Jo Barker

Profile:

'Since leaving Edinburgh College of Art in 1986, where I studied tapestry and printmaking, I have been working as a tapestry artist, moving into a W.A.S.P.S Studio in Edinburgh around 1991. Currently I am also a part-time lecturer in the School of Design at Glasgow Scool of Art.

My work has been commissioned  by numerous public bodies including the Scottish Executive, the House of Lords, Bank of China and Guinness PLC. I have also exhibited widely in the UK and more recently in USA where I am represented by the textile gallery browngrotta arts

My work reflects a long term interest in colour and it’s emotional impact on the viewer. I work on small designs which combine a gestural use of drawing, painting and collage. These become the guidelines for translation into woven tapestries. I aim to recreate and capture the immediacy of these marks.

The medium of tapestry has a unique presence and sensuality. It lends itself to the  use  of intense colour whilst also providing a richness of surface texture. The images create illusions of space, depth of field or movement and more recently reflect my interest in plants.

In November, along with fellow tapestry artist Sara Brennan, I attended the opening of an exhibition titled Artapestry 2005 held in Aalborg, Denmark. This juried exhibition was initiated by the European Tapestry Forum and was the first of what they aim to establish as a triennial event to act as a survey of contemporary European and Scandinavian Gobelin tapestry.

Being awarded financial assistance from the Scottish Arts Council Professional Development fund to attend the opening was invaluable, in particular meeting other artists and making international professional links. Rather than feeling like an isolated maker I felt part of a much bigger picture and feel encouraged to take part in other such events.'