Approved: 08.02.2012

Jo Howe

Artist, Arts administrator, Event organiser, Graphic designer, Project manager

Approved: 08.02.2012

Reading is an act of co-authorship. When you pick up a book and read it, what you bring to that process is your own personal history. This is a filter through which we perceive language and by which we forge connections. My use of the book as sculptural object playfully reworks its formal components allowing the 'reader' to experience something altogether new. I obstruct the original narrative

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Artist Statement

Reading is an act of co-authorship. When you pick up a book and read it, what you bring to that process is your own personal history. This is a filter through which we perceive language and by which we forge connections. My use of the book as sculptural object playfully reworks its formal components allowing the 'reader' to experience something altogether new. I obstruct the original narrative in order to afford the reader of the artwork minimal linguistic stimulus. In essence this simplifies, clarifies and quietens interaction so that the reader's response can be heard. Working with old manuscripts bearing the physical imperfections and aromas of past human handling and thus retain their human presence is essential. The aesthetic quality of text and relevance of the book's title is also important. The book or page becomes a tool for looking inwards to our evolving personal narratives rather than the read contents of the book as text. I consciously work with the text to render it difficult to read, if not at times almost absent. The fragmentation, removal and disruption of text transform words into visual clues. By resisting meaning in purely linguistic terms the reader is invited to respond at an intuitive and emotional level. In physically exploring text, removal of text, the page, book and restructured cover I seek to construct alternative narratives, which in turn generate new meaning. Transaction and interaction contain the echoes of previous experience. This inevitably interferes with the reception of the other person's voice and intention so that we hear through our own history. My works explore a frustration in communication. I seek to express the difficulty of speaking without being heard, to listen either actively or ineffectively. My books and their pages become a tangible expression of those sentences suppressed or left unsaid.

CV & Education

Permanent Collections

2014 Madison Museum of Fine Art, Madison, Georgia, USA.

2013 East Contemporary Art Collection, UCS, Ipswich.

Solo Exhibitions

2014 Echoes of fragrant voices, Trestle Arts Base, St Albans, Herts.

2013 Between the lines, Brent Civic Centre, Wembley, Brent.

Group exhibitions

2015 PAPER. SCISSORS. STONE -Taking paper beyond the page, The Rugby School, Warwickshire. 

2015 PAPER. SCISSORS. STONE -Taking paper beyond the page, Space2 Watford Museum. 

 2015 Turn the Page, The Forum, Norwich. Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd May 2015.

2015 PAPER. SCISSORS. STONE -Taking paper beyond the page, Parndon  Mill Gallery, Harlow. 

2014 NOTHINGNESS, Parndon Mill Gallery, Harlow.

2014 Turn the page artists book fair, The Forum, Norwich.

2013 Eastern Approaches, Museum of St Albans, Herts.

2013 East Contemporary Art Collection (21st Centuary Practice), Waterfront Gallery, UCS, Ipswich.

2013 - Turn the page artists book fair, The Forum, Norwich

2012 - For the Love of Books, Huyton Gallery, Knowsley, Liverpool

2012 - The Forge Open Day, Artist Studios, Digswell, Welwyn Garden City

2011 - Personal Perspectives, Arts Depot, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA

Appointments

2013 - Trustee/Director at Digswell Arts Trust

Educational experience - Primary

2011 - Creative Learning Programme inset day., The Wroxham School, Hertfordshire

Educational experience - Special Needs

Ongoing - The Funky Pie Company delivering Music and the Arts as a Communication Skill specifically for SEND.

2013 - Music and the Arts as a Communication Skill, Mid Herts Music Centre, Larwood School, Watling View School, Hertfordshire

2012 - ‘A Sense of Self’ in association with the Hertfordshire Creative Learning Programme., Lonsdale School, Stevenage, Letchworth Arts Centre, Hertfordshire

2011 - Creative Partnerships, Lonsdale School, Stevenage, Hertfordshire

2010 - Creative Partnerships, Lonsdale School, Hertfordshire

2008 - Arts Award for SEN pilot project, Music and Art as a Communication Skill, Stevenage Music and Arts Centre, Hertfordshire

2008 - Creativity for Life: Creative approaches to learning. , Lonsdale School, Hertfordshire Other 2013 - Appointment - Director / Trustee, Digswell Arts Trust, Hertfordshire

Qualifications and training

2009 - Arts Award Advisor, Trinity College, London

2008 - Certificate of Professional Practice. Creativity for Life CPD, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire

2005 - MA Graphic Communication, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire