Jon Edgar AFS MSc BSc
was
born in West Sussex in 1968 and is a sculptor of the
former Frink School
-
an intimate academy that was focused on the human figure which remains the first source of inspiration
now, as it has from earliest times. His work is in public collections in the UK and overseas. He was awarded The Discerning Eye Sculpture bursary
from ING Barings charitable trust, graduating in 2003.Directly-modelled portraiture and life studies show the powers of observation, whilst abstracted wood and stone carvings contain more ambiguity. The two areas of work may seem disparate, yet the former provides raw material for the latter.
Direct carvings rely on the irretrievable removal of material from a block. The conventional need for planned progress (from a sketch or maquette, for instance) contrasts with this body of work - ideas and forms change throughout the development of each piece. Working only with hand tools allows time for less conscious ideas to emerge; it also allows one to think about the inherent qualities of each block which may not be prepared to rest on equal terms with the sculptural quality of mass. The gleam and figuring of stone and wood can deceive.
The working methods of octagenarian sculptor Alan Thornhill, who sees pre-conceived ideas as essentially deadening to creativity, are an influence. There are now few living role models for young sculptors whose work is non-conceptual and rejecting sophisticated technologies in favour of spontaneity and spirit.
Edgar's grandfather was 'The Nipper' cartoonist Brian White, who worked on the first British animated feature film 'Animal Farm'.
2010
EXHIBITION: Jozeshow 2010
profile interview with Fran Monks; 'How to Make a Difference'
portrait of Sheila Healey
Commission of bronze head of Lady Scott for WWT Slimbridge
SOLO SHOW: Chawton House Library: Sculpture in the Wilderness - 20 works in the
landscape
SOLO SHOW: Worthing Museum and Art Gallery exhibition: Carvings and Claywork - 45 works
inside and outside March-June (pdf
Sussex Life article May 2010)
launch of University of Bristol portrait commission; Clifton Hill House
2009
article in Jackdaw Nov/Dec 2009 - 'Portrait Sculpture - A neglected form'
launch of 'Memory and Desire - 30 Years in the Wilderness with Stephen Duffy and
the Lilac Time' film at Raindance Film Festival, Piccadilly. (the portrait head
features)
launch of Memory and Desire album - portrait head front cover and insert
October - portrait of Peter Randall-Page
July- portrait of Mat Chivers
selected as judge for Oxmarket Sculpture Competition, Chichester
March - Environment series portrait sitting, Tim Smit, Cornwall
February - Environment series portrait sitting, Professor Chris Rapley,
Fittleworth
January - 'Playful art' - workshop sessions at Learning Through Landscapes
National Conference, Birmingham
2008
portrait
of Wilfred Cass, Goodwood
unveiling of the nine Alan Thornhill bronzes
along the Thames at Putney, London - a new permanent publicly accessible body of
work
start of monthly stone carving study days at
West Dean, to give impetus to developing sculptors
Asthall Manor
onform 08 June
portrait bust of Graham Bedford
2007
November - portrait sitting, James Lovelock
October - Scott bust on loan to Wildfowl and Wetland Trust, Slimbridge foyer
Carse bust to Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge permanent collection
September - Large Clay Sculptures; course
August - portrait sitting - Richard Mabey, Norfolk
www.galeriepelar.com work in new St Ives Sculpture Garden
July - Understanding Sculpture's formal qualities; course
June - Reigate Grammar School Portrait course
April - West Dean 4 day introductory sculpture course 'Adding and taking away'
Creative Partnerships project
with Ashfield Park Primary School, Ross-on-Wye: Use of the creative mind in
widening experience of the natural environment
portrait sitting - Lady Scott, Slimbridge
January11-14th - West Dean 3
day portraiture in terra cotta course
January
15th - West Dean 1 day patination
course
2006
portrait sitting - moral philosopher Mary Midgley, Newcastle
bust of Duncan Carse to public collection, South Georgia, South Atlantic
new carving unveiled, Courtyard Theatre, Hereford as part of Jigsaw project
September 5-8th - West Dean 3 day portraiture in terracotta course
September - Hergest Croft, Sculpture in the Garden
July-November
- Herefordshire JIGSAW sculpture/dance project
June/July - on form '06 sculpture in Stone; Asthall Manor, Oxfordshire
May - West Dean course 4 day large clay
sculpture course
May - sculpture demonstration at Henley event for West Dean College
2005
self portrait - December
West Dean College 3 day portraiture course - November
West Dean college - solo exhibition of portraits and carvings (September - November)
portrait - Robin Edgar, Herefordshire - October
portrait - Sir Roy Strong, Herefordshire - September
portrait - Lionel Childs, Okehurst, West Sussex - September
portrait - Sarah Klaes, as part of
3 day sculpture workshop for BTCV, Bradlaugh Fields,
Northampton - August
portrait 'Six' - Brook Felus, Herefordshire
Fresh Air 2005 Quenington, Gloucestershire - July
Shieldbrook Summer Sculpture, Herefordshire - June-Sept
Art London, Chelsea - June; Three recent stone carvings
portrait of an Irish Lady - Mrs Finola Rudd, Cheltenham
sculpture display for Garden History Society visit to Goodrich Court - June
work with The Fieldfare Trust on 'Access for All' design for British Waterways - June
1/6 bronze edition commissioned of Duncan Carse
2 day introductory sculpture course, Herefordshire - May
London Art Fair, Islington: Seven recent works - January
portrait - Christopher Frerk, Northamptonshire
Submission for Millfield Sculpture Commission 2005
2004
Portrait - Duncan Carse, Polar Explorer and broadcaster
Portrait sketch - Stuart Wheeler
Interview: M.Beatrice Vanni - Università degli Studi di Milano
Sculpture in the Garden III, Hergest Croft Gardens, August/September
Portrait sketch - Sir John Harvey-Jones, MBE; Herefordshire
Shieldbrook Sculpture Summer Exhibition, Herefordshire
Sculpture '04 Kingscote Park,
Gloucestershire
Castle Arts Centre and Theatre, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
Portrait bust for bronze - Alan Thornhill
Submission for Millfield Sculpture Commission 2004
2003
Arts Council England award 'Outreach Sculpture' Project
Hereford Cathedral Bishop's Palace Garden (Solo Exhibition)
Chelsea Flower Show 2003 (Silver Medal courtyard garden)
7th Annual Frink Exhibition, Holland Park, London
Millfield Summer Show, Somerset
Sulgrave Manor; Sculpture in the Garden
martlet maquettes for Martlet Housing Association
Chenderit Visual Arts College; donated portrait heads and interpretation
Castle Theatre, Wellingborough
Sculpture sessions with young people at risk from exclusion from school
Galleries showing work:
Gallery Tresco, Isles of Scilly
Studio2 Sculpture Gallery, Olney, Buckinghamshire
Big Wide Bay, Tavistock, Devon
Ombersley Gallery, Worcestershire
2002
‘The Discerning Eye’
(ING Barings charitable trust) UK Sculpture bursary 2002-3
Foyer display piece; The Castle Theatre, Wellingborough
Hilliard Society of Miniaturists Annual Summer exhibition, Somerset
Atkinson Gallery/Millfield School Summer Sculpture Competition
Gold Gallery Festival Exhibition, Edinburgh
Bucks Art Week Preview, Olney
Alfred East Open, Kettering
Northamptonshire Open Studios Central exhibition
Denton Healing Garden sculpture
Campion School Sculpture/3D Design ‘A’ level lecture
2000
The (former) Frink School of Figurative Sculpture; two year full time course
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust bursary, 2001-2
1992-2000
countryside management and landscape projects
1991
MSc. Landscape Design, Ecology and Management, University of London, Wye College
Dissertation considered the restoration of degraded 'Capability' Brown
landscapes
1988
BSc. Biology and Geography, Exeter University 1988-90