Craftspace

Slow is a major national touring exhibition that is currently in development and will launch mid-late 2009. We are actively inviting venues to be involved with the exhibition as lead partners, lead project partners and tour venues.

The exhibition explores how craft contributes a distinct voice to the emerging Slow Movement.

‘The slow movement is a cultural shift towards slowing down life’s pace. It is not organised and controlled by a singular organisation. A principal characteristic of the Slow Movement is that is propounded, and its momentum maintained, by individuals that constitute the expanding community of Slow.’

Wikipedia

We are considering themes which include the following:

• Craft as a catalyst for social interaction, new communities and social cohesion
• Sustainable practice and stewardship
• Slow change
• The value of observation, reflection and pleasure
• Craft, performance and shared authorship within time based practice
• Relationships between place, people, ideas and materials

Craftspace is working with maker and academic Helen Carnac in developing a year long research process and the co-curation of the exhibition. Craftspace is open to collaborations with venues and actively involves venues in shaping the development through a steering group.

We encourage and support venues to develop innovative audience development projects and event programmes alongside the exhibition.

Process and Outcome

This exhibition will tour to between 5 and 8 venues – these are generally museum and gallery temporary exhibition spaces but we are also open to other forms of organisation which could for instance be a community space or festival. Spaces need to be between 150 – 300 square metres. The exhibition will include work from approximately 10 – 15 participating artists, including international artists.

Our exhibition package includes all display furniture and the majority of the audiovisual equipment. It includes posters, fliers, press and marketing material. The exhibition requires invigilation.

Our national touring exhibitions attract between 30 – 40,000 visitors. Funding permitting, the exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue.

We aim to undertake a significant action research project which will inform and underpin aspects of the exhibition; these in particular have an emphasis on social interaction.

Curation And Partners

Curated with Helen Carnac.

Artists

Gary Breeze - Lettering Sculptor,

Neil Brownsword – Ceramics,

Sonya Clark-Hair, beading,

Rebecca Earley-Upcycling – fashion,

David Gates–Furniture,

Matthew Harris-Textile artist,

Amy Houghton-Animation: video and porcelain,

Sue Lawty–Textiles,

Elizabeth Turrell -Enamel artist,

Judith van den Boom & Gunter Wehmeyer-Slow design in China,

Heidrun Schimmel-Textile artist,

Paul Scott & Ann Linnemann –Ceramics,

Shane Waltener & Cheryl McChesney Jones -Participation & social engagement,

Esther Knobel–Jewellery,

Ken Eastman & Dawn Youll-Ceramics

Contact

Artists and venues interested in the exhibition and its issues can contact Craftspace on 0121 608 6668.