Written Projects Summary
Recently Pearman undertook large-scale public art project for the vale of Glamorgan council in Barry. Using imagery based upon historic postcards of Barry, artist Tom Pearman has produced a series of artworks using the traditional medium of vitreous enamel.
Arranging a montage of imagery to invent a series of landscapes, Tom has aimed to present the
The enamel panels have been commercially printed using 4-colour separation, and by doing so, celebrate the postcard printing industry and the various degrees of printing patterns that become evident when magnified.
The arrangements of the foregrounds and backgrounds of the three large artworks represent imagery that is being projected onto a rectangular cinema screen.
This reference to cinema is a direct celebration of the early C20th cinema that once stood on Thompson Street, 'Leon Vint's Electric Palace'. The smaller graphic panels aim to emphasis the cinematic process of cinematic light-projection, which is to first, turn the lights off, second, plug in the projector and third, switch the projector on. For further details please visit the project specific website: http://www.tompearman.co.uk/barryarts/index.html
Pearman also recently completed an architectural glass commission for The John Peel Centre for Creative Arts. The project involved the design and fabrication of a series of fired enamel glass panels for the original front windows of the 1836 Stowmarket Corn Exchange, as part of a refurbishment plan, part funded by winning ITV's 'People's Millions" in 2010
Pearman explored the abstract patterns found in theatrical seating plans. He delivered creative workshops for the Open Suffolk Weekend where participants personalised there own patterns by allocating specific seating for themselves and their ideal guest which ranged from family members to pop stars.
The large-scale site-specific artwork aims to celebrate the audience that will visit the centre, which is named after the late BBC radio presenter, John Peel, who lived locally.
For a Capital Build Project for Winter Garden Primary School Pearman fabricated series artworks explore a sense of an opening, doorway or journey to another world, place or culture. This is represented by the introduction of artworks that take on the appearance of a false door or window. These artworks reflect a theme that is found in children's literature in books by C S Lewis and Lewis Carol, for example. The theme of travelling somewhere in one's imagination is a fun and exciting, is part of the creative process, and is a process that children employ throughout the day as part of their learning, problem solving and playing.
Pearman was also recently selected as the artist and consultant for a Capital Build Programme for Burnham on Crouch Primary School. His input involved integrating artwork into the redesign of the school, including an architectural glass application to the new assembly hall main glazing.
The glass artworks investigate our relationship toward the built environment. How do we perceive the architecture that surrounds us? How might we (as an architect or an artist might), represent the built environment on a flat two-dimensional surface? What simple and effective illusions can we employ in order to give shapes volume, depth and perspective? Tom has attempted to answer these questions by an artwork representing a sliding puzzle that perhaps asks questions itself. In education, aren't the right questions more important than the answers...?
Other noted completed projects include a large-scale project for Salford City Council, which involved the design and fabrication of a series of directional markers for the Chapel Street area. The project also involves a series of creative workshops with the local community, including elderly peoples residential homes, primary schools and local youngsters. For the project he is also acting as a mentor for a selection of local art students who have been awarded project bursary awards. Please visit the project's web site, which explains the overall content, strategy and community involvement of the scheme, to date: www.tompearman.co.uk/salford
One particular project involved working with Public Art Leicester and Leicester Housing Association on a large scale 'Cultural Mapping', ACE Lottery/SRB5 funded £120,000 commission involving integrated artworks and the complete design of soft and hard landscaping of an exterior seating area, children's play area, and basket ball court. By combining an engagement scheme with a close involvement with the architect and project manager, Pearman has successfully transformed a redundant exterior space into a durable and exciting area for the local community. The artworks for the scheme include vitreous enamel panels, relief concrete slabs, furniture and a mosaic tiled area.
Other completed projects include a large scale site specific decorative glass scheme for the atrium areas for a new NHS Primary Care Centre in Darwen, Lancashire, and an external seating commission for Cannock Chase Council, Arts for Health project, 'Walk to Win' and the Forestry Commission involving a site specific sculptural bench design and production to be located on an established trail at Birches Valley in Rugeley, Staffordshire. Pearman has also undertaken a large scale lighting, sculpture and architectural glass commission for York NHS Hospital's Cancer Care Centre external courtyard and interior main entrance, a glass artwork commission for the new NHS Cardiac & Surgical Unit at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, and a large scale ceiling to floor screen, lighting, external sign and architectural decorative glazing commission, for Bethlem Royal Hospital / Trust Arts.
Ongoing projects include a site specific glass commission for the new University of Ulster involving fired artworks to the three meter tall curtain glazing system of the new cafe / bar area, and a public art scheme for Guilford housing Association situated in a local playground.
Other previous projects have involved printing onto 16 architectural glass panels (1400 x 650 mm each), to provide a visually exciting facade for the 30M long glass gallery window of the new Lottery funded London Print Studio. Working with the project engineer and architect to establish the optimum medium, Pearman combined the mediums of silk-screen printing with a modern process of stained glass, to provide an architectural permanence. The approach resulted in an extremely durable series of images, consisting of dynamic forms and vibrant transparent blocks of colour. The architectural panels are visible from both the interior and exterior of the building, providing an exciting visual spectacle for the local urban environment.
Pearman's furniture designs have previously been commissioned by The Royal Festival Hall and The Hayward Gallery. Pearman has also exhibited in individual as well as group shows around the country and was recently involved in an architectural decorative glass exhibition in Barcelona, as part of the 'Barcelona's Year of Design'.
