Laurence Edwards In Conversation with Derek Morris and Andy Campbell

Event date: 19 November 2022
Review by Derek Morris

 

The Yoxman, Laurence Edwards

 
 

A reflection on the evening by Derek Morris.

On the evening of Saturday 12th November, a sizeable audience of ncas members, students, staff and sixth formers from the Norwich School gathered in the school’s Blake Theatre to watch a film about the making and installation of a new work by Laurence Edwards, the Suffolk based sculptor. After the film, 3D Design and Creative Projects Co-ordinator Andy Campbell and I asked Laurence questions about his practice and his journey to arrive at the point of being one of the most significant figurative artists of our time.

 
 

The film gave us clear insights into the creative development and manufacture of the work, The Yoxman, the eight-meter high bronze figure which is permanently based by the A12 road at Yoxford in Suffolk. The extraordinary vision and intense energy required to achieve such a successful work continued to be evident as Laurence’s answers to the questions asked by Andy and me revealed Laurence’s intellectual and imaginative energy, not to mention his physical energy, in creating such a truly monumental and heroic figure.

The possibilities for Laurence himself in making such a large sculpture in bronze lie in the many years of experience he achieved as a jobbing bronze foundry man, and the accumulation of equipment and appropriate spaces that allow him to be completely in control of the conception and construction of his sculptures. This makes for an element of spontaneity in the working process (which is unusual in bronze casting) and that the special qualities of bronze as primarily a fluid material go a long way towards achieving the unique qualities of his sculptures.

 

Laurence Edwards in his studio

Review by sculptor Derek Morris

 
 
 

Brenda Ferris RIP

We are very sad to report the death on 23 August 2022 of a dear friend, Brenda Ferris, former Chair and long term Trustee of ncas. We convey our condolences and thanks to her family & friends. Our thoughts and memories of Brenda are expressed perfectly by Robert Short, fellow former Chair and ncas Trustee for many years.

"Like the rest of you, I was bowled over to learn of Brenda's sudden death last Tuesday.  She had seemed so self-sufficient, and only a week or so ago was still enjoying one of her favourite pursuits: 'birding' at the Cley saltmarshes reserve.

Brenda was a pillar of the NCAS as a Trustee for decades. In 2013, she succeeded Keith Roberts as Chair. We counted on her passionately engaged presence to such a degree that we all felt the palpable loss when she resigned from the committee in 2021. That she was also a Norwich City Councillor for much of this time - not to mention Sheriff, Mayor and Deputy Lieutenant of the County! - enhanced the profile of the Society. That our biennial fund-raising auctions could be  held in the Council Chamber of City Hall was owed to that too. Among numerous local arts causes, Brenda was particularly a champion of public sculpture in Norwich: think Bernard Reynolds, Ros Newman, Jonathan Clark, the Poiriers.... 

My family and I have been fortunate enough to have Brenda and her children as friends for the last fifty-five years, taking in plenty of holidays at home and abroad. We've had so much fun together. And no one should forget the fun that Brenda helped bring to the everyday life of the NCAS over all these years. When you're next in City Hall, go and take a look in a corridor on the first floor at David Chedgey's 1990s group portrait titled 'The Alibi Crowd' which prominently features Brenda in the joyful company of some twenty fellow art lovers at their revels!”

The funeral arrangements for Brenda are:

Thursday 15 September, 11.00am at Norwich Crematorium, 2.30pm at St Peter Mancroft Church.

Photo of Brenda, taken in January 2012 at an artist’s preview evening. Credit: Archant.

Cate Allwood, NCAS Treasurer

We are very sorry to share the sad news that our dear friend and Treasurer, Cate Allwood, passed away peacefully on 3rd August.

Cate had been a valuable member of the ncas committee for a number of years. As Treasurer she kept the affairs of the society quietly, calmly, and efficiently in control, and as a trustee she offered very sound advice to the ncas committee.

A good friend, she will be sadly missed by us all. 

Chris Mardell - Chair ncas'

2022 NCAS AGM review

The Annual General Meeting and Lunch, held on Sunday 24th July, was pronounced a resounding success - and a delightful day to remember! To read more about the afternoon and enjoy a few photographs, please click here. For the financial reports and other documents, please see under Events - AGM.

The Art of the Intangible - Two of Britain's leading digital artists explain all! An NCAS event on 10th May.

Lol Sargent and Peter Higgins will be presenting a talk on 10th May at 7pm in the Norwich School Blake Studio. These highly talented digital artists have collaborated since their multi-award winning work at the Millennium Dome and will discuss why they believe digital sits alongside paint, sculpture and print to become the ‘fourth’ intangible medium. Not to be missed! For more details, see under EVENTS.

Our 2022 Programme of Talks has started

On Monday 21 February, we were delighted to welcome Ann Christopher RA as our first speaker since the onset of Covid-19. Many thanks to Norwich University of the Arts for hosting the event in their splendid new Riverside Lecture Theatre. Over 70 ncas members and NUA students attended the event. Anne was in conversation with fellow sculptor Derek Morris, providing an insightful view into inspiration, the creative process, ways of working and the physical making of her work. Ann was accompanied by her partner of 52 years, Ken Cook, who has his own foundry and has cast many of Ann’s sculptures. 

For more talks in the series, see under the Events tab. All welcome!

NCA21 Exhibition - an overview

The 'Call to Artists' had a good response with 240 works being submitted by 95 artists.

Works for the nca21 exhibition were selected by an independent panel: Rosy Gray, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Norwich Castle Museum & Gallery, Lee Grandjean, Sculptor and former Senior Tutor at the Royal College of Art and Carl Rowe, Artist and former Associate Professor in Fine Art at Norwich University of the Arts.

The selection process was anonymous and a total of 52 works by 46 artists were selected. It was good to see several students from NUA had joined ncas and submitted work.

Due to the price increase at The Forum, we had to find a new venue for the members show this time round. The Hostry proved to be an excellent space to host the exhibition, fully supported by Sue Bell, the Exhibitions Volunteer, who was very professional and helpful when hanging and taking down the exhibition.

More than 150 guests attended the Private View, Professor Richard Sawdon-Smith, Dean of Arts and Media at NUA formally opened the exhibition and talked about the growing relationship between NUA and ncas.

The ncas prize of £500 for the most outstanding work was awarded to Maria Pavledis for her work Jacket Woman.

The Adnams prize for the most distinctive work was awarded to Geoffrey Lefever for his work Postwick June 2020.

The footfall in the Hostry was very good with a constant flow of visitors to the Cathedral, many of whom stopped to view the show.

Our thanks to the participating artists and ncas members who kindly volunteered to steward the exhibition for a whole three and a half weeks, and to Janey Bevington for organising this.

We were pleased to sell 12 artworks, including 2 from visitors to the city. A 25% ncas commission was applied to these sales.

NCA21 Exhibition - Launched to critical acclaim!

More than 150 guests attended the Private View of the NCA21 Exhibition at the Norwich Cathedral Hostry on Wednesday evening.  With so many compliments on the quality of the art and the curation of the exhibition itself, the ncas trustees declared it a resounding success. 

Professor Richard Sawdon-Smith , Dean of Arts and Media at Norwich University of the Arts formally “opened” the exhibition and talked of the growing relationship between NUA & ncas.

Professor Richard Sawdon-Smith

The ncas prize of £500 for the most outstanding work was awarded to Maria Pavledis for her work “Jacket Woman”.

Prizewinner Maria Pavledis & ncas chair Chris Mardell

The Adnams prize for the most distinctive work was awarded to Geoffrey Lefever for his work “Postwick June 2020”.

Prizewinner Geoffrey Lefever

The exhibition continues until 4th December.  Open Monday to Saturday from 10am – 4pm. 

Click here to read more in the EDP’s article featured in Saturday’s weekend page.

(Posted 13 November 2021)