Had a really great day on Monday (29th July) setting up the exhibition I have curated! Feels a bit weird saying 'curated' but i have selected the work on show and dealt with the artists so therefore i reckon that classes as curated! The exhibition has the work of my favourite artist Lewis Noble. I asked Lewis in September 2012 if he would be interested in having an exhibition at the Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek and when he said yes i was beyond excited! Alongside Lewis's work i selected Linda Rolland, a 2nd year (2013) Foundation Degree students who's work is fantastic and works so well alongside Lewis's. We (Chris Thomspon, Exhibitions Co-coordinator and artist extraordinaire) wanted to show more than one artist and Lewis suggested his wife, Mandy Noble, who is a contemporary quilt maker. They had never had a joint show before and he was very keen to show alongside his wife.
The work is completely different - one a painter with expressive mark making qualities the other a quilt maker so it creates an interesting contrast of work. The 2 final artists are ceramicists Kevin Millward and David Howson. Contemporary studio ceramicists who create vessels in very different styles. Davids work i felt worked well with the textures and colours of Lewis and Lindas work and Kevins as a contrast is minimal in colour but the linear forms link to the contours of landscape and offer a contrast to the colour and texture of the other work. Mandys quilts are beautifully made and her flower and forms connect to some of the marks in Lewsis work.
The space.....
First of all was taking the previous exhibition down then Lewis arrived with his work - an amazing selection of paintings. Discussions about what may go where....arranging them around the room and then hammers and nails out!...over the duration of the day through thunder storms, tea breaks, lunch down in The Foxlowe cafe (well it would be rude not to) and some hairy moments moments with David Howson's delicately balanced pots the space transformed and 'It's a Peak District Thing' came to life...BRILLIANT. It looks really good and i personally am very chuffed!
Kevins work is featured in the August 2013 issue of Ceramic Review.
see the transformation below...final photos to come....
Tea break time...Linda Rolland and Chris
The stairway takes shape .... Linda's work, inspired by the Manifold Valley, in particular Ecton Hill (coincidentally part of which is owned by my farming family so a personal connection for me)
David Howson's work
The Fox looks on!
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