Thin Places

Thin places are those locations where the boundary between our physical world and the spirit world has

become flimsy and permeable. Where senses are blurred and the flow of stories from one realm to the other

are now possible.

Both Sheridan and Banks’ work deal with the potential of story telling, both personal and collective.

Offering us thresholds to contemplate and tempt us to cross.

Julie’s main focus is extended painting, working both within and beyond the canvas frame. Her current

practice continues this exploration of boundaries and borders. Having moved from Wales to Hastings in

August 2024 this work documents her search for now unnoticed borders and their markers. These once

significant places are encroached upon and forgotten, but their traces persist. They remain hidden in plain

sight, waiting to reveal themselves to us.

Tom explores these subsumed environments, roaming the suburban estates that exist at the edge of town,

and consciousness. Often built on ancient woodland where spirits once seeped from the pagan soil. Here,

the lie of the land is still visible, the flora and fauna now tamed and trimmed, but there is a lurking feeling that

‘things are not quite right’. We are asked to engage with the myths we construct about what might be

occurring out of sight, beyond the net curtains beneath the manicured lawns, (go look for Daniel H Bell’s

creation).

@sheridanjulieann @tmobanks

http://www.juliannsheridan.co.uk http://www.tombanks.net

1. No Bounds, acrylic on board, 7.5cm x 7.5cm, £220

2. Din, acrylic on canvas, 7.5cm x 7.5cm, £220

3. A House and a Red Sun, oil on canvas, 59cm x 53cm, £1400

4. To Encroachment Yarbles, acrylic on canvas, 7.5cm x 7.5cm, £220

5. The Cloud Hangs Hard Upon Albion Lane, oil on canvas, 58.5cm x 84cm, NFS

6. Reclaiming the Waters, acrylic on canvas board, 7.5cm x 7.5cm, £250

7. Borderland, acrylic on canvas, 6cm x 8cm, £220

8. Tapshore, acrylic on board, 7.5cm x 7.5cm, £220

9. No.1 Preludium Drive, oil on canvas 92cm, 112cm, £2400

10.Gangdays, acrylic on canvas board, 7cm x 9cm, £230

11. Common Ground, acrylic on canvas board, 7cm x 9cm, £250

12. House no.2, oil on ply 28cm x 13cm x 27cm, £950 Daniel H Bell, Pod, video, 32sec loop

13. Non Place, acrylic on canvas board, 8cm x 6cm, £220

14. Perambulation, acrylic on board, 12cm x 10cm, £250

15. Marchland, acrylic on canvas, 10cm x 14cm, £260

16. Reclaiming the Sky, acrylic on board, 10cm x 12cm, £250

17. Liminal, acrylic on board, 6cm x 8cm, £220

18. Urizen’s Rest, oil on canvas, 40cm x 50cm, £750

Pay by card at the bar, or contact the artists via email – sheridanjulieann@gmailcom info@tombanks.net

Upcoming exhibition as part of Coastal Currents

Borderland

28/05/2025

Acrylic on board (mounted on foam board with Velcro attachments)

14.5x20cm

£340

Can be viewed now until the end of August in St Leonard’s on Sea, Hastings.

Beep Vinyl Exhibition, 2024

Enclave, Acrylic on reused/found Vinyl Tile 

single : Fergal Sharky – A good heart these days is hard to find. 

Loosly linked to the title as part of The Beep Vinyl Exhibtion, 2024. It’s a portrait of Fergal looking for a good heart but more about my current work surrounding borders and boundaries. ‘Enclave’ represents countries affected by border and land issues. 

Back home in Wales

I’ve been back a few days now and still recovering from the last month. Feeling better every day and finally got my work unpacked and displayed at The Last Gallery.

1. Undefined Acrylic on wood and cloth £2500

2. Liminal Acrylic on wood £2500

3. Unexplained £3000

4. Undefined Acrylic on cloth and wood £3000

5. Barely Noticed

Acrylic on cloth and wood

£3000

Tweaking day

It’s great to be able to have the time to play with pieces I’ve produced. I’ve changed a few forms already and it’s important to sleep on these things, fresh eyes make such a difference.

I started this residency on the first of January so the work has been produced in two weeks. It’s all made from re used materials, apart from the paint. I kept the pieces small but decided to link them using fabric and various forms. This was done with transport in mind not only for sales but for bringing them back with me to UK.

The space is open during installation so it’s been nice to chat to visitors about the process. So far it’s all been very positive. Opening and talk is on Saturday, if you are in the area please come along. Until then I will be producing three paintings for Subodh’s new museum which will be ready towards the end of the year.

Installation Day

No updates for last couple of days as I didn’t want to share finished work to soon. I did produce a couple of extra pieces yesterday using a couple of chair seats found in the outside studios. The re-use of found materials is important to sustainability of practise.

My father started my wombling tendencies years ago when we used to go skip diving for bicycle parts and other stuff. I still remember the smell of rusting metal and the excitement of finding free stuff. All of the materials used in the exhibition are found, apart from the circular canvas which was donated by Subodh.

The work is up I just need to tweak it and add some little extras in. Thanks to the experienced staff here at MOG the main job was completed in 2hrs, here’s a time lapse.

For updates subscribe http://www.julieannsheridan.co.uk

Day 14

Another full day.

Finished the large canvas for the end wall and though I can’t fully visualise how the end wall will look, I’m confident it will be a good addition to the final layout.

One thing that’s changed in my practise since my MFA is my increased interest in the space for the paintings. Room one at MOG is a long thin space with some minimal indentations. I am going to use these to frame some of the work in some way but I’m unable to see this in reality until I hang the work in the space.

I enjoy allowing the space to define the final outcome. Maybe some of the work will be displayed at floor level or even in the corners.

I took a walk around the various studio/workspaces as they were mostly empty as it’s Sunday. Areas of activity and in the Goan light wonderful to photograph.

Day 13

After completing a series of small works I was offered a large round canvas to work on. I had to think small as transport is an issue and I want to bring small works back with me for an exhibition at The Last Gallery. The larger pieces will be left behind for Subodh to display in his many galleries.

I time lapsed a bit of process for you, going backwards in circles was quite meditative. A large mop brush was used to make rice like forms. Decided not to paint a spiral as it has links to magic.

Off to a talk by Harsh Mandes later, such a lot to enjoy here at MOG. While I was eating yet another delicious lunch here at MOG I got my first mosquito bite on my clearly very tasty little toe, not bad after 13 days of being here.

Day 12

Lots of finishing today. Decided what to do with the rolls of coloured fabric I brought with me and started a large round canvas which will go on the end wall.

Also lots of play with suspending and balancing paintings using fabric strips as supports.

Had a couple of meetings about installation which will start Wednesday, next week. Returned home a little early to prepare a short presentation for artists during the exhibition, so another full day.

A weekend of work and lectures which will hopefully see the bulk of the work done, so might get a day off on Monday,

Didn’t take many pictures so I included a couple of images taken locally including a beautiful temple.

Day 11

Building up momentum now, works are slowly starting to come together and also working as a group. Loads of experimentation still happening, its my favourite part of the process and the most exciting, things changing hour by hour.

Vaipho filmed me for a reel today, again great to have the support and facilities here to work with, as I normally do this work myself.

I spent some time this afternoon finishing works which included backing them and fixing hooks, as well a tidying up surfaces with fingerprints on them, (I’m as many will know not the tidiest of workers).

The exhibition goes up mid week, next week so going to have to put some hours in to fill the space.

Also started reading The Great Goan Land Grab which finally arrived from Dog Ear Books.

Day 10

Time is going to fast.

Got here at a reasonable hour after having a few drinks last night and watching the sunset from the balcony of the museum. Spent the morning painting and repainting strips of reused Welsh fabric (from out of date sample books), they were red, became green and are now black. So at least that’s one decision made the primary colours for the show are acid green and black. Green to represents rice, paddy fields and jungle, black the encroachment of uncontrolled development on these precious resources and the inevitable environmental disaster that follows. I’m researching land grabbing in Goa and found an article on Suella Bravemans whose family are victims of this, I don’t know what to think of this as in the UK she anti immigration.

Lunch was fabulous fish curry from

After lunch time was spent experimenting with alternative display methods, working with the theories of expanded painting and involving the surrounding architecture and space. Still not sure how I’m going to display this work and if there will be any further additions as I’m enjoying the simple colour and forms.

Still time for mor experimenting but I have to be mindful of the looming install dates for next week.

Day 9

Had yesterday off as was tired from the heat, been fairly constant low-mid 30’s and humid so spent the day at Nilaya Hermitage up in the hills, http://nilaya.com.

In early as refreshed and ready for a 6 day slog as I have to have work ready for when they take the current photographic show down. With so many staff there’s a quick turn around.

I’ve finalised 6 small works which are being backed with hardboard and fixed with hangers. Still have some work to do on them but the main structure is ready. I’ve also pretty much finished two rice forms which will also be glued down onto hardboard so hangers can be attached, or I may use Velcro (I have to think about transport home for these pieces). Some will be left in Goa to fill Subodh’s many venues.

I’ve decided to use a circular canvas for the end wall as there’s a running theme of circular work here at MOG so why not join in.

We had rain last night which has really fresh-end everything up, so glad to be back in the studio. I was greeted by Tanvi and handed some Kheer to try, a kind of Indian pudding, delicious. The MOG staff have been so helpful and welcoming. Meet them here:

https://museumofgoa.com/team/

Let me know how you are all getting on with what you are producing.

Day 7

Sunday, it seems, is not a day of rest for the arts here too, MOG is open until 5pm. After a good rest yesterday Sunday studio began with a couple of tests, one to see if I should create layers using the same colour or integrate grey. I decided against the grey as in this light grey is not grey but purple or reddish in colour. It had to be grey and would have required a matt black tone to mix an appropriate grey that didn’t reflect the amazing light in this studio.

Prashant Panjiar who have a photographic exhibition in gallery 1 gave a wonderful afternoon talk about his photo journalistic career, check him out www.prashantpanjiar.comPrashant Panjiar

Then began 5 hrs of adding layers, some almost glaze in form and others direct from the tube. The final two pieces worked on took time to dry in between layers, so working on one while the other dried payed off. The whole session was quite meditative, slowly responding to where the colour and brush wanted to leave a mark. Some time was spent in silence and other listing the the audio book, The Book of Trespass, which is brilliant (kindly shared with me by Lisa Roberts) https://lisaroberts.fi/

The pieces will be left for a day as the museum is closed tomorrow and I will be heading to https://www.nilaya.com/nature-photos/ for another day bathing in nature.

#contemporarypainting #residency #goa #nilayaresort #layers #MOG #meditativemarkmaking #glazing #grey #tests

Day 5

Too many cocktails last night led to a late start but got to MOG using GoaMiles which is so much easier than booking cabs.

I have the studio alone today as Subodh is away. Time to write, think and paint while listening to The Book of Trespass on Audible. I’m waiting for a copy of The Great Goan Land Grab which I will read next. Both books examine ideas surrounding territory, borders and boundaries. My work here in Goa will represent these issues through extended painting.

I have painting everything I have made so far black, green or red. The red represents the Goan red rice, black will provide negative space and green the young paddy fields of Goa. The shapes replicate rice forms.

So far I’ve only used reusable materials apart from the acrylic paint. Sustainability both in practise and personally is paramount which is why I’m having a day off tomorrow and am going to swim in the sea, first time since I’ve been here.

By the way the Mango Lassi at MOG cafe is absolutely scrumptious.

(I’ve included a couple of images from the outdoor studios here at MOG).

Day 4

Working on multiple projects at once, helps with structuring time waiting for things to dry, also find it easier to unify colour this way.

3 prepared surface delivered today by the wonderful team (here at Museum of Goa) for Subodh’s new museum of beer

6 pieces using old squash racquet stretchers which are reminiscent of chair seats, just a little smaller and easier to transport.

1 piece involving strips of painted Welsh waste fabric scraps from my husbands upholstery workshop.

1 sack painted with rice forms, hope to make multiples of these to fill a large space, may make some twisted, sculptural structures to project from this surface.

I might have to have a day off soon, finding the heat and work combo really tiring, not so bad if you are lying on the beach but working in it is challenging.

I intended to post this earlier but for a impromptu cocktail night in a couple of beautiful venues, the first one at the Feri bar on the Mandovi River which was beautiful.

Day 3 MOG

Met with Subodh Kerkar whom I haven’t seen for 15 years, a delight as always. Talked about access to materials and exhibition possibilities. It’s so refreshing to work with an owner/artist who answers to no one, who makes decisions immediately, with generosity, kindness and trust. The politics of the UK system can be testing at the best of times but here, as in the USA there are few barriers to practise and production.

My second job was to draft plans and create order lists. I’m lucky enough to have Subodh’s staff to help, they will cut, measure and make forms onsite for me to use as surfaces, I normally do all this alone, which takes up valuable time and energy, so it’s such a relief to hand these jobs over. They will also attach hangers on the backs and prime, how good is that.

Lunch was a delicious Dosa in the restaurant and more of their strong coffee.

The afternoon was spent making small maquettes and testing painted surfaces. I also sourced some old Indian sacks that will fill the end wall of the gallery space, I will paint individually, stitch together and attach to the wall, ceiling and floor, extending the paint beyond the traditional structural restraints.

I now need to consider how painted they should be, how much if the original texture and colour to leave exposed and how to curate positive and negative space into the final structure, it may involve an element of suspension or hanging from pieces of bamboo (another widely available sustainable material here in Goa).

#residency #goa #contemporarypainting #MOG #specialplaces #studiopractic #process #museumofgoa #hessian #welcomingspace

Day 2 – it’s so hot

Got a taxi to MOG this morning to see it for the first time. It’s a much larger space than was expected, 3 floors and many indoor and outdoor galleries full of Goan and Indian art including Subodh Kerkars.

I’ve been kindly allowed to use Subodh’s studio which has great light and beautiful high ceilings. The peace in this space is palpable after the chaos of getting here.

There are so many visitors, it’s clear this is a very much needed and appreciated space for art and art lovers.

I’m just trying to catch my breath after a long journey, have jet lag and even though I’ve lived and visited many times it’s always a culture shock. A day of calm in a comfortable space is just the ticket. I’ve got some ideas going, considered my materials and ironed out a few practical problems with Subodh’s helpful staff, and had my first proper meal.

Excited to officially start tomorrow, it’s work, not a holiday, I have to keep reminding myself….

Goa Day 1

I left Christmas, it’s back there in a wet and very windy Wales. My village was surrounded by flooding from three spate rivers and global warming. I am glad to be moving on to a different climate and less damp conditions. I left my studio with a hole in the roof, (after another storm) taped up last minute with black and white stripy tape and a hard working dehumidifier, which it cannot exist without. I’m hoping that the insects who reside/share my space don’t cause to much damage during my absence, the silver fish particularly enjoy chomping on watercolour on paper.

I packed up yesterday with one large case full of pre prepared surfaces to save time and as back up, incase I struggle with ideas and a smaller case filled with clothing and T bags. I don’t know what I’m getting work space wise and have no materials, not even a paintbrush, so am relying on Subodh’s kindness and use of his immense studio.

Currently writing this on Air India, the screens don’t work, no charging points, little space, they charge for babies and there’s not a great selection of drinks, everyone’s mega pissed. Not me though, I’m using the Ogmios way and just being kind to myself and others, and writing this to stay calm and awake, it works.

I hope to arrive at 10.30 am, Goa time while you are all still asleep, to Peace Suites and find a nice comfy bed to curl up in and sleep a while as the night flight was busy. A lot of my work uses recycled upholstery materials from chairs and sofas and I’m delighted that I can say I’m staying in 3 piece suite 😆 said in a South African accent.

Tomorrow is New Year’s Day and one of only a couple of days a year the Museum of Goa closes so time to get over the 48 hrs it took for me to get here and maybe a swim in the pool.

Tuesday will be a day of introductions and attempting to remember the names of Subodh’s staff and family. I will see the museum for the first time and assess the space, I love this part as a lot of my work is site specific. Then it will be lots of site visits, local Goan tribe weavery for fabric, Jesus upholsterers for tech advice, some skip diving and general wombling, then I suppose some painting. So excited to begin this new project in the sun, hopefully all this effort will result in something interesting, India always repays you for the effort.

Day 3

A day for planning possible display methods. So from the floor to shallow shelving. Really enjoying the order of the shelf but this method will work alongside wall pieces, drapery and hopefully some larger artworks to be produced in India.

Day 2

Day two of the last week of peace before Christmas and family responsibilities take over.

Today I will be playing around with form, moving coloured shapes around until they settle, allowing them to dictate the outcome. This is were the process takes priority, were the art and I work together to reach some sort of conclusion.

I always navigate towards large abstract artworks, they have a draw for me that I don’t challenge or question. They provide me with a moment of calm and peace that I don’t get from anything else.

Many people challenge abstract work deeming it simple, child like but it remains the highest sold across the world.

I’ve been working with this material that was donated by my husband who is an upholsterer. He doesn’t know what it is but it is paper with a canvas surface, so I used it to create shapes, it works well when bonded to cardboard. A tip from Kees Van De Wal an abstract minimal artist on how to prevent cardboard from curling in damp atmospheres helped enormously.

One Week Left

So everything was pink, as I couldn’t stop thinking about the Philip Guston exhibition. Now everything is green as I’ve been listening to a lot of 1980’s house music. Continuing to consider extended painting, positive/negative space and colour. Using recycled cardboard to create shape outside of the borders of the canvas both in front and behind, moving colour out into the space around the canvas. Reading The Book of Trespass which has increases my interest in in debate surrounding borders, ownership and environmental sustainability. Cardboard shapes represent the staples of India, onions, potatoes and rice. Green land reserved for growing food being sold off to builders all over the world, is not only effecting our food supply and costs but our entire environmental future.

Continuing to use recycled materials to minimise my practices environmental impact.

Sunday Studio

I’ve been thinking alot lately about the relationship between nature, the environment and humanity. One of my long standing memories of my first trip to Goa in 1996 was while drawing En Plein Air and seeing a cow eating a cardboard box, even eating them from a fire. A very bolshy cow also tried to eat my sketch book while drawing. Why was the cow eating cardboard, was it tastey? My paper is regularly eaten by insects and other creatures in my studio and they especially like paper with watercolour paint on it.

This was a powerful reminder that maybe we are taking so much land away from these creatures that they have no option but to eat what is around them. Goa as in the UK is suffering from Land Grab, where green belt land is being sold off to build housing and hotels.

Making these possible connections has led to using cardboard as a surface for paint, (cardboard boxes sourced from a local vegetable supplier). I’m experimenting with rice shapes for abstract elements as a direct link to the loss of historical paddy fields to development.

Experiments with Draping

In response to research about the Kunbi tribe in India I am experimenting with draping and painted cloth. The Kunbi tie their Saris over their left shoulder in a knot. This is a reused stretcher with an experimental tied cloth attached. The Kunbi sari was a basic cloth which was worn above ankles when working in the paddy fields.