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Home What is Walsall's New Deal? Themes Area Map Newsletter Project Updates Staff Events New Deal Documentation Links Job Vacancies Contact Site Map |
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My paintings come from "deep thinking and sweet dreaming" says Jo Clifton-Coles, the artist currently showing at the Blakenall Village Centre. Influenced by memory, imagination and environment, Jo makes semi- abstract paintings that feature elements found in the landscape and sky. Since childhood Jo has experimented with many visual obsessions, looking for beauty rather than perfection. Laughed at by career advisors when she expressed the desire to become a tattoo artist, she became a hairdresser instead. Following a career, of 'painting on hair' as a colourist, Jo has turned her hand to painting on canvas. In hair, Jo discovered her intuitive colour sense and won competitions in hair colouring. This led to a varied and successful voyage of creativity working as a tutor in Paris teaching European and Japanese students how to cut, style and colour hair. Jo then freelanced as a stylist for fashion magazines such as Marie Claire and Elle. In London Jo was salon based, with clients including David Byrne from the Talking Heads and Ben de Lisi the fashion designer, Jo continued to teach and perform demonstrations. Jo studied a foundation course at Walsall College of Art followed by a degree in Fine Art from University College Falmouth, followed by a summer at Cyprus School of Art. The past ten years have been a stable time, experiencing life changes with the death of her father, living in a narrow boat on midland canals, childbirth and marriage. She has worked alongside her florist husband during this time and raised their son, who is now seven, as well as establishing a studio in Walsall Wood and exhibiting her paintings. Jo said; "My painting is important to me as it is my means of expressing and communicating my ideas, and can be a way of thinking through and taking action on those ideas. In my painting I am obsessed with trying to find the balance between imagery and space. There is often an idea which may appear or disappear as I make the painting. I don't always know what I am looking for". Jo's paintings can be seen at the Blakenall Village Centre from Friday 28th September until 10th November 2007. If you are interested in showing your work please contact Andy Bradley or Sally Gamston on 01922 712858. Ends..... Photo opportunities are on Monday 24th September 10.00 am in the New Atrium Gallery at the Blakenall Village Centre, Thames Road, Blakenall, Walsall. Journalists are welcome to attend the Private View that will take place on Thursday 27th September 5.00pm until 7.00pm. (Please let either Sally or Andy know that you can come along). For more information about Walsall's New Deal for Communities initiative please contact Andy Bradley on 01922 712858. E mail: bradleya@walsall.gov.uk Walsall's New Deal for Communities is a regeneration initiative working in the areas of Blakenall, Bloxwich and Leamore. The initiative received a £52 million Government grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government (formerly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) to be spent on sustainable regeneration spread over a ten year period that commenced 2001. |
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