Polly Macpherson

Teaching interests

The inventing, creating, manufacturing, constructing, building, producing, designing and making of objects and artefacts

 

Staff serving as external examiners

 

Research interests

MAPPING - JOURNEY - MOVEMENT
I am interested in the ways in which the notions of mapping, journey, movement and time can be presented, organised and structured to create both cohesive pieces of visual composition as well as strengthening the original identity of the individual components.

 

UoP Research group membership

Culture, Theory, Space 
Design Knowledge  
Land/Water and the Visual Arts 

Other research

 

Creative practice & artistic projects

MAPPING - JOURNEY - MOVEMENT
I am interested in the ways in which the notions of mapping, journey,movement and time can be presented, organised and structured to create both cohesive pieces of visual composition as well as strengthening the original identity of the individual components.

Artist in Residency - The Devon & Exeter Institute, Exeter
In November 2009  Dr Simon Persighetti and myself were successful in having our Artists in Residence proposal accepted by The DEI in Exeter. Under the heading of 'The Backs' the first investigative section of the proposal focuses around acting more like forensic scientists than artists and excavating like archaeologists rather than delving into the books. We are reading into the very fabric and material of the building which is where the title of the ―The Backs comes from dealing with the spines of the books as well as the hidden spaces behind the books
Outputs to date:

• Dec. '10       Presenting 'THE BACKS', exhibition at The Devon & Exeter Institution, Exeter

• June '10      Academic Paper ‘Reading THE BACKS’, Creativity & Place conference, Exeter University, Geography Department

• April '10      ‘Cupola’ Film Spacex Contemporary Art Gallery, Film Spring Screen’10
  

Other Recent Exhibitions:

• May '11     ‘Cabinet’, Peninsula Arts Gallery, Plymouth
  

• May '11      ‘Cupola’ Film showing, Pairings conference, Manchester Met. Uni.           

• Dec. '10      Work in Progress Exhibition & Screening, The Devon and Exeter Institution, Exeter.

• Sept.'10     Drawing Research Network Annual Conference “Observation, Mapping, Dialogue "Poster University of Brighton - Winner of 2010 Conference Poster Prize

• Aug-Oct.'10     Ambulation Exhibition, Plymouth Arts Centre
  Artists:ad:HOC, Bridgette Ashton, Tim Brennan, Simon Persighetti and Tony Whitehead, Phil Smith and Polly Macpherson, Architecture Centre Devon and Cornwall
. Ambulation was an exhibition, series of events, films and new commissions by artists and architects who use walking as an artistic practice.

• July '10      Renewal & Regeneration’ Exhibition, Thelma Hulbert Gallery

• June '10     The Purpose of Drawing, The Cube Gallery

For more Creative Works:    http://www.pollymacpherson.co.uk/

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Publications

'Reading THE BACKS'  ISBN-13: 978-0-9569695-0-7  The Backs Index

This publication discusses the creative activities and processes describing the phenomenological reading of a library as a space of knowledge.   

Other academic activities

Current additional:

• UoP Complaint & Appeals Board
• Peninsular Arts Gallery Programming and Advisory Group
• Plymouth Award Management Group
• 3D Design Visiting Lecturer Programmer
• UPC/University Link Academic Advisor to the FDA Ceramics, Cornwall College and FDA/BA Silversmithing & Jewellery, Truro College.
  

Previous additionals including:

• Senior Management Team - School of Architecture & Design
• Academic Promotions Board – Faculty of Arts (2007-2009)

• University Staff Survey (Capita)Committee member
  
• MSc Paediatric Dietetics validation
• MA CAP validation
• Graduate Committee member
• TQA Faculty of Arts & Learning, Teaching & Research Forum
• Interview panels.
  

Plymouth University Complaint & Appeals Board

Peninsular Arts Gallery Programming and Advisory Group
Regular involvement in this group and have acted as chair.
Peninsula Arts operates from within the Faculty of Arts and serves as the Arts and Culture programming organisation for the University of Plymouth. The year-round public programme includes exhibitions, music, film, talks and performing arts. Its aim is to provide a prestigious and wide-ranging series of events that opens up the arts and university to the people of Plymouth, the South West and visitors to the region.

Plymouth Award Management Group.
This is a new scheme to recognise the extra-curricular achievements of students graduating from the University of Plymouth.

3D Design Visiting Lecturing Programmer
The programme bringing to Plymouth national & international speakers including sculptor Peter Randall-Page, Jolyn Brewis (Partner of Sir Nicolas Grimshaw Ass.), Alastair Fuad-Luke (sustainable design facilitator), Karoline Newman (Articulate Communication), 
 Andrea Stemmer (Designer to HEALS), and Janet Stoyle MBE (Textile Artist).
-Peter Randall-Page“…It was an innovative idea to invite us both to talk together, the event was extremely well organised with a full house of interested students who asked intelligent and pertinent questions. A total success from my point of view.”,
-Jolyn Brewis (Eden Project, Managing Partner of Sir Nicolas Grimshaw As’tes.)
“I have given talks in many academic and public institutions both in the UK and abroad; my visit to Plymouth was amongst the most enjoyable, and the most informative for me. I am grateful to Polly for making it so."

UPC/University Link Academic Advisor
The University of Plymouth Colleges (UPC) network is a partnership between the University of Plymouth and local colleges that brings degrees to local doorsteps. Academics working at the University work as critical friends for validation and assessment.

 

Additional information

For more information please visit www.pollymacpherson.co.uk

June 2011     Judge, Contemporary Craft Fair  http://craftsatboveytracey.co.uk/

Nov. 2010     Invited Selector for 2011 Contemporary Craft Fair
The CCF has become one of the most prestigious events of its kind. The show has grown to represent the UK’s finest makers in all areas of craft as well as hosting a variety of national and regional craft organisations, universities, galleries and museums. ukhandmade

April 2010     Accredited Coach - Performance Coach Training/The Cultural Leadership Programme, Coaching Skills for Leadership Foundation Course
I coach people from all spheres and at all stages in their lives, working to help them to find clarity on a single area or to shape future developments. The work is about helping individuals to find their own solutions and could be a one off session or a series of sessions depending on the depth and clarity needed.
My clients include artists, designers, educators, charity and local authority workers to name a few. Coaching areas include goal setting, clarifying areas, working though an stumbling point, finding time/putting a plan together for you/your creative practice/family, working on limited beliefs, head clearing,
preparing for a particular event and learning how to have none confrontational conversations.

 

Links

Polly Macpherson
http://www.pollymacpherson.co.uk

Drawing Research Network
http://www.simcoe.co.uk/drawing/members.htm

3D Design - University of Plymouth
http://www.3DDesign.org.uk
http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=8039

MA Design - University of Plymouth
http://www.madesign.org.uk
http://www.3ddesign.org.uk/degree_masters.htm