Rita Fletcher  Photographer
Rita's practice has developed out of her broader interests in literature, music and the cinema, in particular a fascination for ‘mystery’, and how this is conveyed or suggested within the Arts. Directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and David Lynch masters in the art of tension and suspense have greatly influenced her work, as well as the work of artists Edward Hopper and Giorgio De Chirico whose paintings convey tension, unease and alienation.

Drawn to their paintings because of the haunting eeriness and over all sense of melancholy which prevails, her images also convey tension, unease an evocation or mood of mystery; possibly a feeling that something is just not quite right but it is difficult to say what this is. But above all there is a sense of waiting...
The figures are generally solitary, still, silent, in a trance like state and kept within a claustrophobic interior space which heightens the atmosphere. The images are always referred to as ‘Untitled Stills’ as they are cinematically framed suggesting a possible narrative, and meanings can be placed on the objects photographed to suggest a metaphor or third meaning in the mind of the viewer.

Rita is interested in the concept that everything, even inanimate objects, have a secret soul and that they take on a mysterious energy or animation and expand beyond their appearance which has led to an interest in the ‘uncanny’ and the genre of the everyday as subject matter; made strange and unsettling.

Rita recently completed a MA in Fine Art and has exhibited in New Art Birmingham.  She recently worked as project assistant on '100 Verses for 3 Estates 2006-07' with Alec Finlay, Gavin wade and with Ravi Deepres on his short film, 'A Film for 100 Verses'. Exhibitions
2008   Wolverhampton Museum & Art Gallery, Wolverhampton
2008   ‘Altered Perceptions’ Custard Gallery Birmingham
2007   Rhubarb Festival Curzon Street Birmingham
2007   NAB 07 Curzon Street Birmingham
2007   New Generation Arts Flood Gate St. Birmingham
2007   Birmingham Open Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
2006   ‘Tearaways’ Creative Alliance Group Show Custard 
           Factory Gallery Digbeth Birmingham
2006   ‘Push/Pull’ MA (group show) Margaret Street UCE
2006   Artsfest Bond Gallery Digbeth Birmingham
2006   Graduart group show Selfridges Birmingham
2005   Generation Arts Anim8 Project Island House
2005   ‘Mishmash’ City Space Gallery Birmingham 
2006   ‘Another Product’ Group Show Henderson St. Manchester.
2005   ‘New Art Birmingham’ Aquinas House Jewellery Quarter
2005   ‘All At Once Together, At The Same Time’ Colony Gallery
2004   ‘Windows’ Margaret Street UCE Gallery
2004    Art of Illusion Group Show City Space Gallery Birmingham 
2004   ‘Evoke’ Harborne Gallery Birmingham
2004   ‘Untitled Stills’ Degree Show in the Gate House 
           Bournville UCE Birmingham
Commissions
2008            Friend of the Arts: Arts on the Move for Birmingham City
                   Council
2008            'Altered Perceptions’ Kings Norton 3 Estates Project
                   Curator/Co-coordinator and Documentary Photographer
2007            Super Tudor Fold artist Richard Woods
                   Curators Rob Hewitt and Gavin Wade 
2007            Changing Landscapes Artist Maurice Maquire. 
2006-07       100 Verses for the 3 Estates 
2006-07        Alex Finlay & Wade Renga Schema Project Assistant
2006            Photographer 3 Estates Project Artist Maurice Maguire 
2005            Arts Market 06’ Arts Team B.C.C
2005            The Roving Eye Anim8 Birmingham City Council
2005            Marketing & Presentation of Flying Start BCC 
2005            Men’s Health Day. Anim8 & New Deal for Communities.
2005            Civic Ceremony High Croft Opening Anim8 & BCC
2005            ‘Flag’ Black History Month New Deal for Communities 
2005            3 Estates Festival ’05 New Deal for Communities & BCC
2004-05        It’s About Time Productions Project Assistant.
2004-05        Documentary Photographer3 Estates Kings Norton 
                    Regeneration Birmingham City Council Project
2004             Arts Market 04 The Arts Team BBC

Links
www.knex3.org/x/extra/ex02.html
www.pushpull.co.uk/rita.htm
www.custardfactory.co.uk/2008/02/14altered-perceptions
www.createdinbirmingham.com
www.rhubarb-rhubarb.net
www.3rdeffect.net/index.html
www.birminghamwords.co.uk
www.strategicquestions.org
www.eastsideprojects.org
www.renga-platform.co.uk
www.colonygallery.co.uk
www.ikon-gallery.co.uk
www.archive.org/details/ChangingLandscapes-WalkTheLine

www.artscouncil.org.uk/ownart/stories/news_story_wade.php www.fusedmagazine.wordpress.com
Publications
Fused Magazine Publication New Art Birmingham Special Limited Edition
100 Verses for 3 Estates Alec Finlay and Gavin Wade 
Strategic Question # 26 What is Animate? ISBN 978-0-9551611-9-3
Changing Landscapes: A project for the 3 Estates, Kings Norton Maurice Maquire ISBN 9 780709 302599

 

Fine Art Photography Commissions
Inanimate
Colour Stills
Untitled Stills
The Poetics of Space
The Poetics of Space II
The Governess
The Wolfman
Images from The Unheimliche
Hotel Black and White
A Film of 100 Verses 1
A Film of 100 Verses 2
100 Verses for 3 Estates 
Super Tudor Fold
Mens health
Altered Perceptions
Changing Landscapes

email Rita Fletcher
information
phone 07877 503392