A body of work created for the exhibition (Of ) Bath, MMXXII at Francis Gallery, curated by Elliott Smedley. The group show is a dialogue between Rich Stapleton’s single edition photographs and JAMESPLUMB’s wall mounted works and freestanding sculptures.
JAMESPLUMB created a new body of work from Bath stone, including 20 wall works, and 2 sculptures, with each work being unique. The sculptures are functional artworks, embracing use as sculptural benches or tables. All the pieces have been created from blocks found lying dormant in a local stone yard, having been retained from past construction projects over the years. The proportions are therefore of varying traditional construction sizes and defined by Georgian architecture. The stones were found with innate markings of two main types. Those created by exposure to the elements, sunlight, and time, creating photographic-like monochromatic abstract imagery. And those that have remnants of domestic interior decoration, with layers of lime wash and gloss paint, and markings from architectural fixtures. The exhibition was the catylyst for JAMESPLUMB to return to Bath’s stone yards and create work of their own, having felt unfinished business after working on a local architectural project in the heart of the city, and a strong desire to work directly with the stone themselves.