Until 20 January | Main Gallery
the Pot, the Vessel, the Object
The crafts are strong in the UK. Amongst a large number of reasons are a proud history of manufacture where individuals have been valued for their making skills, and the Arts and Crafts movement of the late C19. This movement looked back to a rich past, and forward to new ways of making and sharing wonderful objects. See in more detail:
1 February – 30th March 2008 | Main Gallery
Seeing Dragons in the Clouds: The art of the imagination
A touring exhibition curated by Brochoka Baynes that explores the artistic imagination. We have all looked at the sky and transformed the shapes of clouds into imaginary beasts and scenes and this exhibition highlights the work of nine very different artistic visions and their ability to see something magical in the ordinary and everyday. Learning is the core of this exhibition and children and family groups are invited to take part in a range of free practical activities provided. Artists in the exhibition include Robert Callender, Helen Denerley, Chila Kumari Burman, Heidi Daish, Lizzie Farey, Frank Hills, Nora Fok, Peter and Linda Green, Frank Hills. See in more detail:
31st January – 30th March 2008 | Main Gallery
Thinking in Parallel: Sleaford Church Lane Infants School
Working alongside artist Jill Tattersall and Hub volunteers very young children have used the themes of Seeing Dragons in costume and jewellery making - a small scale but joyful exhibition.
12th Jan – 2nd March 2008 | Roof Gallery
Pushing the Boundaries: New work by the Scottish Basketmakers Circle
To complement the Big Willow project, on the Brahan Estate in the Highlands, the Highland Council Exhibitions Unit commissioned an exhibition of new work by members of the Scottish Basketmakers’ Circle. Members were invited to challenge their own boundaries in terms of techniques, ideas and materials as well as push the boundaries of their definition of “basketwork”. Pushing the Boundaries stands by its name and demonstrates that this media is capable of inspiring and contributing to the huge creative potential currently burgeoning within Scottish crafts. Textural, tactile – rooted in naturally grown traditional materials, yet embracing man made fibres and ‘found’ objects, this exhibition presents evocative shapes and imagery, delicate and lyrical forms – structures and ideas which extend perceptions of what constitutes basketmaking today. Thus, there are no boundaries other than that the maker finds physically possible.
1 February – 30 March | Hub Shop
Hybrids: A Jewellery Collection by Heidi Daish
Heidi Daish, an exhibitor in Seeing Dragons in the Clouds, will also be showing her jewellery collection in the Hub shop. Heidi is an emerging multi-media textile designer maker. Her collections have been sold worldwide and have been featured in magazines, such as Vogue, Elle Decoration and The Jeweller.
Inspired by ‘the unusual’, Heidi firstly creates unique animal figurines. These are then photographed and the images distorted to make dramatic shapes and outlines. By repeating, layering and manipulating these shapes in fabric, Heidi creates the sculptural and exaggerated forms her work is distinguished by. Made from hand cut, stiffened fabrics and papers, the Hybrid jewellery collection consists of brooches, necklaces, hair accessories and hat pins. Prices range £10 - £125 and commissions are accepted.
1 February – 30 March | Window Space
Jon Lawrence
Jon Lawrence creates contemporary ceramic pieces that challenge traditional ideas, habits and assumptions. In his Window Space Showcase, Jon has created large-scale versions of ceramic pieces. Jon’s is concerned with the loss of humanity and childhood memories by preserving the intangible through these ceramic objects - robust, tactile and purposefully imperfect. Jon employs traditional techniques of slip casting and silversmithing to express his interest in everyday objects and antiques, which he often finds at farmers auctions or charity shops. Jon adds a new layer of meaning to each object by casting the objects and making clay replicas, manipulating and fusing them together adding transfers, lustres and graffiti like scrawls.
Jon is a recent graduate from a Three Dimensional Design degree from Manchester Metropolitan University. He has exhibited widely throughout the UK, including Origin, Victoria and Albert Museum, Urbis and Spiral Gallery. More at www.jonlawrence.co.uk.
8th March – 27th April 2008 | Roof Gallery
Mechanical Drawing: the Schiffli Project
Mechanical Drawing – the Schiffli Project is a touring exhibition curated by Manchester Metropolitan University to document and explore textile practice and creative process through the responses of a range of practitioners to the historic Schiffli machine. The project involves the commissioning of approximately 16 new pieces of work developed by selected artists using the last working Schiffli machine in the UK, based at Manchester Metropolitan University. As well as the works, the exhibition will share the creative process involved in their making through interviews with the artists, photographic records and a DVD of work being produced on the machine. This will be set within the context of the Schiffli’s traditional production represented through examples of historic pieces. Information on graphic panels will be supplemented by further details in an accompanying catalogue and on dedicated website. The exhibition will be complemented by a conference that explores mechanical drawing “the work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction.” See in more detail:
11 April – 12 June | Window Space
Héctor Serrano
Héctor Serrano has created a collection of ‘Reduced Carbon Footprint Souvenirs’. These objects are virtual souvenirs that can be sent to friends or family via email, and then materialize using a 3D printer – saving on transport and printing and so minimising your ‘travelling’ carbon footprint. The project questions the way that souvenirs are manufactured and how new technologies propose alternative ways of reducing their environmental impact, such as rapid prototyping.
Serrano is the design office established by Héctor Serrano in London in 2000. Its projects combine innovation with the communication of familiar ideas in unusual and inventive ways.
The studio’s client list includes Droog Design, Metalarte, La Casa Encendida (Caja Madrid) and Valencia City Council. The office has received different awards such as the Peugeot Design Award and the Premio Nacional de Diseno No Abburriods. Their products have been exhibited extensively in Museums such as the V&A in London and Cooper-Hewit National Design Museum in New York. Hector was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1974 where he studied Industrial and Graphic Design at ESDI Ceu University, before moving to London to study a master’s degree in Product Design at the Royal College of Art. More at www.hectorserrano.com. This project was sponsored by 3D Systems.
12th April – 15th June 2008 | Main Gallery
Departure: New explorations in print
Departures is a touring exhibition by the London Printworks that looks at innovation in print practice and exploration in pattern. Departures is a highly interactive experience exploring new relationships between people, print and material. It aims to challenge preconceptions about printed textiles. During the exhibition visitors can take part in Action Time Vision’s imaginary royal dinner party; dance on Linda Florence’s icing sugar patterned floor; tune into Simon Elvin’s map of official and not-so-official radio stations in the area; and watch Christopher Pearson’s traditional wallpapers come to life and decide, alongside Rhian Solomon, if you really are a size 10. Departures is part of London Printworks Trust’s Homespun programme, funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Homespun's central aim is to enable emerging artists and designers to make and exhibit new bodies of work by offering the opportunity to experiment with the printed textile process. Also, Departures has been kindly supported by Arts Council England and Lambeth Arts.
