Things We Can Know

‘Things We Can Know’ is a series of collaborative artworks in response to a residency in Farnham World Craft Town. The work expands the concept of knowledge beyond the mind, viewing making as an embodied act of active intelligence. A form of intelligence that connects us not just with our bodily selves but into a wider ecosystem of understanding.

Farnham World Craft Town Artist in Residence is funded by the Farnham South Street Trust and managed by Farnham Town Council.

A sculptural assemblage of glass that has been blown and cast. The base is black opaque glass and is cylindrical and organic. On this is a black glass tile, on top of the tile is a further black glass base, this one has gold leaf inclusions and sits off to the right. Balance on top of this is a thin black glass ring, which is edged with gold leaf. Inside the circle of the ring is a small clear, organic shaped glass bowl holding a small plastic bottle covered in ink.

The structure of ‘Things we can know’ means its final form is flexible, it is able to adapt and respond to its environment. It allows room for future curatorial choice and reformation, enabling the artwork to absorb more collective knowledge as it continues to interact with the world.

A blur of a swilling twig comes into focus in the middle of the image. The top of the twig is been dipped in ink. It is resting on two clear glass stands which are organic in shape. These objects sit atop an earthy ceramic plate. The texture across its surface is highlighted with gold leaf.

Abstract textures, the form is unclear. Unglazed ceramic in earthy tones sits under sandblasted glass. A small gilded glass bowl is just visible resting atop these objects. Inside the bowl a real snail shell and a glass snail shell converse.

A sculptural assemblage of glass, ceramic and mixed media forms. There are two opaque glass bases in earthy colours, each topped with a textured ceramic tile. Balanced on top of the first tile is a twisted twig, the end of the twig has been dipped in ink. On top of the other tile is a large dish-like glass form resting on its side, inside this form is a small gilded glass bowl. Inside the small bowl a real snail shell and a glass snail shell converse.

A detail from a sculptural assemblage of blown black glass. A ring of black glass with a gold edge sits on top of a piece of black glass with flecks of gold across its surface. The edge of a clear glass blow, also with a gold rim sits at the edge of the right of the image. Inside this bowl is a small plastic bottle covered in ink.

A sculptural assembly - a group of objects sits on a roughly textured ceramic tile. A cloudy white glass form is organic in shape and has a circular opening highlighted in gold, in this a handmade tool is resting. The tool is a collection of thin sticks. Beside the glass is a mossy rock covered in ink and an amorphous shaped piece of white glass with gold vermiculate piece trapped on the surface.

A close up of a section of a sculpture made in white glass. The base is a cast glass tile with textured lines running across the surface, and a flat bottomed glass vessel on top of the tile. The vessel is turned on its side and the opening is facing us, this opening is gilded in a ring of bright gold. Inside the vessel sites a tiny gilded bowl holding an odd looking wooden tool, stained with ink and with an elastic band wrapped around as a sort of handle.

A workshop with a group of local makers considered the ecosystem of making, discussing how materials, tools, space and people come together to form collective intelligence. By creating tools from found materials, learning to use these tools and sharing this knowledge within the group, a co-operative series of sketches in clay and paper were produced. These formed the basis of ‘Things we can know’, which is an assembly of objects from different stages of the process, including tools, primary marks and blown glass forms.

A light grey table is set up with a selection of strange objects. There are tools made with sticks, rocks, twigs and elastic bands. Blurry in the background there are flat ceramic tiles in a warm earthy colour.

A view over someones shoulder as they press a handmade tool into roughly square clay tile. The clay is a deep red brown colour.

A rough old wall with a combination of tiles and brink. A line of distinctive dark green tile runs through the centre of the image.

A person with long wavy hair is using a bottle covered in sticks and dipped in ink to make marks on a large sheet of paper. Around her others are working with different tools on different sheets.

A hand wearing a blue fingerless glove holds a collection of moss, sticks and bark.

A group of people are drawing with ink on a large pieces of white paper that are stuck to the wall. The tools they are using are made with twigs, masking tape, rocks, moss and other materials. They are smiling are they work on their pictures.

A group of people walking on a path through a park. In the distance is the outline of a turret of a building.

A hand is shaping molten glass with damp newspaper.

Artists Fiona Byrne, Aria Kiani and Laura Quinn are working together to blow hot glass into a mould. Fiona’s feet are just in view as she is standing on a step holding the glass blowing pipe. Laura and Aria are holding a plaster mould together and steam is coming out through the top of the plaster.

A museum display case, inside is bone, ceramic and small metal items.

Serenity Hubick is leaning over a potters wheel. She is shaping grey clay into a cylinder.

A table of clay cut into somewhat equal rectangles. They are laid out on a bright blue plastic sheet.