Julie Dodd
Wirral, Merseyside
I was born on the Wirral, England where I continue to reside and work. I graduated in 2009 with a BA honours degree in fine art in and I continued to develop my practice at the same institute on the fellowship program for a further year. Since then I've been working independently between my home studio and my space at Alternator studios. I work predominantly as a paper installation artist but I also make artist books, incorporate printmaking into my work and occasionally sew. I exhibit regionally, nationally and internationally. Within my art practice I work on community based residencies/projects and I run workshops based on my own work. For a more detailed bio please follow this link: http://juliedodd.co.uk/biography/4583382732
How and when did you start creating art?
Art has always been part of my life but it wasn’t until my youngest child went to school that I started painting landscapes and cityscapes which led me to go back to college.
What media and genres do you work in?
I usually work with paper, often reusing old books and magazines but I also recycle other discarded materials in my work, bringing a new life and meaning to them. I focus most of my attention on environmental issues and use my art practice as a platform to reflect my concerns of our consumption and environmental responsibility. I often recycle discarded materials to produce a response.
Who or what are your influences?
My artwork is mainly influenced by environmental issues. I am inspired by nature which I often mimic in my work through pattern or by simplifying its shape. I studied artists who work in multiples when I was at college as my work has a repetitive aspect to it, artists like Magdelena Abakanowicz embryology and Ernesto Neto.
What was your inspiration for Coral Colony?
When coral becomes stressed through pollution or the rising sea temperatures caused by climate change the algae that gives the coral it's amazing colours is ejected from the corals tissue leaving it prone to disease, taking away its main food source and most noticeably giving it a bleachedappearance. The coral can recover from this but if the algae doesn't get reabsorbed fairly soon after expulsion the coral will die.
Describe your creative process?
When I find a subject I want to explore I sketch my initial ideas, decide what materials could be used and start experimenting. I work on the composition and installation ideas through sketches. When everything is created it can finally be brought together to be shown. In this case I created five wall pieces that are shown together for this installation. I have simplified the coral forms to very basic shapes, stripping them of their colour, only retaining their beauty to demonstrate what we are losing.
What are you working on currently?
A window display for the Bluecoat Display Centre in Liverpool which will by a spring woodland scene made from recycled papers including books, magazines and newspaper. http://www.artinliverpool.com/events/bluecoat-display- centre-artist- window-installations- julie- dodd/
What are your near/long term goals as an artist?
I want to continue working on projects that highlight my concerns and get them seen in as many places as possible. I also enjoy working with communities, especially bringing art to people through outreach projects, where the people getting involved may be experiencing something completely new.
Where can people view/purchase your work (gallery, website, etc)?
My work can be viewed and I can be contacted for purchasing or commissioning artwork etc through my website: http://juliedodd.co.uk
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