Students

In keeping with inspiration: the practice of teaching and making

CJ O’Neill was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1978 and studied BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design at Manchester Metropolitan University, graduating in 2000 after specializing in ceramics in her third year. The ‘Next Move’ residency at MMU, which ran from 2001–03, helped to establish her practice and develop a network of support.   

Cj is interested in the building of memories through objects and surface pattern working mainly in ceramics across craft and design, producing one off objects, surface pattern, workshops and large-scale installations. In re-using discarded materials by applying transfer decoration and waterjet cutting, she rejuvenates pieces from the past with contemporary imagery and text, working in layers and drawing inspiration from her environment and the people she encounters. Alongside her practice, she is currently program leader for Creative Business Development at Manchester School of Art (MMU), and is a consultant for various organizations on creative business development.

CJ’s projects for 2009 include
Object Factory: The Art of Industrial Ceramics, MAD Museum, NYC
Fragiles: Kuwait Art Foundation, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai (and touring UAE)
Graffiti*d: a project for the British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke-On-Trent, working with discarded / seconds ceramics and graffiti inspired by the ceramics industry around the city. 
Large installation of cut plates for Kilkenny Arts Festival in August. 

www.cjoneill.co.uk
Next Move on Knowledge bank
Creative Business Development at MMU

In brief, what have you done since graduating?
After graduating, I rented a shared studio space trying to produce work for a number of galleries and clients who discovered my work at New Designers. In January 2001, I was successful in my application to Next Move, and became a designer in residence at MMU for 2 years. This helped to solidify my future career path, and provided essential guidance and support in the establishment of my practice and business. During this period I developed new products, undertook various commissions and gradually built up on sales. Exhibiting at 100% Design with Manchester Design Initiative really helped to launch my lighting range, and subsequently showing at the event for 6 years helped to maintain the client base for this work.

Teaching at MMU since 2003, helping graduates to establish their own practice, I enjoy the balance between teaching and creating, as each informs the other. Changing the direction of my practice in 2005 with the introduction of the reworked ceramics has completely re-configured my working methods. Gradually decreasing the amount of lighting projects I take on and trying to develop the other area of my practice has been a challenge, but continually inspiring.

Have you stayed in the same city at which you studied? Why did you choose to stay or go…
I currently live in Manchester, due to the networks I have here, as well as my teaching position I have at MMU. The city is inspiring with it’s industrial heritage and strong creative scene – I am based at Islington Mill, where there are a number of different creative practices from musicians to photographers, graphic designers and an art school.

What did you perceive you might do after graduating from your degree, is this divergent or convergent with what you are doing now?
I thought I would continue in education onto a PGCE teaching art at secondary level, where I am now is still within education, but only in part, and this combination between teaching and creating is what helps to keep me inspired.

Who is the most unlikely person to have influenced you since graduating?
There are a number of people who have helped and supported me significantly during my career to date; that is the most important thing I have learnt, you must always be open to opportunities. I am not saying you should agree to everything, as sometimes saying no is the best choice! But what I am saying is to be open to opportunities you may not have thought were for you...

I was asked once if I was interested in going to India. I said yes. 9 months later I was in India working on a project with the most incredible people I have ever met – a young family who make birdcages on the side of the road in Ahmedebad. Their desire for a better life for themselves and their children made me realise how much I take for granted, encouraging me to continue working in the way I am, concentrating on the people that I meet and work with as the centre of my practice.

What is the worst job you have done since, and what is the best thing that you took from this and used in another role?
When I first graduated I had a job working as visual merchandiser at a clothing store. The hours suited me so I could also work in the studio, but it was stressful, creatively it was stifling as there was no freedom to develop new ways of working and it was also not financially very beneficial. What I learnt from this was that whatever you are doing you need to enjoy it; you are using your skills and gaining from the experience in some way, not necessarily financially, but that there is a clear benefit to you!

When you were studying, what advice / support did you feel was missing? Can you provide this information to students and graduates now?
Establishing a network of support: gaining understanding and knowledge through helping others. Perhaps applying for work experience with a more established practitioner, or working for someone one day per week will give you insight you could never be taught…

Of course, to help with this, you could enrol on the Creative Business Development programme at MMU.

Is there any advice / support that you did gain whilst studying that you would pass on the people studying arts based degrees now?
Price properly… Research a number of different methods and understand who your competitors are. It’s no good being successful if you are underselling your work and not making enough money to live!

What other information or advice can you provide that is relevant to your profession now that you would consider relevant to students and newly-grads?
I think the most important thing to establish is what you want to do!

Understanding your own strengths and weaknesses is vital to your future, and knowing what you can and cannot undertake is so important: knowing when to ask for help, and knowing who to ask.

Look out for other Professional profiles on Degrees unedited: they are intended as informative yet short pieces of content for you to make use of and gain inspiration from so let me know if they are working.
richard.taylor@a-n.co.uk »

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Richard Taylor

Richard is an artist/writer living in Edinburgh and online editor on behalf of a-n The Artists Information Company, for the Degrees unedited and Students community sites.

www.rich-taylor.co.uk

First published: a-n.co.uk June 2009