99 Used Labels

Due to popular demand I have assembled another 99 with used clothing labels. The used labels are selected from my collection of labels gathered since 2003 from clothing identified as rags. The work measures 88cm high x 72cm wide and is box framed in white behind glass.
NOW SOLD COMMISSIONS WELCOME.

In 2010 I took a photograph of the 1.5 metre plastic ice cream cone standing at the entrance of Cromer Pier. I felt inspired by its exaggerated scale. I printed out the photograph and pinned it to my studio wall with thoughts of making a piece of artwork in response. 10 years later during my preparation for Norfolk Open Studios the Cromer ice cream sculpture came to mind and I began to think about how I could re-fashion this frozen treat with my signature material? How the 99 gained its name is questionable, but it definitely gave me the idea to exchange the soft scoop ice cream with 99 used clothing labels. A simple idea to replace the item being consumed with found materials worn by the consumer. Detail below, click on images to enlarge.

In 2010 I took a photograph of the 1.5 metre plastic ice cream cone standing at the entrance of Cromer Pier. I felt inspired by its exaggerated scale. I printed out the photograph and pinned it to my studio wall with thoughts of making a piece of artwork in response. 10 years later during my preparation for Norfolk Open Studios the Cromer ice cream sculpture came to mind and I began to think about how I could re-fashion this frozen treat with my signature material? 

How the 99 gained its name is questionable, but it definitely gave me the idea to exchange the soft scoop ice cream with 99 used clothing labels. A simple idea to replace the item being consumed with found materials worn by the consumer. Detail below, click on images to enlarge.

My journey

I wanted to go to Art College when I left school but my parents encouraged me to get a ‘proper job’. For 20 years I worked as a Civil Servant at The Nottingham District Land Registry and later at HMRC. I began to study art when my children started school, although I always did the school run and family was always a priority. That’s the thing with art you can work around obstacles and I often worked in the evening after their bedtime. I studied art for 7 years and loved every minute of it, I was awarded MA Fine Art with distinction in 2005 from Nottingham Trent University. My work with garments and labels simply evolved through a programme of exploring and manipulating a wide range of materials.

Joy Pitts #joynextthesea

Joy Pitts #joynextthesea

CALLOUT FOR EREWASH

94 more names needed from Erewash essential #lockdown workers and #volunteers, these will join the 838 names already signed up for inclusion in the art work, see criteria below and email joy@joypitts.co.uk

Names of WWI fallen soldiers.

Names of WWI fallen soldiers.


Invitation to Workers & Volunteers

Have you been working or volunteering in Erewash during Covid-19? 

Would you like your name to be included in a free art project supported by Arts Council England? 

This is a really exciting opportunity for important workers and volunteers like you who have given your time to help others. All you have to do is email your name and a brief note about the work/voluntary action that you have carried out during Covid-19 to the following email address joy@joypitts.co.uk 

Example: - 

NAME: Joy Pitts 

JOB/VOLUNTARY ACTION: Bus driver/make PPE/visit neighbour.

No job is too small to be included so please put your name forward, all are welcome and I would love to hear what you have been doing. Examples might include checking on someone in isolation, delivering or preparing food, delivering newspapers, keeping in touch on the telephone, making PPE, organising volunteers, food bank deliveries, any other acts of kindness or essential work.

Your names will be presented in an artwork in the future similar to the WW1 Homing Pigeon made with the names of 466 Ilkeston men who gave their lives in WWI. These names are listed on the Cenotaph at Ilkeston Market Place.

Read more about the project HERE.

 Joy Pitts is a local artist working with 1000s of clothing labels; these are unpicked from the neck of rag garments and used to make images on canvas. Joy has been commissioned by fashion designer Paul Smith to produce art using his clothing label brand. Joy has also collaborated with several famous Savile Row, London tailors using their bespoke labels to create famous portraits.

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