What do you think of when you hear the term styrofoam? Coffee cups? Packaging material that seems to double in size when you want to dispose of it? Well technically you’d be wrong. The above are actually made of expanded polystyrene beads which are, I’m reliably informed, very different.
Real styrofoam is a much more useful product. Its insulating and buoyant properties coupled with its durability and flexibility have resulted in its use in many situation. Employed for pipe and building insulation, craft products, under-road padding, and even lifeboats, it really is a jack of all trades.
But now it’s impressive repertoire has been raised to a brand new level – styrofoam houses.
August 15th, 2008
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We caught up with Plymouth-based photographer Cassandra Horsley to ask her about her work the life and aspriations of a shutter-bug
Q: What was the first piece of art you sold and who bought it?
A: I was in my first year of college and my parents commissioned me to create something for the house, good old mum.
Q: Where would you most like to exhibit?
A: Most galleries are just empty spaces – it’s the people who attend that make the space great. I’m just about to exhibit at my old college (PCAD) which is quite exciting, it’s nice to have gone full circle.
Q: Which artist do you most admire?
A: I love Nick Knight’s fashion photography, Richard Wilson’s crazy installations, Georgia O’Keeffe’s massive flowers – I don’t think I have anyone that’s top of my list, everyone influences me in one way or another. I’ve just discovered a photographer called Andrew Cross and his Along Some American Highways series, I suppose he’s flavour of the month.
Q: What would be your dream collaboration?
A: To get together with all the guys I graduated with and set up a collective of graphic designers, web bods and filmmakers and so on. One day, maybe, it has been talked about.
Q: What inspires you?
A: Everything and anything. I think I get a lot of inspiration when zoned out on a bus watching the world interact – it gives me thinking space.
Q: What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?
A: Probably one of my awful Saturday jobs I had when I was at college – one shop (I shall name no names) was a dive. Most of the staff came in hungover from the night before and little old me got the boot for talking too much!
Q: What’s the most useful advice you’ve been given as an artist?
A: Always be true to yourself and always associate yourself with positive/proactive people.
Q: What advice would you give to other artists?
A: Don’t ever give up and find some other like-minded people to give you a boost on the down days we all get now and then.
Q: What’s your favourite colour combination?
A: This week mostly orange grey and white. I’m in the process of planning my new flat and I’m in need of colours.
Q: What’s the last piece of art you bought?
A: It was given to me for my birthday, I have a lovely print by Eliot Siegal – thanks Eliot.
Q: Describe your perfect night.
A: I love random nights out, you know, when a friend calls out of the blue and then you bump into more friends and the night snowballs and ends up at the kebab shop on the way home. Perfect.
Q: What’s your fancy dress costume of choice?
A: I really don’t know. I don’t really do fancy dress.
Q: Where will you be in five years?
A: Who knows, but I’ll definitely still be doing my photographic thing.
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August 15th, 2008
