Artist statement
My training is in Fine Art and I work between two disciplines, painting and mixed media textiles. Erasures, fragments and layering are concepts which mark the passing of time. As I gather new resources from old, I build up new pieces almost like an archaeologist, organising and rearranging fabrics, paper and images using stitch, dye and drawing.
My book, The Found Object in Textile Art due was published by Batsford in August 2010. I am currently co-writing my second book, Connected Cloth with a focus on collaborations.
Influences
Urban Nature
I am interested in land as a reference; flora, patterns in nature, the world within my footsteps. I re-use found materials and textiles, fascinated by their prior history and hands that have held them. My concern is political, social, as well as climatic change. I approach this through the media I use and the connections found in the places I work (personal experiences, connected stories, materials and imagery). Narrative works combining photographic and digital techniques with methods adapted from Japanese textiles, textile art and papermaking.
Career path
After obtaining a Fine Arts degree in the early eighties, my understanding of paper and related media was further enhanced through two periods of long-term study in Japan in the mid to late eighties (supported by the Japan Foundation and the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.) I continued research with an Arts Council Award to India in 2006.
I work on commissions and in the public sector in addition to developing my personal practice. The challenge of working on site-specific projects and in workshops offers opportunities for professional development. I work to public commission on projects utilising photographic, paint, dye and textile techniques including a major project with Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope (museum, art gallery and library) Kent, a commission for the Princess Royal Hospital, Orpington and pieces for collection as part of Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery. and more recently a new body of for Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, London.
I teach on the Summer School and short course programme at West Dean College, where I also worked as resident artist and was commissioned to make work for the collection (supported by the Edward James Foundation.) I am also run workshops in the U.K. and overseas check my website www.casholmestextiles.co.uk and check for current details
Qualifications and training
- 2005 Creative Partnerships. Creativity in Practice Training, Kent Institute of Art and Design, Canterbury
- 2002 City and Guilds Part One Teaching Certificate, Kent Adult Education, Maidstone, Kent
- 1988 Japanese paper and textiles, Japan Foundation Fellowship, Japan
- 1985 Japanese art and papermaking, Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship, Japan
- 1983 Fine Arts Degree, Maidstone College of Art, Maidstone, Kent
Employment
- 2008 Guest Artist, Front Range Quilters, Colorado, USA
- 2005 Tutor, West Dean College ongoing, West Dean Sussex
- 2005 Teacher Training workshops, Art and Environment, Kent County Council, Canterbury Environmental Centre
- 2000 Workshops linking with Romany Culture, Cultural Co-Operation, Dundonald School, London
- 1990 Tutor Adult Education and Degree level, various colleges, See education experience
Solo exhibitions
- 2012 Urban/Nature, Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexander Palace and Harrogate, London and Harrogate
- 2011 Traces, Maidstone Studios, Maidstone
- 2011 Domestic Mapping (with Anne Kelly), Trinity Theatre and Arts Centre, Tunbridge Wells
- 2010 Traces, Farfield Gallery, Lake District
- 2010 Traces, Walkway Gallery, Maidstone Borough Council Gallery
- 2010 Traces, Walkway Gallery, Maidstone (more info)
- 2009 Natural Histories (Cas Holmes with Anne Kelly), Touring Exhibition 2009-10, Farnham, Milton Keynes and Maidstone
- 2009 Traces, Riverhouse Barn Gallery,, Manor Road, Walton on Thames
- 2008 Guest Artist, From The Land, Quilt Italia, Florence
- 2007 'Traces' and 'Many Paths', Rochester Visitor Centre Gallery and Cathedral, High Street Rochester (more info)
- 2007 Trails:From The Land, Kaleidoscope Gallery. KCC Arts and Libraries, Sevenoaks (more info)
- 2006 Land, Herne Bay Museum and Art Gallery, Herne Bay, Kent
- 2005 Unearthing, Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Norwich
- 2005 Unearthing, Hall Place Gallery, Bexley
- 2005 Garden-Land, Quiltstar Gallery, Freiburg, Germany
- 2004 'Unearthed', Cowslip Gallery, Newhouse Farm, Launceston
- 2004 'Breaking the Surface', St Mary's Lighthouse, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
- 2004 'Breaking the Surface', Bishop Otter Gallery, University College, Chichester
- 2003 'Dark Woods, Dark Water', The Robert Phillips Gallery, Walton on Thames
- 2003 'Sense', Romney Marsh Craft Gallery, Kent County Council
- 2003 'Breaking the Surface', Metropole Galleries, Folkestone
- 2002 Dark Woods - Dark Water, Weald Gallery, Cranbrook
- 2001 Piecing Together, Maidstone Hospital Oncology Centre
- 2000 Reflections, High Street Gallery and Cathedral, Rochester Kent
- 1999 Piecing Together, Makers Guild, Craft In the Bay, Cardiff
Group exhibitions
- 2012 5th European Art Quilt Triennial, Textilsammlung Max Berk-Kurpfalzisches Museum, Heidleburg
- 2012 Drawn to Craft, Bilston Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton
- 2012 Lost and Found, The Beetroot Tree, Draycott, Derbyshire
- 2011 International Year of the Forests, Forestry Commission, Germany, Freibery, Germany
- 2011 Natural Tendancies, Old Fire Station Gallery,, Henley on Thames (more info)
- 2011 Shed Gallery, SEOS 2012-2008, Tunbridge Wells (more info)
- 2011 Drawing with Thread, Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford
- 2010 Curiouser and Curiouser, Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, Tunbridge Wells
- 2009 ArtCloth:Engaging New Visions, Fairfield City Museum and touring, Australia
- 2008 Unearthing, Musee Textile de Haute Alsace and Stadmuseum, Woerden,, Haute Alsace France and touring Netherlands (more info)
- 2008 Transitions ACE supported, Bilston Craft Gallery touring, Wolverhampton
- 2008 Transitions, Bilston Craft Gallery touring, Wolverhampton
- 2007 Unearthing, Villa Saroli Galleries, Lugano, Switzerland
- 2007 Xross polynation, Exhibition Indian/Western Artworks, New Delhi
- 2006 Beyond the Surface, Piece Hall Gallery, Halifax
- 2005 Material Values, Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, Tunbridge Wells
- 2005 21st Century Textiles, Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford
- 2004 VIR-Art, Maidstone Library Gallery, Maidstone
- 2004 Contemporary Connections, Maidstone County Hall Gallery and Bentliff Gallery, Maidstone
- 2004 'Dual Visions', two person show with Judy Shamp, Rosaminn Gallery, Austin, Texas
- 2004 'Surfaces', Irsee Textile Festival, Germany
- 2003 'Inspiration, Improvisation', Quilt Und Art Gallery, Frankfurt
- 2002 Hemmed In, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey
- 2002 Guest Exhibitor, Houston Area Fiber Artists
- 2001 The Art of Quilts, Shipley Art Gallery
- 2001 Skinny Beach Huts with Paul Goodrick, touring Kent
- 2001 A Work of Art in Itself, Bury Art Gallery and Museum
- 2001 On Paper, Crafts Council Gallery, London
- 1999 Art Quilts, Knitting and Stitching Show, London
- 1998 Paper, Mino Washi Museum, Gifu, Japan
- 1997 Common Space II, Outdoor Textiles, Pezinok, Slovakia
Curated projects
- 2010 Community Curators ref Costume collection, Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, Tunbridge Wells
- 2000 Paper:papier Curator and exhibitor, Folkestone Gallery and touring, Folkestone and Maidstone
Workshops
- 2012 The Sketchbook Workshop, Zijdelings, Centrum voor Textiel &Surface design, Netherlands
- 2011 From The Found, Studio Preniac, France
- 2011 Talks and Worshops., Fibre Arts Australia, Australia
- 2009 Tutor Artist for art teachers (PGCE training), The Making Organisation, Various South East
- 2009 Textile Showcase, Art in The Frame, Jersey
- 2008 Guest Tutor and speaker., Textile Groups and Quilt organisations, Colorado
- 2007 Creative Arts Research Award, Workshops secondary and primary, Bournemouth (more info)
- 2007 Beyond the Surface, Villa Saroli, Lugano Switzerland
- 2003 Workshops and talks for teacher training, Japan Foundation, London
- 1997 Ongoing workshops Embroidery and Quilters Guilds, Guild Venues, National/International (more info)
- 1989 Textiles, mixed media and art, Schools and Education, National/International (more info)
Residencies
- 2011 Walk of Art, Bromley Council and local primary school, Bromley
- 2010 Textiles and drawing, International School Brussels, Brussels
- 2007 Arts Enhance Project, Canada Wing, Orpington Hospital
- 2006 Artist in Residence, West Dean, supported by the Edward James Foundation, West Dean, Chichester
- 2006 Residency, Museums and Galleries Month, Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
- 2004 Asia, Body, Mind and Spirit. Installation, Secondary school projects with Asia House, Brunei Gallery London
- 2002 Guest artist, Houston Area and San Antonio Fiber Art Groups, Houston, Texas
- 2001 of the Artist Award, Residency to create installation works, Mote House, Leonard Cheshire Home, Maidstone
Public commissions
- 2010 Blouse and Lace Wings, Tunbridge Wells Museum, Tunbridge Wells
- 2009 Red Rain. installation, Arts and Business, Kings Hill, Kent
- 2006 Purchase for the West Dean College Limited Editions Collection, West Dean College, Chichester (more info)
- 2006 Textile Installation Wall Hung, Kaleidoscope Gallery, Museum and Library, Sevenoaks Kent
- 2005 Textile Installation Wall Hung, Princes Royal Hospital Bromley, Bromley, Kent
- 2004 Textile work, White Cross, Museum of Art and Design, New York
- 2003 Sweetheart Quilt, Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Norwich
Projects
- 2007 Resonant Textiles, Ongoing collaboration, Kent and UK
- 2005 Contemporary Connections, Kent County Council Gallery and Maidstone Museum, Maidstone
- 2004 Surfaces, Tutor and exhibitor, Annual Quilt Festival, Irsee, Germany
- 2002 Arts Council Professional Development Award, New Works for exhibitions, Folkestone Metropole and USA
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2012 Grants for the Arts Award, Arts Council England, Support Urban/Nature
- 2010 Pride of Britain Award, NRI Institute, Britain/India
- 2008 Development of New Works ACE, Bilston Crafts Gallery, Wolverhampton
- 2006 Research and Study India, Arts Council England South East, Research India, exhibition supported by Medway Art Development (more info)
- 2001 Professional Development Award, Arts Council England, Touring Exhibition Beyond the Surface
- 1999 Research Award, Medway Council for Reflections Exhibition, Rochester High Street Gallery and Cathedral
Educational experience - primary
- 2005 Kent Festival for Schools, workshops in environmental arts and recycling, Kent Schools
- 2004 Residency and workshops. Japanese art and textiles, Swingate Primary School, Gillingham, Kent
Educational experience - secondary
- 2008 Growing Gardens, Bradbourne Secondary School, Sevenoaks Kent
- 2006 Romany inspired artwork, Trinity School, Special School, Cultural Co-operation, Cultural Co-operation, London Based projects
Educational experience - tertiary
- 2000 Tutor, Fine Arts Department, Middlesex University, Middlesex
- 1995 Tutor Painting and Drawing (ongoing), Kent Adult Education, Kent
Site specific
- 2011 Red Rain, Maidstone Studios (Old TV Studios), Maidstone
Publications
- 2012 Urban/Nature, The Quilter
- 2012 The Year Ahead, Embroidery Magazine.
- 2011 Curious Cloth, Quilting Arts
- 2010 The Found Object in Textile Art. Batsford.
- 2009 Artcloth; Engaging New Visions Catalogue
- 2007 Articles 'Traces' and India The Quilter Magazine Summer and Autumn
Web links - gallery/work/projects
Web links - article/press
Personal website
