Carol Widenbar

CV

1963 O level Art Grade 1 School Art Prize

June 2005 BA (Hons) 1st Class Student Profile Express & Star

July 2004 Barnardos 8-18 Family Placement Bronze Medal Design

November 2004 Credit & Debit (glass cast of found object)

Winner E.J.Thompson Award Himley MidArt Dudley

December 2003 Tree of Light Tettenhall College 2003

Winner Professional Practice Module University of Wolverhampton.

An interview with Carol Widenbar.



Q. How would you describe your sculpture?

A. As random and eclectic ideas come from everywhere.



Q. What materials do you use?

A. Anything unlikely for example body parts of a Morris Minor turn into a huge metal Torso a Pumpkin turns into a self-portrait with grass hair and bits of a piano get cast in glass to represent the quiet bits in music. 



Q. What is your work about?   

A. Personal experience mostly. In the Video Installations Perspective and Barking Mad I tried to rationalise personal trauma but the Talking Toilet performs wherever necessary. I do not set out to be political I just try to make sense of the world and where people find unintended humour in my work that’s great for humour is a great communicator. 

 

Q. Do you favour a particular process? 

A. Spontaneous construction. I like to work fast. That said, the traditional processes like woodcarving, metal forging and casting glass are very satisfying. And because I like solving problems I also like working to a brief. 

 

Q. Which artist do you admire?

A. The successful ones; including Doris Salcedo and Bruce Nauman because they use M.I.M.E. (Minimum Intervention for Maximum Effect) and Sarah Lucas and Bill Woodrow for doing the same with humour. 



Q. Why sculpture? 

A. It began with an Access Course to Art & Design. Make a chair they said with string and polystyrene so instead I threw a sheet over a chair, put a light under it called it “Ghost Chair”. Next thing I know I am at an interview for Goldsmiths College. They liked my ideas but thought I would do OK on my own. Nice. 



In June 2005 I was awarded a First Class degree in Fine Art Sculpture by the University of my home town which is why I now do weird things in Wolverhampton.