Mary Down

Fellowship: May 1995 – May 1998 Attimore Barn

Artform: Printing/Painting

For several years I have made work informed by research into family history. Most historic evidence I found focused on the achievements, status, education and possessions of my male ancestors.

The Lives of their wives daughters were largely unmarked. Much of my work has been a way of exploring the silences and invisible spaces occupied by these women and making loving memorials to their fleeting presence. The reputation of birth and death influenced my recent work, especially after time spent in an HIV/Aids community in South Africa.

Education:

1993 BA (hons) Fine Art 1st class honours University of Hertfordshire

1982 B S C (hons) Sociology 2:1 University of Hertfordshire (then Hatfield Polytechnic)

Awards:

1998 First Prize, Artist Open, Margaret Harvey Gallery, Herts

1997 Prize 1,000 words Horsham Arts Centre

1994 Shortlisted, Space studio award. Fresh Art, London

Media Profile (selected):

1999 Pockets, Purses & Secret Places. Text: Neeta Zin Hughes

1995 Art Review Degrees of Importance

1994 The Independent the taste of things to come Iain Gale

Exhibitions (selected):