SHOW YOUR SOLIDARITY BY LUCY GANLEY - 15 Nov 2017 - 01 Dec 2017

Show Your Solidarity by Lucy Ganley.

This project started by me exploring not only how we value objects but also how we value people. During my initialresearch I decided to take a closer look at, and concentrate on the prison system, and its treatment of inmates. The gathering of evidence and facts started with a visit to Eastern State Penitentiary located in Philadelphia USA. The prison is ‘famed’ for introducing the practice of 24hr solitary confinement, and separately, the once unique architectural design of the prison subsequently influenced prison architecture throughout the world, including London's Pentonville prison.

After a fascinating tour of the Eastern State Penitentiary, I began to question the very nature of prison. I wanted to further explore the different aspects of a world I had no experience of, and could never really comprehend. I found reading the prisoners stories the most informative and honest - this is where my pieces take their main inspiration from.
 
Behaviour Modification is a technique used by the prison system to try and increase or decrease a particular type of behavior. One of these modification techniques is to feed inmates ‘Nutra Loaf‘ - made from the blended ingredients of ...
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This project started by me exploring not only how we value objects but also how we value people. During my initialresearch I decided to take a closer look at, and concentrate on the prison system, and its treatment of inmates. The gathering of evidence and facts started with a visit to Eastern State Penitentiary located in Philadelphia USA. The prison is ‘famed’ for introducing the practice of 24hr solitary confinement, and separately, the once unique architectural design of the prison subsequently influenced prison architecture throughout the world, including London's Pentonville prison.

After a fascinating tour of the Eastern State Penitentiary, I began to question the very nature of prison. I wanted to further explore the different aspects of a world I had no experience of, and could never really comprehend. I found reading the prisoners stories the most informative and honest - this is where my pieces take their main inspiration from.
 
Behaviour Modification is a technique used by the prison system to try and increase or decrease a particular type of behavior. One of these modification techniques is to feed inmates ‘Nutra Loaf‘ - made from the blended ingredients of an entire meal which is then baked. What I found particularly interesting was how they served it, instead of a food tray you are given your meal in a brown paper bag.
This is considered by many to be a form of punishment and some states in the U.S have chosen to ban the practice in an attempt to ‘humanise' how they treat inmates.
 
The words stitched into the paper are quotes found on the cell walls of Reading prison, and also from letters I received from prisoners along with drawings. These powerful words reflect a viewpoint and voice we, the ‘onlookers’, would never usually hear.
The font of the texts is also significant, for example - a number of light switches in the
prison, comically had ‘room service' written on them!

I wanted to juxtapose the two following experiences, one of being in prison and the other staying at a luxury hotel. The font was inspired by hotel branding.  
These brooches are made from brown paper and can be crushed easily to highlight the asymmetric fight of a prisoner verse the prison system.

My volunteering in a prison sewing class, re-affirmed to me the project's importance of ‘communicating the prisoner’s words’.
Through the pieces I wanted to show the value in their point of view, they are the ones living each day in prison, they are experiencing it first hand. It was a collaboration with them.Through the wearing of the brooches, people show solidarity to inmates.

 
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Lucy Ganley is a creative based in London; she graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2017. Ganley’s degree show collection was inspired by assembling and reflecting UK prisoners’ personal stories. The collection represents unique, previously unseen and authentic insights into prison life. The collection is the starting point for a wider comparative exploration of prisoners’ lived experiences, across the world, as a platform for further design.
Statement

My aim is to contribute to new, existing, and ongoing conversations about the value of current social structures and divisions. My starting point in all things is a fundamental curiosity about individuals – who are we and why do we act the way we do? I’m particularly interested in how individuals actually experience social structures and the consequent divisions, paying special attention to those whose voices are rarely heard. This underpinning personal value system has enabled me to push boundaries with my designs. For example, I work with alternative materials because I believe strongly that the added-value of the design should not be skewed by the monetary value of the material.

 
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JEWELS by SHOW YOUR SOLIDARITY BY LUCY GANLEY

I am more by Lucy Ganley.
Lucy Ganley.
Brooch: I am more, 2017.
Paper bag, cotton thread, silver, steel wire, masking tape..
15 x 10 x 5 cm.
Awarded at: Talente Competition 2018.
Awarded at: JPLUS Emerging Talent Award 2017.
Prison is Good Business by Lucy Ganley.
Lucy Ganley.
Brooch: Prison is Good Business, 2017.
Paper bag, cotton thread, silver, steel wire, masking tape..
10 x 7 x 5 cm.
Awarded at: JPLUS Graduate Award 2017 by Klimt02.
Price: 900 €.
Property of HMP by Lucy Ganley.
Lucy Ganley.
Brooch: Property of HMP, 2017.
Paper bag, cotton thread, silver, steel wire, masking tape..
15 x 5 x 5 cm.
Awarded at: JPLUS Graduate Award 2017 by Klimt02.
Price: 560 €.
Paper Plane by Lucy Ganley.
Lucy Ganley.
Object: Paper Plane, 2017.
Paper bag, cotton thread, tin, acrylic paint..
25 x 20 cm.
Awarded at: JPLUS Graduate Award 2017 by Klimt02.
Price: 560 €.
The world is a mess by Lucy Ganley.
Lucy Ganley.
Brooch: The world is a mess, 2017.
Paper bag, cotton thread, silver brooch back..
7 x 7 x 5 cm.
Awarded at: JPLUS Graduate Award 2017 by Klimt02.
Price: 330 €.
Bums on Beds by Lucy Ganley.
Lucy Ganley.
Brooch: Bums on Beds, 2017.
Paper bag, cotton thread, silver brooch back..
7 x 7 x 5 cm.
Awarded at: JPLUS Graduate Award 2017 by Klimt02.
Price: 330 €.
Ben's Cell by Lucy Ganley.
Lucy Ganley.
Brooch: Ben's Cell, 2017.
Paper bag, cotton thread, silver, steel wire, masking tape..
55 x 25 cm.
Awarded at: JPLUS Graduate Award 2017 by Klimt02.
Price: 560 €.
Inmate by Lucy Ganley.
Lucy Ganley.
Brooch: Inmate, 2017.
Paper bag, cotton thread, silver, steel wire, masking tape..
5 x 5 x 5 cm.
Awarded at: JPLUS Graduate Award 2017 by Klimt02.
Price: 340 €.
Fuck the Law by Lucy Ganley.
Lucy Ganley.
Brooch: Fuck the Law, 2017.
Paper bag, cotton thread, silver, steel wire, masking tape.
7 x 5 x 5 cm.
Awarded at: JPLUS Graduate Award 2017 by Klimt02.
Price: 340 €.
Keith's box by Lucy Ganley.
Lucy Ganley.
Brooch: Keith's box, 2017.
Paper bag, cotton thread, silver, steel wire, masking tape.
15 x 10 x 5 cm.
Awarded at: JPLUS Graduate Award 2017 by Klimt02.
Price: 900 €.
Paper Bag by Lucy Ganley.
Lucy Ganley.
Object: Paper Bag, 2017.
Paper bag, cotton thread..
30 x 15 x 10 cm.
Awarded at: JPLUS Graduate Award 2017 by Klimt02.
Price: 2250 €.

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