Jera May
Materially my tendency is to work with something, an environment, an object, an old drawing, map or story. Making use of its original values or context I reconfigure and intervene, install, add, arrange, cast, draw, film, or act, to articulate endeavours, consider philosophies and understand occurrences. Sometimes personal sometimes cultural.
I am neurodiverse and not quite fitting in has created an endless questioning of norms which has driven my practice. Exploring themes of power, system thinking and proposals for new world ideologies I have been reflecting on recent changes in perspectives and new understanding of equity, race, religion, gender, and mankind’s impact on the environment.
Writing on 'The Delirium of Joy', The artist and writer Ambrosine Allen describes;
“I felt what May had created was a kind of ghostly archive, where real landscapes are layered with inner more metaphorical landscapes and connections are formed between past and present, fact and fiction. I left thoughtful about the idea of 'sculptural film', impressed by both the physical power of the installation and the romantic illusions of the projected media, seduced by how you can get lost somewhere in-between.”
Qualifications
2008 - MA Fine Art: Sculpture, Distinction, Wimbledon College of Art, University of the Arts London 2008 - Post Graduate Certificate in Education, University of Westminster 1992 - BA (Hons) 3D Design (Glass), First class, Wolverhampton University
Exhibitions
Art of the Possible, PM Gallery, Soane Museum Ealing , Construction , Gallery, 74 - 80 Upper Tooting Rd London, Normalcy Bias, Listros Galerie - Berlin, Wonderlust, APT Gallery Creekside Deptford, Birds of a Feather, Sueli Turner Gallery, Mile End - (N)Everland, The Nunnery Bow Arts Trust, Bow , Future Map 08, David Roberts Art Foundation Fitzrovia, London, Approaches to What? - The Nunnery, Bow, SharkPot - Node London, Studio 1B Richmond, Domestic Perspective - Center for Drawing, Wimbledon, Ground Rules - Canazario Park, Wimbledon, Curated by Terry Smith and Gilane Tawadros, Current - Trinity Buoy Wharf, East India Docks, Muscular Pet - Mashed Potato Gallery, Deptford, Designer block – Old Street, Tea Building, The Biscuit factory -Newcastle, Collect V&A
Publications Glass - An Inspirational Portfolio - Watson -Guptill NY
Founder Just Glass Society
Articles / Reviews
Craft & Design –The Just Glass Story, S. Prendergast Jan Feb 2015
South London Art Map
Evening Standard review Future Map
Bloomberg.com
Timeout review Canazario Park
Current Academic Position - Foundation Art & Design Course Leader City Lit
2013 -2018 - Head of Richmond Art School
2008 -2013 Learning Manager Visual Arts, lecturer HNC/D & Foundation Art & Design RACC
2006 -2008 -Faculty Manager Visual Arts, lecturer HNC/D & Foundation Art & Design RACC
2004 – 2006 Program leader, lecturer HNC/D & Foundation Art & Design RACC
2002 -2004 Lecturer Glass & Sculpture RACC