Another Devon Guild Board meeting, another opportunity for me to visit Bovey Tracey and see a new exhibition at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen.
Re-Making the Past – 6 makers respond to Pre-history is an exhibition that runs until Sunday 10 May 2015 in the Jubilee Gallery. It is described by the gallery as:
“Sculptural objects by artists who share a common fascination with the ancient past. Bronze Age artefacts and Neolithic sites inspire contemporary work in natural fibres, metal, resin and ceramics along with wall based installations in enamels, glass and textiles. Together these objects forge links across craft and history, visual arts and archaeology.”
In the image above you can see part of a work called ‘Odyssey’ by Wright and Teague (22 ct gold on sycamore (not in pic), aluminium, fragranced wax). In the background to the left you can see work by Mary Butcher and on the wall work by Helen Marton.
This above work by Susan Kinley entitled ‘Far Distant, Close To’ (laser cut steel, hand screen printed and fired photographic images, vitreous enamels) is one of a series of works responding to Bronze Age and Neolithic sites in Orkney. It maps minute lichen shapes found on many Bronze Age monuments.
‘Sight over Time’ by Helen Marton (digitally printed cotton, gabbroic clay scan) is a playful take on the brief and certainly catches the eye as you walk into the gallery.
‘Droppped – History in the Breaking’ (digital media, clay, oxide, glue) by Syann van Niftrik is the result of a collaboration and was made up of the piece shown above and a film which shows the pot being pieced together and addresses the idea of the archaeologist becoming the artist during the restoration.
Supporting this exhibition are several events, some of which have passed, but still to come is a Family Drop in Day on Wednesday 1 April including workshops by Susan Kinley and Helen Marton. There is also a chance to visit the Bronze Age landscape of Dartmoor with an archaeologist and the artists from the exhibition. Dartmoor Field Trip: A Different View Point – Art, craft and archaeology takes place on Saturday 18 April 2015 10-5. Booking is essential so telephone the Devon Guild on 01626 832223 to find out more and make a booking. For more details www.crafts.org.uk/current-exhibition.aspx and click on links.
Also on, for a limited time only until 12 April is Top Notch in the Riverside Gallery. This shop display puts a spotlight on fine contemporary furniture and interior pieces by member and guest makers. There are quite a few furniture maker members of the Guild, but furniture takes up a lot of space and so it is not always possible to show a big selection of work, Top Notch goes a little way to addressing this.
Featured in the exhibition is work by James Morton Evans, Fabrizia Bazzo, Angela Holmes, Etka Kaul, Sarah Morris, Christian O’Reilly, John Neusinger, Terry Sawle, Priscilla Trenchard, Sam Walsh, Edward Wild and Jenny Wilkinson.
This lounge chair is made by Devon-based furniture designer/maker Edward Wild and is made from American walnut.
These footstools by John Neusinger certainly make a playful statement.
Exhibitions and are displays are always changing at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, so don’t just visit once a year or you might miss out!