Master printmaker, illustrator and creative catalyser
Cate Ross is a multi-discipline artist; she's a master printmaker, art education and creative action research specialist, physical theatre and dance trapeze professional, costume maker and community arts catalyser since 1995. Her portfolio includes a range of physical performances, applied creative practices in the community, 3D installations, public art and 2D visual art forms. Cate's studio work addresses and seeks solutions to local and global geo-political challenges as well as to celebrate human and natural phenomena.
Cate believes that creative practice is an empowering currency- as stated by Joseph Beuys, "Creativity = Capital"
Cate graduated from the Edinburgh College of Art with a BA(Hons) Applied Art (Illustration) Degree in 1995, then gained a Post Graduate Certificate in Community Education (PGCCE, from Moray House Institute of Education, The University of Edinburgh 2000). She went on to win a 3-year Teaching Assistantship and Graduate position in Fine Art Printmaking in The Franklin School of Arts and Sciences - Lamar Dodd School of Art at The University of Georgia, USA graduating with a Master of Fine Art (MFA) Degree in 2004. During her time at UGA she was awarded scholarships and honours including a Regents Scholarship Graduate Assistantship to study at Kawashima Textile School in Kyoto, Japan for a month as part of their Study Abroad Programme and also their Institute for Creative Exploration Award to produce a multi-media performance art piece called 'eco-log' in partnership with Canopy Movement Art Centre in Athens, Georgia, USA. Since then Cate has grown as a community artist facilitating creative practices for others, providing person-centred and group work focussed on enjoyment, wellbeing, inclusion and education. For more information about her community development work please visit www.aethaerialarts.com, link below.
As a Master Printmaker, Cate is a skilled translator and has turned original concepts / artworks into print forms for eminent artists including Robert Stackhouse (USA). She has been a studio assistant to Willie Cole (USA), preparing works for exhibition in the Alexander and Bonin Gallery, New York. She is also a physical / visual story teller and mural artist who has created bespoke unique large scale artworks in community settings which have composed and translated the ideas of participants and created distinctive original works.
Cate is a full time professional artist and community arts development specialist living in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. She has exhibited in the USA, Scotland and Japan. Her work is part of private collections and The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts.
An aethaerial artist- short essay about Cate Ross's studio practice and portfolio
Cate's personal studio practice employs drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, textiles and found objects, photography, audio-visual and film installations.
She is concerned with exploring subjects related to historical and contemporary cultural issues. Her works aim towards improving her own understanding, supporting equality in communities, environmental protection and diversity awareness. Cate is clearly anti-war & anti-nuclear armament, she is pro-peace making, truthfulness, brave communication and compassionate approaches.
Cate's work provides visual provocations and satirical word play based on her lived experiences of contemporary life, social constructions / conventional norms that lead to societal problems like ecological degradation, exponential human suffering and social malaise; she is a critical thinker. Through her personal works the artist seems compelled to explore the 'existential crisis' aspect of humanity and questions how she plays a part in the world's problems (local to global)- relentlessly searching for positive solutions.
Cate is dedicated to developing and applying creative practices to help honour and celebrate positive human achievements (culture, science, education, technology, spirituality, philosophy, creativity, wellbeing etc.) for the benefit of all.
Cate’s artworks have included unique pieces of dance and physical theatre involving fire, costume art, sculpture, one-off interventions and multi-media installations including aerial arts through to 2D visual art forms (action paintings, unique prints, fine art print editions and drawings).
The artist's studio work reveals her explorations into key questions relating to issues of freedom of choice and movement, transparent information sharing and peace making; Cate's work is layered with such references; our local and global community, myths, folklore, family life, society, health and wellbeing. Through her creative practices she seeks a view point that reveals compassionate strategies for world peace through conflict resolution.
The multi-disciplinary works and bodies of work that Cate produces visually share aspects of her investigations and perceived impacts of wider influences like global economics and local to world Politics, ecological diversity, community sustainability and the role of the mass media, indeed the confluence of all these subjects that creates society (both ancient and modern)- are all subjects which captivate the artist and call her 'to action'. The artworks expose narratives of the artist’s relationship with these subjects, thus also referencing an intimate personal history of her lived experiences, findings, points of view and influences. The artist’s primary intention is to better enable freedom of expression, without judgement, leading to healthy dialogue, being, thought and action with the goal of improving wellbeing, awareness and understanding for all equally and as swiftly as possible.
It is important to Cate that each viewer be able, through the process of looking, to raise their own questions, then meaningful narratives and ideas may emerge for them. Her large-scale works provide an immersive experience where the viewer is invited to step in and start a conversation or a thought process.
Cate’s works inform and represent her vast catalogue of enquiry; layered visual essays in form, line, words, music and colour. Her artworks aim to enhance her own (and the participant's / viewer's) understanding, perceptions and experience; it is her objective to raise our questioning, self determination and celebratory powers through creativity as a means of supporting individuals (microcosm) through to the positive evolution of consciousness (macrocosm).
Cate's themes, emerging from contemporary and historical evidence, weave themselves into unique artworks through the artist's investigations. The artist's lived human interactions, work experiences, travel, reading, media messages, ecological and spiritual concerns all inspire her ‘act of making’; these subjects raise wider dialogues regarding the well-being of all things, ethics and sustainability that greatly motivate the artist in her studio.
Cate aims to empower each viewer to be present and emotionally responsive; in her 2D works this is attempted through revealing the act of making, images are not tidied up and the layers of her creative process are all visible, perhaps this dislocates the ‘perfection’ seeking mind. Her imagery is intended to enable the viewer to enter a state of ‘looking’ where typical rules / conventions / disbelief are suspended- which she believes alerts the mind into questioning- this is a process Cate humourously refers to as 'Plop Art' associating herself to the historic schools of Pop, Dada and Surrealist Art movements.
While certain images are provocative, even harrowing in Cate's work- like the repeated tanks of war, the oil derricks, images of human/ecological devastation and the drone missiles flying in- other contrasting passages are simple solid layers of vivid colour overlaid by transparent sheets of hue or saturation, ethereal and timeless, visceral. Sinuous and bold lines weave throughout her images; visible sections of previous layers cross over each other allowing unintended marks to remain that all add to the reality / surreality- Cate builds images of dreamlike multi-layered intensity which may release the viewer from the notion of pre-conceived order and allow them to look at things from a different perspective, enabling new internal and external dialogues.
Having lulled the viewer into a questioning state the artist uses selective repetition of imagery or archetypal forms -like the human figure and animal outlines, geometric shapes, mythological creatures and chaos theory diagrams, plop art splatters alongside star maps of the northern hemisphere, paper money and barcodes, saw blades, feathers, bone shapes and other readable outlines to help her pin down the humanitarian and ecological dialogues at play in her investigation through form and colour. Cate aims to raise questions through her multivalent images, with the goal of unlocking prejudices and reaching towards positive improvements for all people and things.
What ever the medium or the application- all is one, a macrocosm; yet diversity / particularity / microcosms intrigue the artist. Cate's artworks depict her journey to bridge the gap between her perceived mundane and supra-mundane realities. The artist is striving to create bodies of work where these experiential poles coalesce, transcending the individual subjects and rendering strong visceral landscapes into which each viewer may project their own stories and experiences; they are a call to action, questioning, education and compassion.
Cate’s studio works also deliberately contrast natural / synthetic materials, deliberate / accidental marks, density / relief / opacity, line weight and texture which all coalesce as a visual symbolic language regarding the artist's key concerns and acts, she is concerned with retaining the 'truth of the materials' and the processes. Her work makes reference to the painting styles of prehistoric people through appropriating imagery and photographically reproducing it with printmaking mediums as well as traditional ways of rendering through spray and automatic painting methods using natural pigments; themes of pre-history to current social ideologies play out in the characters she depicts, classical painting traditions to contemporary creative acts are utilised in the making of her works.
Printmaking is a key medium, allowing direct photographic transfer, play with scale and repetition- so creating vastly layered images- freeze frames on the stimuli that is relevant at the moment of the artwork's creation- which give energy and vitality to the pieces. Cate's artworks are portals for being present, for personal / political enquiry, visceral engagement, meditation, celebration and ultimately, intended for positive transformation.
Cate is also an education and participatory research specialist supporting wellbeing through the arts, she's a performance artist and occasional buffoon! She sometimes employs her dance trapeze, fire performance, glorious costumes, puppets and circus skills in collaboration with other artists, organisations, schools and community groups to create immersive live art experiences which often include her printmaking, textile arts and installations. For more on this see: www.aethaerialarts.com
Cate Ross is a multi-discipline artist; she's a master printmaker, art education and creative action research specialist, physical theatre and dance trapeze professional, costume maker and community arts catalyser since 1995. Her portfolio includes a range of physical performances, applied creative practices in the community, 3D installations, public art and 2D visual art forms. Cate's studio work addresses and seeks solutions to local and global geo-political challenges as well as to celebrate human and natural phenomena.
Cate believes that creative practice is an empowering currency- as stated by Joseph Beuys, "Creativity = Capital"
Cate graduated from the Edinburgh College of Art with a BA(Hons) Applied Art (Illustration) Degree in 1995, then gained a Post Graduate Certificate in Community Education (PGCCE, from Moray House Institute of Education, The University of Edinburgh 2000). She went on to win a 3-year Teaching Assistantship and Graduate position in Fine Art Printmaking in The Franklin School of Arts and Sciences - Lamar Dodd School of Art at The University of Georgia, USA graduating with a Master of Fine Art (MFA) Degree in 2004. During her time at UGA she was awarded scholarships and honours including a Regents Scholarship Graduate Assistantship to study at Kawashima Textile School in Kyoto, Japan for a month as part of their Study Abroad Programme and also their Institute for Creative Exploration Award to produce a multi-media performance art piece called 'eco-log' in partnership with Canopy Movement Art Centre in Athens, Georgia, USA. Since then Cate has grown as a community artist facilitating creative practices for others, providing person-centred and group work focussed on enjoyment, wellbeing, inclusion and education. For more information about her community development work please visit www.aethaerialarts.com, link below.
As a Master Printmaker, Cate is a skilled translator and has turned original concepts / artworks into print forms for eminent artists including Robert Stackhouse (USA). She has been a studio assistant to Willie Cole (USA), preparing works for exhibition in the Alexander and Bonin Gallery, New York. She is also a physical / visual story teller and mural artist who has created bespoke unique large scale artworks in community settings which have composed and translated the ideas of participants and created distinctive original works.
Cate is a full time professional artist and community arts development specialist living in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. She has exhibited in the USA, Scotland and Japan. Her work is part of private collections and The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts.
An aethaerial artist- short essay about Cate Ross's studio practice and portfolio
Cate's personal studio practice employs drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, textiles and found objects, photography, audio-visual and film installations.
She is concerned with exploring subjects related to historical and contemporary cultural issues. Her works aim towards improving her own understanding, supporting equality in communities, environmental protection and diversity awareness. Cate is clearly anti-war & anti-nuclear armament, she is pro-peace making, truthfulness, brave communication and compassionate approaches.
Cate's work provides visual provocations and satirical word play based on her lived experiences of contemporary life, social constructions / conventional norms that lead to societal problems like ecological degradation, exponential human suffering and social malaise; she is a critical thinker. Through her personal works the artist seems compelled to explore the 'existential crisis' aspect of humanity and questions how she plays a part in the world's problems (local to global)- relentlessly searching for positive solutions.
Cate is dedicated to developing and applying creative practices to help honour and celebrate positive human achievements (culture, science, education, technology, spirituality, philosophy, creativity, wellbeing etc.) for the benefit of all.
Cate’s artworks have included unique pieces of dance and physical theatre involving fire, costume art, sculpture, one-off interventions and multi-media installations including aerial arts through to 2D visual art forms (action paintings, unique prints, fine art print editions and drawings).
The artist's studio work reveals her explorations into key questions relating to issues of freedom of choice and movement, transparent information sharing and peace making; Cate's work is layered with such references; our local and global community, myths, folklore, family life, society, health and wellbeing. Through her creative practices she seeks a view point that reveals compassionate strategies for world peace through conflict resolution.
The multi-disciplinary works and bodies of work that Cate produces visually share aspects of her investigations and perceived impacts of wider influences like global economics and local to world Politics, ecological diversity, community sustainability and the role of the mass media, indeed the confluence of all these subjects that creates society (both ancient and modern)- are all subjects which captivate the artist and call her 'to action'. The artworks expose narratives of the artist’s relationship with these subjects, thus also referencing an intimate personal history of her lived experiences, findings, points of view and influences. The artist’s primary intention is to better enable freedom of expression, without judgement, leading to healthy dialogue, being, thought and action with the goal of improving wellbeing, awareness and understanding for all equally and as swiftly as possible.
It is important to Cate that each viewer be able, through the process of looking, to raise their own questions, then meaningful narratives and ideas may emerge for them. Her large-scale works provide an immersive experience where the viewer is invited to step in and start a conversation or a thought process.
Cate’s works inform and represent her vast catalogue of enquiry; layered visual essays in form, line, words, music and colour. Her artworks aim to enhance her own (and the participant's / viewer's) understanding, perceptions and experience; it is her objective to raise our questioning, self determination and celebratory powers through creativity as a means of supporting individuals (microcosm) through to the positive evolution of consciousness (macrocosm).
Cate's themes, emerging from contemporary and historical evidence, weave themselves into unique artworks through the artist's investigations. The artist's lived human interactions, work experiences, travel, reading, media messages, ecological and spiritual concerns all inspire her ‘act of making’; these subjects raise wider dialogues regarding the well-being of all things, ethics and sustainability that greatly motivate the artist in her studio.
Cate aims to empower each viewer to be present and emotionally responsive; in her 2D works this is attempted through revealing the act of making, images are not tidied up and the layers of her creative process are all visible, perhaps this dislocates the ‘perfection’ seeking mind. Her imagery is intended to enable the viewer to enter a state of ‘looking’ where typical rules / conventions / disbelief are suspended- which she believes alerts the mind into questioning- this is a process Cate humourously refers to as 'Plop Art' associating herself to the historic schools of Pop, Dada and Surrealist Art movements.
While certain images are provocative, even harrowing in Cate's work- like the repeated tanks of war, the oil derricks, images of human/ecological devastation and the drone missiles flying in- other contrasting passages are simple solid layers of vivid colour overlaid by transparent sheets of hue or saturation, ethereal and timeless, visceral. Sinuous and bold lines weave throughout her images; visible sections of previous layers cross over each other allowing unintended marks to remain that all add to the reality / surreality- Cate builds images of dreamlike multi-layered intensity which may release the viewer from the notion of pre-conceived order and allow them to look at things from a different perspective, enabling new internal and external dialogues.
Having lulled the viewer into a questioning state the artist uses selective repetition of imagery or archetypal forms -like the human figure and animal outlines, geometric shapes, mythological creatures and chaos theory diagrams, plop art splatters alongside star maps of the northern hemisphere, paper money and barcodes, saw blades, feathers, bone shapes and other readable outlines to help her pin down the humanitarian and ecological dialogues at play in her investigation through form and colour. Cate aims to raise questions through her multivalent images, with the goal of unlocking prejudices and reaching towards positive improvements for all people and things.
What ever the medium or the application- all is one, a macrocosm; yet diversity / particularity / microcosms intrigue the artist. Cate's artworks depict her journey to bridge the gap between her perceived mundane and supra-mundane realities. The artist is striving to create bodies of work where these experiential poles coalesce, transcending the individual subjects and rendering strong visceral landscapes into which each viewer may project their own stories and experiences; they are a call to action, questioning, education and compassion.
Cate’s studio works also deliberately contrast natural / synthetic materials, deliberate / accidental marks, density / relief / opacity, line weight and texture which all coalesce as a visual symbolic language regarding the artist's key concerns and acts, she is concerned with retaining the 'truth of the materials' and the processes. Her work makes reference to the painting styles of prehistoric people through appropriating imagery and photographically reproducing it with printmaking mediums as well as traditional ways of rendering through spray and automatic painting methods using natural pigments; themes of pre-history to current social ideologies play out in the characters she depicts, classical painting traditions to contemporary creative acts are utilised in the making of her works.
Printmaking is a key medium, allowing direct photographic transfer, play with scale and repetition- so creating vastly layered images- freeze frames on the stimuli that is relevant at the moment of the artwork's creation- which give energy and vitality to the pieces. Cate's artworks are portals for being present, for personal / political enquiry, visceral engagement, meditation, celebration and ultimately, intended for positive transformation.
Cate is also an education and participatory research specialist supporting wellbeing through the arts, she's a performance artist and occasional buffoon! She sometimes employs her dance trapeze, fire performance, glorious costumes, puppets and circus skills in collaboration with other artists, organisations, schools and community groups to create immersive live art experiences which often include her printmaking, textile arts and installations. For more on this see: www.aethaerialarts.com