine Fair, The Center : LGBT Community Center, New York, 12th-14th October 2018. (Group)
Elsewhere is Here : Anderswo ist Hier, TURBA Gallery, Hanover, Germany, 12th July - 12th August 2018. (Group)
The Paris Ass Book Fair, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 16th - 18th March 2018. (Group)
Shelves, Cabinets, Closets, practice.gallery, Paris, 15th March 2018. (Group)
New Talent Residency Showcase, Watershed, Bristol, 13th March 2018 (Residency/Group)
2017
The Makers, Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk, 21st April - 30th Oct 2017. (Residency, Commission / Group)
The Paris Ass Book Fair, Arts Factory, Paris, 10th - 12th March 2017. (Group)
2016
Pattern: Found, Exchanged, Unravelled- Bath Art Fringe, Bath, 27th May- 3rd Sept 2016. (Group)
Tall Tales / Tiny Tavern - Royal Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, 28th Apr - 3rd Sept 2016. (Residency / Solo
show)
2015
Expressions of Penrhyn Castle- Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, 11th Sept - 16th Oct 2015. (Group)
Leaving Home- CAA Gallery, London, 16th April - 31st May 2015. (Group)
2014
Collaborate- Manchester Craft and Design Centre, Manchester, 17th July-13th Sept 2014. (Group)
Craft Emergency- Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth, 11th Nov- 20th Jan 2014. (Group)
2013
Museum for Neil- Hawson Memorial Winter Residency, Jedburgh, 9th-10th Dec 2013. (Solo & Residency)
Growing- The National Centre for Craft & Design, Sleaford, 20th July- 29th Sept 2013. (Group & Residency)
Unravelling the Vyne- The Vyne House & Gardens, Basingstoke, 28th June- 22nd Dec 2013. (Group & Commission)
2012
Making It!- Winchester Discovery Centre, Winchester, 11th-14th Oct 2012. (Group & Commission)
Unravelling Nymans House- Nymans House, Haywards Heath, 4th May- 31st Oct 2012. (Group & Commission)
Residency
West Dean College Residency - West Dean College - Winchester. 2020
Paradox Artist Residency - London Wetland Centre - London. 2019/2020
Room With A View Residency - Montmartre - Paris, France. 2019
New Talents Residency - Watershed’s Pervasive Media Studio - Bristol. 2018
The National Trust’s Felbrigg Hall Artist in Residence - Norfolk. 2016
Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery Artist / Writer in Residence - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. 2016
The National Trust’s Penrhyn Castle / Arts Council Wales Artists in Residence - Bangor, North Wales. 2015
Timothy Hawson Memorial Winter Residency - Jedburgh, Scotland. 2013
The National Centre for Craft & Design Growing Residency - Sleaford. 2013
Education
3D Materials Practice Ba (Hons), University of Brighton 2008-2011, 2:1
References
Victoria Tillotson, Creative Producer for Watershed, victoria@watershed.co.uk
Sara Roberts, Curator for National Trust and Arts Council of Wales, sara@sara-roberts.com
Workshops, Talks & Performances
The Makers Round Table Discussion, Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich, 2017 (Talk)
How to Carve a Rocket, Men’s Shed, Norwich, 2017 (Workshop)
I am Making Art, Spike Island Gallery, Bristol, 2017 (Workshop)
Tainted Tales, Royal Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, 2016 (Performance)
Meet the Makers, CAA Gallery, London. 2015 (Talk)
Publications, Press & Television
2019
ITV Local News Feature, Feb 28th 2019
ITV Artist of the week, Feb 25th 2019
2017
The Times: Photo and Description, April 21st 2017
The Makers: Exhibition Catalogue, April 2017
2013
Crafts Magazine (UK): Issue 244 Sept/Oct 2013. Sara Roberts
Arts Council (UK) Making It Local: what does this mean in the context of contemporary craft? 2013. Dr Julie Brown
Crafts Magazine (UK): Issue 243 July/Aug 2013. Pamela Buxton
House & Garden (UK): July 2013. Jessica Doyle
Making Stories: Retrospective Exhibition Book for Making It!, July 2013. Alice Kettle
Unravelling The Vyne: Exhibition Book, 2013. Jill Seddon
2012
Unravelling Nymans: Exhibition Book, 2012. Geraldine Rudge
AN Magazine (UK): June 2012. Frances Lord
Crafts Magazine (UK): Issue 236, May/June 2012. Teleri Lloyd-Jones
Selvedge Magazine (UK): Issue 46, May/June 2012. Amanda Bright
Craft and Design (UK): Issue 219, Jan/Feb 2012
Prizes & Awards
Shortlisted for Jerwood Makers Prize. 2018
Shortlisted for Perrier-Jouët Arts Salon Prize. 2015
Shortlisted for Craft Emergency Prize, Aspex Gallery. 2013
Commissioners & Collectors
National Trust England & Wales
Unravelled Arts
The National Centre for Craft and
Design
M/M Paris
West Dean Estate
New York’s ICP Museum