Carrie Fertig

Website:http://www.carriefertig.com

Region:Scotland

Technique:Flame working

Occupation:Artist, Educator

Discipline:Installation, Media, Public art, Sculptural, Other

Areas of Interest:Competitions, Conferences, Education, Exhibition, Networking

Country:United Kingdom

Social media Links:
@carriefertigart
@carriefertigstore

I create sonic and visual environments for transformative experiences. I use flameworked glass in an interdisciplinary practice incorporating film, sound, performance, fire, music, and electronics, to address emotional, spiritual, and physical states and thresholds. I build environments and situations to which people privately bring their deepest selves to visually public installations. All of my work contains engagement with collaborators or participants, and much of it is interactive. In 2010 I founded Torcher Chamber Arkestra, an experimental platform of craft, performance and technology.

I am a socially engaged interdisciplinary artist working in performance, video, sound, and installation, sometimes simultaneously. Much of my work is an exploration of difficult and uncomfortable aspects of being human: dying and forgiveness. I use performance as part of a practice to make compelling and safe situations and environments inviting deep introspection from viewers and participants. Often using glass for its sonic, encapsulating, and transparent qualities, live performances may include the making and/or destruction of objects. Using my body to act upon objects I have often made can emit sound transcendent. These actions can also catalyse cacophony when objects are destroyed, but in that destructive action, there is space for transcendence.

Much of my practice is collaborative and projects like the live performance Torcher Chamber Arkestra combine fire, music, sound, and electronics and are collaborative not only between the performers, but with the audience as well. Projects such as Forgiveness, are not only interactive but often collaborate with supported groups, in situations with imbedded duty of care.

I try to make work that is emotionally and spiritually useful. Feedback teaches me that these works can be beneficially life-changing for some and that the environment of an exhibition which contains captured and broadcast performances, can lead to social dialogue and exchange with profound positive effect.