Rebecca Newham
For the last 17 years Rebecca has been steadily producing sculpture both to commission and for exhibition. The commissions rise from recommendation, from the bodies of work produced for exhibition and from competitions.
Current work concerns Photosynthesis, Energy and Carbon, and results from collaboration with the Hillier Gardens, who offered access to their resources. They have a world famous collection of oaks as well as extensive, well managed gardens. Research at the Hillier library, herbarium and from interviews with the botanists has led to sculptures and an exhibition. Previous bodies of work have explored botanical life cycles; seeds, pollen, fruit and growth. Rebecca is interested in the chemical makeup of living things and the appearance of molecules or chains of molecules under a microscope. Rebecca’s sculpture celebrates human life. The botanical works are a metaphor for human life, exploring potential, life cycles and personal growth. Living things have infinite positive cross over associations and symbolism.
Depending upon the project, her sculpture often has a reinforcing steel structure, carved Styrofoam or concrete, fibreglass and a glass skin. Currently the lines of glass which cover the forms have gaps filled with a grout; these gaps are as important as the spaces which the glass occupies. Currently Rebecca takes clear glass and fires a range of minerals onto the surface, in a kiln, which has a metallic appearance such as the many colours of bronze. Rebecca works with an assistant and has administration support. Metal fabricators construct the steel structures and foundations when applicable and fibreglass laminators use boat building technologies. She is in partnership with David Bird, who is a photographer.
 |
Rebecca enjoys working on a grand scale; smaller works are both finished pieces and models for future works. She is currently designing a group of sculptures for Loros, a Leicestershire hospice, due for completion mid 2009, and private commissions.