Statement
The themes I work with are Family, Mother and Child, Man and Woman and Horse, Angel and winged figures , Figures.
They are all reflections on ideas of the individual and relationship,how they co-exist and interrelate like feathers in the wing of a bird.
Man and Horse is a nonchalant reflection on a relationship where the man is at ease with the horse, and he is tough yet vulnerable and enigmatic.
Big sculpture.
Making large sculpture is like plunging into deep water- a transformative,immersive journey where the physical and the intuitive meld into a powerful act of creation.
When you work with large amounts of materials the process becomes a conversation between body and matter.The process demands a willingness to be physically and emotionally vulnerable-an immersion that reshapes both the material and the maker.
Its as if each stage,and there are nine stages,connects more deeply to ones own strength celebrating the raw unbridled power of doing.
In this process,intuition is my indispensible guide. ,making large work means stepping into the unknown,
trusting that your instincts will navigate you through unchartered territory. Just as swimming in dep water requires letting go to feel the currents, so does working with large forms demands surrendering to the moment. This is an exploratory dialogue between ones inner voice and the tangible materials often revealing unexpected answers. It is both chalenging and empowering. The sculpture then reveals a form as both a physical presence and the fusion of movement, intuition,and discovery.
Biography
Born in Co Durham Janis Ridley studied at Newcastle upon Tyne School of Art Foundation Course sculpture, and Exeter College of Art, BA Fine Arts.
She began her career teaching on Foundation Course at Newcastle upon Tyne School of Art and a solo show at LYC Museum and Art Gallery Cumbria. Moving to Devon her work was painting and drawing, with a solo show at Exe Gallery in 1983 and showing at Beaux Arts, Bath.She received a South West Arts Award in 1983. Her exhibitions were at Dartington Hall,Castle House Gallery, Cumbria Phoenix Gallery Exeter ,and she taught at Exeter University School of Education on line BEON Project and they produced a film Colour and Movement ,University of Exeter.
In 1998 she became a member of Royal Society of Sculptors.
Bronze sculptures were first shown in London at Mchardy Sculpture Company, Bath Arts Fair and Hampton Court 1999.
Her work is regularly exhibited at the London, Hong Kong, and New York Art Fairs with Edgar Modern Bath, Josie Eastwood Gallery Hampshire, Stour Gallery, and Coombe Gallery.
In the South West commissions can be seen in Exeter Cathedral ,Unfolding Love , University of Exeter, Stargazer,Topsham Millenium Sculpture ,Spirit of Youth, and at Matara Kingscote Park Gloucestershire, Isness ,Croft School, Stratford upon Avon .
In South Korea 2017, Bundang Memorial Park , Rugged Angel ,13 sculptures.
Her work is held in many public and private collections in France, Hong Kong, Germany, Netherlands, USA, New Zealand, South Korea, and UK.
commissions selected
2000 Spirit of Youth Topsham millennium sculpture
2001 Stargazer University of Exeter sculpture collection
2004 Isness Matara Centre Gloucestershire
2006 Unfolding Love Exeter Cathedral
2007 The Croft School Stratford upon Avon
Private collections in the UK, France, Australia, Germany Holland Hongkong USA and South Korea
Exhibitions include
Edgar Modern Bath Josie Eastwood Winchester Alan Kluckow Fine Art, Moncrieff-Bray gallery, Mall Galleries London The Sculpture Park Farnham,,The Garden Gallery Hampshire,Guernsey Art Parks, Delamore, Matara Gloucestershire, Atelier gallery University of Exeter, Dartington Hall Beaux Art, Royal Academy, Plumbline Gallery St.Ives.
Art Fairs
Art london, international art fair Royal College of art, London art fair, Hampstead Affordable art fair,Battersea Affordable Art fair , Bath Art fair, Hong Kong art fair ,New York affordable Art Fair
Films Janis Ridley produced by University of Exeter
Janis Ridley Sculpture Studio Royal British Society of Sculptors
Wax and wire 3 films 2013 Vimeo
Articles Resurgence
Devon Life Devon Today
Art in Devon
