spotlight on
Filomena Forte
Photos and text supplied by Filomena Forte
I have an unusual family tree in that we all have our roots in one tiny village in Italy. Both my parents were born there. As there was hardly any work or land available in that area families immigrated to other countries. My mother moved to Ireland when she was fourteen and my father to Scotland at the age of nine. When they were both in their early twenties they went back to Italy on holiday and met, fell in love, married and decided to make a life in Ireland. My brothers and myself were born there. I was two years old when they decided to move to Brighton and be near my father’s family.
I was quite a solitary child with a vivid imagination. I loved drawing and painting from as far back as I can remember. Every summer we went to Italy and the beautiful works of art there fascinated me. This, I think, has been the most influential thing in my working life and I think will always be the foundation of my work.
After passing my Art A level I wanted to go to art school but my parents, being very protective and worried about corrupt influences, would not let me go. The compromise I reached was to go to a teachers’ training college and do Art as my main subject.
As it turned out it was a blessing as I have always been able to earn my own living and explore my own work en route.
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I worked teaching all subjects in junior schools for ten years and then moved to the private sector and became Head of Art and then to another school where I also became Head of Design and Technology. The two subjects complimented each other beautifully and changed the way I approached my teaching of Art. Since I retired I have been teaching adults and children at home in my studio.
As a painter I started off using a very broad range of media probably influenced by wanting to teach children to try different styles and find what they enjoyed most. In later years I settled on oil and watercolour and mainly concentrated on still life or landscapes but with the odd portrait here and there.
Twenty years ago I decided that it would be a good idea for children to experience sculpture. I already taught ceramics but felt I wanted to broaden the outlook of the older pupils.
I joined a local sculpture group headed by Mike Leman who was a wonderful teacher and still is my guide and mentor. I was hooked completely and sculpture is now my main source of creativity.
I have always been interested in the interaction between people and the world around them. The human figure has been my greatest challenge.
Scottish Landscape by Mena Forte