Gemma Garwood is a multidisciplinary artist based in Colchester, Essex.
A collaborative cultural magpie; begging, borrowing and building in order to create beguiling and locally significant works.
"My work is grounded in the fields of mythology, heritage, performance and theatre but I often venture into other territories as necessary. I am especially concerned with site-specific and socially engaged practices; how we relate to, understand and construct our environment and our relationships with each other.
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As a child I would sing songs to the fields around my village home and as I grew, local stories of rising water and wild women calcified into the core of my being. I lived away and gathered more mythological nourishment in Wales, and then Cornwall, but Essex kept haunting my dreams and I returned home in 2017 determined to work loud and proud with her places and stories in my ongoing creative practice.
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Alongside my solo practice I have spent much of my creative life bringing people together in the places that belong to them; organising group shows for local and emerging artists in Wales, town crying and conscious street cleaning in Cornwall and developing artist collective and platform the UNFAMILIARS in Colchester."
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RECENT PROJECTS, EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS
Ongoing
MEZZOTINT - Since 2020
Singer//Lyricist
Ambitious Essex based Goth Band founded under Lockdown.
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UNFAMILIARS - Since 2017
Artistic Director//Editor
Multidisciplinary Zine, Small Press and Event Platform founded in 2017. 13 themed editions to date including our council funded colouring zine 'On the Street'.
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2022
Explore Essex Arts and Cultural Fund Recipient. "The Deepenings Project" Cudmore Grove, Mersea Island.
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DYCP Grant, Arts Council England
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The Folklore Network Witchcraft Conference, Performed Lecture (Online)
Zine Commission, Snapping the Stilletto "Revisiting the Essex Witch Trials " Trail, Manningtree, Essex.
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Workshops Commission, Snapping the Stilletto, Basildon, Essex.
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2021
Firstsite Collectors Award
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Exhibiting Artist, Born With It Group Exhibition, WE ARE THE MINORIES, Colchester, Essex.
Creative Practitioner, How to Cry in Public Workshops and Interactive Zine, Norwich Theatres (Outreach), Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk.
[SPACE] studios at 37 Queen St Online Collaborative Residency.
Resulting in OTHERLAND. With Lucy Gayler
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Magical Women Imbolc Commission (online)
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Sudbury Walking Arts Walkshop Commission, Sudbury, Suffolk.
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2020
Colchester County Council Creative Colchester Grant, UNFAMILIARS Colouring Zine, Colchester, Essex.
Magical Women, Creative Facilitator & Workshop Support (Online)
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Curator, Taking Stock Group Exhibition, The Minories Galleries, Colchester, Essex.
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RUSALKA, Film. Dedham, Essex. ​
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TROJAN WOMEN, Performance Proposal, Gosbecks Archaeological Park, Colchester, Essex.
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BROKEN HOMECOMINGS, Personal Project. Poetry Anthology.
2019
Curator, Legend Pop-up Poster Exhibition, The Minories Galleries, Colchester, Essex.
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Curator and Contributor (Installation and Performance), Tales from the Greenwood//Lost in Wonderland Group Exhibition, The Minories Galleries, Colchester, Essex.
Assistant Curator and Contributor (Verssinage performance), New Magical Realism Group Exhibition, The Minories Galleries, Colchester, Essex.
Cur. Micha Eden Erdez
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2018
Performer, Way to the Pretty, Melu Bel Productions at the "Calm Down Dear" festival, Camden Peoples Theatre.
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2017
Performer and Project Manger, Town Crying Project, Falmouth, Cornwall.
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Performer, Art Crier for the Mayor-in-Residence project (DOO and Odin Teatret), Holstebro, Denmark
2016
Performer and Project Manger, Town Crying Project, Falmouth, Cornwall.
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Performer, Art Crier for NTW City of the Unexpected, Cardiff, Wales.
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TEACHING
Colchester Institute (HE) - 2018/19
Movement for Actors
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Falmouth University (FE) - 2015/17
Acting Practice
Site-Specific
Devised
History and Context of Theatre
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