In Conversation With Rachel Carter

In June 2020, we interviewed Rachel Carter as part of our series ‘In Conversation With…’. Below is an overview of Rachel’s interview. You can find the recording of the interview on our IGTV. Find us on Instagram at @junctionartsUK

Rachel Carter is a sculptor and project co-ordinator. Most of Rachel’s sculptures involve creating a texture on the surface, with most techniques coming from the textile world. In her current project this technique is macramé to create surface pattern. Many of Rachel’s pieces are large public art pieces cast in bronze.

As far as Rachel can remembers she was fascinated with making things. At school she was shy but knew she wanted to make things, she enjoyed woodwork and metal work. At the time the school discouraged her not to take these subjects as she was a girl and would need “special treatment”.
Rachel worked in hotel management and catering for 10 years before going back to college to do an arts course. She then progressed through a few courses to go onto university and study for a degree. At the end of her degree she specialised in welding and woodwork.

Junction Arts worked with Rachel at the beginning of her career after she finished her degree. Rachel’s five-year goal at this stage was to show her pieces at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, she has now exhibited five times.

Working with Junction Arts, Rachel developed an Arts Council England Grant for the Arts application to create willow sculptors working with the community that were initially showcased at Bolsover Lantern Parade.

Rachel has recently been working on an international Spirit of Mayflower project called ‘The Pilgrim Woman’. Rachel went on a journey to develop the final sculpture; her first residency was with at Nottingham Industrial Museum as many of her ancestors were framework knitters and lace makers. Her next residency was on board a freight ship from Liverpool to America, travelling on a cargo boat as the pilgrims did. Rachel’s residencies in the states began at Harvard University’s Peabody Museum, here Rachel studied woven items from the first nation and found many similarities with Nottingham lace. Her final residency was at the Pilgrim Monument Museum in Provincetown which is where the Mayflower landed in 1620.

Working with the community was an important part of the project throughout, a historic stitching group made the Tudor outfit that Rachel wore to become ‘The Pilgrim Woman’. Photogrammetry was used to photograph Rachel at the pilgrim woman which has become the sculpture. There will be two sculptures, one in Gainsborough on the banks of the River Trent and another at Austerfield near Doncaster.