Rhona Jack

2 young children playing & making an artwork on the steps of a grand building

Rhona Jack is a multi-disciplinary artist, living and working in Dundee. Her artistic practice is formed by a combination of sculpture and fibre art, often blurring the lines between art, craft and design. Exploring cycles of production, consumption and waste, her work examines the role of the individual within these processes. Using second-hand clothes as a material, she delves into the dichotomy of the personal histories that we attach to clothing and their status as a throw-away commodity.

(image Collective PLAY, 2021, image courtesy of Aly Wight)

Textile artwork by Rhona in oranges, green & brown, called 'The Back Step'Jack

She is forever enamoured with the handmade and the meditative processes of repetitive craft. By presenting craft in a gallery setting, the maker is brought to the forefront, highlighting the eradication of the individual within mass production. The hand of the artist is always present throughout her work, and the tactility of materials is of high importance. Every inch of the work has been handled by her, and the hours spent making are recorded in every stitch, every knot, every joint, every interwoven strand. Her work is made primarily of reclaimed materials that long to be touched, and hold within them a history of touch.

(image – The Back Step, 2021, image courtesy of Rhona Jack)

Hanging textile artwork by Rhona Jack made from recycled clothing like old tee-shirts

Alongside her studio practice, she runs workshops and participatory projects with adults and children, teaching textile techniques and encouraging the reuse of scrap materials. Sessions may involve participants working individually or collaboratively, always with a focus on play and experimentation. She strongly believes in the importance of creativity for positive mental health and wellbeing, and promotes this through a variety of community led projects.

(image Trouble Maker Heart Breaker, 2020, image courtesy of Tom Nolan)

Visit Rhona’s website here