ISOLATION
MOTHECOMBE: TRIPTYCH
TREASURED COAST
Our Treasured Coast started as a conversation between Dillon Beach in California, close to where Maxine embarked on a residency at In Cahoots in 2019 and the reconnection with her beloved South Devon Coast in the UK, subsequently along her travels other beaches have added to this inventory. America was great a source of inspiration during her short stay, which naturally when she returned home proceeded to evolve within her practice.
The Solitude series of prints was created during the Covid 19 Pandemic (March 2020) as a response to the periods of isolation, during the various lockdowns as well as reconnecting with the coast as we all ventured back out into the world.
Some of us were trying our best to come to terms with finding ourselves on our own for long periods of time, navigating solitude, not being able to see family and friends or even travel, isolating for protection or naturally wanting to protect and keep our loved ones safe. Dealing with loneliness, life’s traumas and many sadly and tragically losing their loved ones during the pandemic. We found ourselves in unfamiliar territory, retreating to our homes, to work, teach and to survive the best we could.
SOLITUDE SERIES I
SOLITUDE I & I I
SOLITUDE SERIES II
Shortly before Covid19 reached our shores Maxine had began to reunite with several of the South Devon beaches familiar to her during her childhood, full of memories past. With little pockets of time available to her she would revisit these beaches recording images on her iPhone. In her studio (then in Wiltshire) she began to develop her studies and start the process of creating bodies of work based on those discoveries. Then naturally, during the Pandemic when any subsequent lockdowns were lifted, Maxine would grab the chance to escape to this stunning part of the coast, continuing to document how considerably it has changed over the decades. Realising that chunks of cliffs had already been disappearing into the sea, taking with it sections of the South Devon Coastal path, having dramatic and drastic effects.
New paths has been carved out of the land further inland, encroaching onto neighbouring farmland, redirecting visitors away from the edges of crumbling cliffs, enabling visitors to continue walking these beautiful paths along this stretch of Coast.
The Solitude series focuses on Ayrmer Cove and South Milton Sands, inspired by the ancient Thurlestone Rock - a rock with a hole - a large and striking presence rising up from the sea, featuring predominantly throughout this body of work. These two beaches in particular became places of sanctuary and solace fpr her during strange times.
ALCATRAZ SAN FRANCISCO
Maxine made full use of her studio at times of solitude, disciplining herself by revisiting and extending several printmaking series', including work she started to develop during a residency at In Cahoots, Petaluma, in December 2019.
She built up a collection of reference material gathered on her trip to California, including snaps from a visit to Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay. She focused on building up a series of atmospheric monotypes of the Island, The Rock, offering the viewer a sense of mystery with its former prison and its evocative, dark stories from the past. Using rich Sienna's and Prussian blue tones, creating atmosphere through dramatic angles and gestural mark-making, she began developing a dialogue that evolves on the page between mark, shape, line, texture and colour for this unique series.