Profile
Mette Sofie Roche b.1948
CV
2009/10: National College of Art and Design , Certificate in Drawing and Visual
Investigation (part time)
2009/10: Dunboyne College of Further Education, FETAC level 6 Art and Art
Business with Bernie Leahy
2008: Dunboyne College of Further Education. FETAC level 5, Art Portfolio course
with Bernie Leahy
2008: Solstice Art Student of the year Award
2008: Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin, “Painting to the exhibitions” weekly workshop
with Felicity Clear
2008: IMMA, Studio 10 weekly workshop with Beth O’Halloran
2008: Rossnarea Art School, Co Meath: Life drawing classes with Sam Law
2000–04: Evening Painting and drawing classes with Marysia Harasimowicz
1992: Burren collage of Art, weekend course in Art Therapy
1991: Burren Collage of Art, 2 weekend courses with Pauline Bewick
1990: Burren Collage of Art, 2 weekend courses with Pauline Bewick
1978: Weaving workshop with Judy Toner (Irish weaver)
1977: Dunlaoghaire School of Art - Evening courses in Ceramics and sculpture
1976: Dunlaoghaire School of Art - Evening courses in Ceramics and sculpture
1976: Sterling University, Scotland, Professional Qualification in Social Work
Profile
Mette Sofie Roche, originally from North-Norway, has been living in Ireland for the past 30+ years, currently in a restored barn in Co. Meath, where she also has her studio. A restored schoolhouse in the North of Norway serves as a second studio during the summer.
She brought strong traditions of weaving and textile art from Norway but started watercolour painting when her first son was born in 1979.and continued with this medium as well as working with textiles until she retired from full time employment in 2008.
After she retired she has embarked on more formal art studies as well as enjoying a full time art practice.
She has been a member of the Old Schoolhouse Art Group in Dunboyne since its foundation in 2001. and of the Meath Arts Group since 2007, and has exhibited extensively with them in and around Co. Meath.
Her paintings and art work are in many private collections in Norway, England, Holland and Ireland and one commissioned painting is in a government office in Navan
Artistic Statement
Her art is inspired by her early years in the North of Norway; the natural phenomena of changing light and climates as well as the human figure, moods and relationships. Her working environment as a social worker was also a source of inspiration.
Her involvement with art has been a journey and process of discovery, continually evolving and changing.
She works in a variety of media ; watercolour, Indian ink, soft pastel, oils and acrylic as well as textile and combined materials. By using strong colours she tries to create something which will delight the viewer and depict the strength and optimism of life.
Her art work is sometimes realistic or representational depictions of scenes or objects but she also works from intuition and attempts to make visible that which is not immediately obvious.
Being involved in a creative process is as important to her as sleep and her recent participation in art education has increased her confidence and enhanced her creativity.
Exhibitions to date:
Group exhibition – In between, Solstice Art Centre, Navan Jan. 2010
Group exhibition - Tohrad Gallery, Ashbourne Dec. 2009
Group exhibition – Castletown House, Celbridge June 2009
Group exhibition – RHA Unselected show , Dublin May 2009
Group exhibition - Spirit of Dunboyne Festival - , Oct. 2009
Group exhibition - Spirit of Dunboyne Festival Sept 2008,
Group exhibition - Public space, Trim May 2008
Group exhibition - Fusion Exhibition/Toradh Art Centre May 2008
Group exhibition – Bru Na Boina/Solstice Art Centre Nov/Dec 2008
Group exhibition - Public space, Leixlip July 2007
Group exhibition - Public space, Trim - May 2006
Group exhibition - Independent artists Network, Dalkey Nov 2006
Group exhibition - Independent artists Network, Dalkey Nov 2006
Group exhibition - ——“——-, Lucan April 2005
Group exhibition – Peoples’ Art, Lucan Nov 2004
Group exhibition - ——“———, Trim April 2004
Group exhibition - ——“———, Trim April 2004
Group exhibition - ——“———, Lucan July 2003
Group exhibition - ——“———, Dunshaughlin June 2002
Group exhibition - Public space, Blanchardstown April 2002
Dunboyne artists Christmas Exhibition annually 2001 - 2009
Planned Exhibitions
8th–20thApril 2010: Group Spring Show, Gallery, Cabra Library , Dublin
22nd – 30th April 2010: Triptych, Gallery, Cabra Library , Dublin
1st - 4th July 2010: NCAD Annual Student exhibition, Dublin
Fibre art
How to transform ordinary fabric from plain to exciting?
By breathing fresh energy into textiles; second hand clothes, recycled curtains, old embroidery and lace and by incorporating salvaged old objects like jewelry, mirrors and shells.
By building depth and character into the piece of fabric, using manipulation techniques involving; layering, dissolving or distorting - softening, fusing and bonding, by using heat and stitch.
By developing interesting patterns and unique surfaces on or with the fabric and objects and create 3-D art work.
I usually start with an idea of what I want to create and choose pieces of textile which reflects in some way to the image I have in mind.
The heat manipulation of the layers of fabric can reveal surprising discoveries and as the work evolves, it leads to other variations, different elements gets exaggerated, altered or added or expose new aspects of the original inspiration.
Depending on what type of fabric used, the layering, colours, embroidery or lace may encourage new ways of thinking about the piece of work. And I may add embroidered stitch or free hand machine stitch.
Often the image may become more and more abstract but I always try to retain the essence of the original inspiration.
The addition of a new media like a small mirror or a pearl will often create a further element. It becomes my personal interpretation.
The fact that the art work is layered, fused and moulded by heat and stitched increases the stability and longevity of the art work.
