Playground of Life - Sculptures by Simon Kent
13 November to 18 June 2005
For the last ten years, Simon Kent has developed a unique style
of working. This involves sculpting green wood, harvested from the Welbeck Estate
in Nottinghamshire, with a chainsaw.
‘Playground of Life’ has been inspired by human experiences and
emotions. It contains a series of expressive human figures. The natural contours
found in the wood are also a source of inspiration to Simon. Studying the structure,
the burrs and knots in the wood help Simon to decide how he can manipulate it.
He often sees a figure or form in the wood just waiting to be exposed.
Pulp Fantasy
12 February – 30 April 2005
Originating from ancient China, paper has been active in the progress
of ideas, knowledge and art. Today, while most people recognise paper as a ‘ground’
for pencil, paint and ink, few consider it as a medium in its own right.
‘Pulp Fantasy’ aims to show the much wider use of paper within
today’s contemporary art practice. Ranging from Damien Cruikshank’s stunning
folded and scored towering pillars, to Susan Cutt’s haunting installation ‘Lullaby’,
a series of hand-moulded paper faces.
Green Propeller - Digital images by Hamish Marr
5 March – 28 May 2005
Hamish Marr’s work has developed from physical sculpture to digital
art or computer modelled sculpture. His work revolves around the notion of virtual
exploration. He sees it as postcards sent back from imagined journeys to non-existent
places. Rendered with 3D animation software, this strange and colourful work
is highly intriguing.
One Hundred Views of Mitate - Contemporary Japanese woodcuts by Nana Shiomi
12 March – 14 May 2005
‘Mitate’ as a concept has long been a fundamental aspect of Japanese
printmaking. It involves the substitution of one thing with another, or the
likening of one thing to another. This gives imaginative, simultaneous and multiple
layers of meanings.
Beautiful in their simplicity, these woodblock prints are akin
to the austere stones and raked sand of the Japanese garden. They are designed
to suggest a range of meanings, from islands in the sea to the solitude of human
life.
Heavens Above - Work by Nikki Parmenter
19 March – 11 June 2005
Art, history and legend combine to provide inspiration for a series
of artworks inspired by the skies. Nikki creates unique, intricate and symbolic
pieces. These all reference a range of multi-cultural sources by combining a
variety of disparate media.
‘Heavens Above’ reflects a changing attitude to the sky. From
ancient civilisations where the rhythm of nature was a feature of everyday life,
through to contemporary society, which attaches little significance to the changing
seasons and interplanetary activity.
Images - Textiles by Linda Westerman
19 March – 4 June 2005
‘Images’ investigates the links between the wool producing areas
of the Cotswolds, the West Riding of Yorkshire - where Linda’s roots are, and
Lincolnshire - where she now lives. Her work gives an insight into the mills
of these areas and the working conditions within them.
The installation ‘Women’s Work’ can be viewed as either hand or
machine embroidery. It reflects the relationship of work in the factory and
home for the female population.
Painted Prayers - Paintings and Drawings by Caroline Jariwala
14 May to 9 July
Caroline Jariwala’s vibrant, large-scale paintings explore the
fusion of two very different cultures; that of her Gujarati heritage and her
experience of being born and raised in Britain. The paintings, predominantly
of women, combine Hindu symbolism and Christian spirituality in action. They
depict women working, cooking, dancing or praying – all rituals and practices
that cross boundaries of culture and religion.
This is a 20-21 touring exhibition which is available for hire.
For further details contact 01724 297070.
Membranes & Edges - Sculpture by Michael Shaw
21 May to 27 August
Transparent inflatable sculptures and translucent cylinders cast
in fluorescent pink resins represent the latest developments in Michael Shaw’s
work. All of these sculptures respond to light in unexpected ways; the inflatables
throw out shadows similar to moving water whilst the resin forms appear to glow
mysteriously from within, casting a colourful hue over their surroundings.
The sculptures embody Michael’s interest in geometric forms. His
shapes include ellipses, cones and figures of eight; all of which he subtly
distorts, manipulates, and extends.
Exigence - Paintings by Paul Dearden
4 June to 16 July
Exigence, meaning ‘urgent need’ or ‘demand’, features landscapes
and seascapes in oil paint, pastel and collage by Sheffield-based painter Paul
Dearden. The paintings evolve from and are influenced by memories of his experiences,
from an enjoyable movie or a moving piece of music to a particular journey or
a stunning landscape. The works move strikingly between abstraction and representation.
These compositions are, in Paul’s words, "filtered through memory and the exigencies
of the application of paint and collage".
Memory Spaces - Sculptural Jewellery by Roberta
Bernabei
11 June to 20 August
Roberta Bernabei creates ‘wearable sculpture’ – original and intriguing
interpretations of the human form, its transformations due to movement, and
the spaces and shapes around the body that this creates.
Casting the hollow created by a cupped hand, the gap between fingers
or the heal of a foot in bronze or silver, Roberta often encases these pleasing
shapes or ‘memory spaces’ in silicone and mounts them in delicate settings to
give these pieces a jewel like quality.
Succour
Figurative Ceramics by Claire Curneen
29 January – 12 March 2005
Linear Gallery Wall & Showcase
One of the
UK’s most celebrated sculptural ceramists, Claire Curneen is concerned with
the human condition. The focal points of these melancholic, ethereal porcelain
figures are the hands and heads.
‘Succour’ was a milestone in her continuing investigation into
three-dimensional figurative work that combined the everyday and ordinary with
the religious, spiritual and magical.
A Gallery Ruthin Craft Centre touring exhibition.
Boundaries of the Body
Body Sculpture by Jacky Oliver
27 November – 26 February 2005
The form and structure of the human
body is the basis for all of Jacky’s work.
Initially trained as a jeweller, she became fascinated with the human form
when she studied to become a fitness instructor.
In this exhibition, Jacky Oliver’s work looked at a number of ways of defining,
redefining and revealing areas of the body using jewellery making and blacksmithing
techniques.
Her work draws inspiration from muscle structure, and can be considered as
both jewellery and body sculpture – objects that can be viewed, mounted or free-standing,
as effectively as they can be worn.
The 20-21 Open Art and Sculpture Exhibition
11 December – 29 January 2005
Nave Gallery
In 2005 20-21 hosted its fourth annual open contemporary art and sculpture
exhibition. Artists from North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire
took part and had a chance to win a share of the £1,700 prize money.
This year’s judges were artist Janet Waring and Sarah Teale, Exhibitions Officer
for Bolton Museums and Art Gallery.
Handmade
6 November – 22 January 2005
Linear Gallery Showcase
The ‘Handmade’ exhibition was a selling show of stunning artist-made gifts
including jewellery, ceramics and glassware. With present ideas to suit nearly
every pocket and taste, Handmade was the ideal place to find that extra special
gift.
In Search of Daedalus
Installation by Arthur Cross
9 October – 22 January 2005
Linear Gallery Wall
Former steelworker turned artist, Arthur Cross, presented a series of works
entitled ‘In Search of Daedalus’, the mythical maze-maker. Julian’s Bower, the
maze situated at Alkborough in North Lincolnshire, provided the inspiration
behind this installation which was a result of two years research and includes
over 200 pieces.
Mazes and labyrinths have been used by countless cultures throughout the world’s
history to express ideas and ideologies. It is from this standpoint that Arthur’s
work developed into a vast array of images, each questioning its predecessor
in a quest to find an aesthetic, a beauty of its own.
Fantastic Plastics
2 October – 27 November 2005
Nave Gallery
Plastics are indispensable to our modern way of life. They can be made hard
as stone, transparent as glass, strong as steel and light as wood. From carpets
to computers, and cooking utensils to compact discs, we are surrounded by plastics!
Its use as a media for artists, however, is less well known and this exhibition
aimed to show the wide use of plastics in contemporary art and design – from
intricate pieces of jewellery, to large scale abstract sculptures.
Several of the artists involved in this exhibition manipulated everyday, household
items to create their amazing work; Ian Dawson used a propane torch to melt
down chairs and buckets which are then reassembled to create incredible abstract
sculptures. Meanwhile, Evy Saunders used common or garden plastic bags to create
vibrant wall hangings, bags and mirror frames.
With interactive exhibits and a varied programme of activities, this exhibition
had something to suit nearly every taste.
All my Friends are Artists too
Textiles by Jennifer Collier
11 September to 20 November 2005
Link Gallery
Examining the relationship between conformity and individuality, this exhibition
comprised of a collection of Jennifer Collier’s ‘signature’ dresses which were
all identical in shape and size but had been decorated in unique ways by her
artist friends.
Mostly graduates of Fine Art, Textile or Fashion Design, some of these friends
now work in jobs that they would not ideally choose, juggling demanding careers
with the desire to continue their own arts practice.
Fine Art graduate, Jim Turner, who now works as a television camera operator,
has used imagery depicting the destruction and regeneration caused by a forest
fire in a small vineyard in France. In complete contrast to this, Rachel Cottier,
who completed a degree in Fashion Design, has created a dress that reflects
on the fairytale idea of forests and the scary imagery that this can evoke,
such as shadows, wolves and other lurking creatures.
Archetypes
Work by Mhairi Corr
15 September to 20 November 2005
Chancel Gallery
Renowned Glasgow based artist, Mhairi Corr, created the ‘Archetypes’, for an
exhibition of larger than life characters, especially for 20-21.
Meet Single-Minded Bridget who masters great feats, Dolores Fretwell – the
pig with a bleak outlook and Helena Handcart the maverick wise woman who could
exorcise demons and cure ailing goats.
Guaranteed to amuse and bring a smile to your face, flimsy, transient newspaper,
discarded after its one-day lifespan, is converted by Mhari into solid, upstanding
beings with unique characteristics and personalities of their own.
This a 20-21 touring exhibition which is available for hire. For further details
contact 01724 297070 and visit the touring exhibitions page for more details.
The Feminine Touch
Ceramics by Ann-Marie Robinson
4 September to 30 October 2004
Linear Gallery
Whimsical and humorous, Ann-Marie’s work aims to cheer people up and make them
smile. Starting life as a round or flat piece of earthenware clay, everyday
household crockery, such as teapots, and cups and saucers, are transformed into
highly decorative works of art.
Colour and surface pattern are very important to Ann-Marie, who likes to use
up to 14 different hues and several different patterns on one surface. To finish
the effect, generous amounts of gold, copper and platinum lustre are used.
Based in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, this was Ann-Marie’s first exhibition
of her work in England for 20 years.
Architectural Flora
Sculpture by Ruth Moilliet
17 July to 23 October 2004
Sculpture Coutyard
Inspired by the plant kingdom, Ruth studies and sometimes even dissects plants
to make her stunning sculptures, which have been featured at Chelsea Flower
Show and the BBC television programme.
Examining delicate and beautiful specimens in detail, Ruth interprets her observations
into exquisite pieces of ‘floral architecture’. The enlarged scale of her work
reflects her childhood dream of shrinking like ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to be able
to enter a plant’s elaborate structure and explore the intricate internal structure
within.
Still Life - Useful and Beautiful
3 July to 2 October 2004
Linear Gallery
Hard to ignore, Janice Kok's paintings are energetic and rich in colour. Working
in the tradition of Matisse, her large scale paintings use composition and colour
in an imaginative way to create both space and form.
For subject matter, Janice paints objects that give her pleasure and delight,
the types of oddities we all have at home; objects that make us smile, either
through associated memory or just because they are beautiful.
Adventurous Wild Flowers: Their Art and Science
17 July to 18 September 2004
Nave Gallery
'Adventurous Wild Flowers: Their Art and Science' was a touring exhibition
created by Gallery Oldham, which considers the virtues of those much maligned
plants - weeds. Despite being poisoned, trodden on, landscaped over, yanked
out and set alight, weeds will not go away. Why not? They are too adventurous.
They do not bow to human will. Despite attempts at eradication, they keep coming
back.
Five artists were commissioned to create new artworks that investigate the
impact that adventurous wild flowers have on our lives and on our natural heritage.
Stephanie Douet, Helen Knowles, Ruth Molliet, Kerry Morrison and Jacques Nimki
produced unique works using:
- sculpture
- stories
- installation
- drawing
- photography
- sound
They look at weeds, Victorian plant collectors, the dandelion seed, urban landscapes
and the impact of Himalayan balsam.
Andy Hazell
29 May to 4 September
Chancel Gallery
Andy Hazel is a prolific and popular maker whose broad spectrum of work ranges
from tin automata to large-scale public art.
Andy is engrossed in making little tin figures that represent moments in time.
As he folds, bends, beats and solders bits of tin, time passes. Tea is drunk
and biscuits disappear until he has made a person with a life of their own.
He imagines what magazines they will read and whether or not they have a dog.
Dogs make him smile. They are always ready for a diversionary walk even if they
don't realise how hard it is to make trousers out of tinplate.
Fascinated by the mysteries and wonders of other cultures, Andy has gleaned
inspiration from his many travels around the world. During a visit to Mexico
he realised that 'crude' and simple objects, made by hand to fulfil a purpose,
had been replaced by plastic. Making things out of stuff that other people throw
away, much of what he makes is a reaction to an injection moulded, coloured
plastic world.
An Oriel Myrddin Gallery Touring Exhibition
Bloom
26 June to 28 August 2004
Linear Gallery Showcase
In celebration of 'The Year of the Garden', this was a selling exhibition of
brightly coloured vases. This group show was a collection of work from makers
all around the country and gave an insight into the wide range of media and
techniques used by contemporary artists practising today.
Only Visiting This Planet
15 May to 3 July 2004
Nave Gallery
Born in Scunthorpe, Danny Flynn is an artist whose vision is deeply rooted
in a combined love of natural history, mythology and fantasy.
Many of his illustrations are of make-believe worlds, where his detailed observations
of nature are evident in the sheer believability of his unique landscapes and
their inhabitants.
Danny's vivid imagination has resulted in him being widely commissioned. To
date, he has illustrated the book covers of well over 400 science fiction, fantasy
and horror novels. These were for most of the genre's top authors including
Arthur C Clarke, Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov.
Regeneration - Sculpture by Nick Bartrum and Jamie Frost
13 March to 26 June 2004
Courtyard and Linear Gallery
Regeneration relates to the changing roles of images and materials due to context
and the ravages of time.
Nick's work often uses shapes and forms derived from structures and contraptions
of ancient civilizations. These forms may be used in their original context
or they may be changed to suggest another role. This approach filters down into
his use of materials, which are also reclaimed from a more recent industrial
past.
Jamie takes his ideas of organic forms within structured spaces and shifts
from computer modeling to drawing, to sculpture and back again, in order to
illustrate a strong narrative relationship between these elements.
A Third Place
10 April to 19 June 2004
Link Gallery
This exhibition was the culmination of a three month-long residency at 20-21.
During this time Hetain Patel, a recent graduate from Nottingham Trent University,
developed work which explores his British Asian identity.
Using traditional materials from Hindu rituals and ceremonies in an unorthodox
manner, such as mendhi (henna paste), kanku (the red paint used to mark dots
on foreheads), flowers and garlands, Hetain questions the cultural differences
between eastern and western ideals.
The exhibition included work developed with a group of young people aged between
13 and 18 looking at their own cultural identities. Hetain's residency was organised
by The Art House and funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and the St. Hugh's
Foundation.
Sanctuary 1 & 2
1 November 2003 to 28 February 2004
Sanctuary 1 & 2 was a work in two parts consisting of site specific sculptural
light installations by Tony Stallard. Linked by the 'Alpha' and 'Omega' featured
in the works, they were a voyage into what is considered to be sanctuary in
symbolic terms.
Skate Art
14 June to 20 September 2003
Nave Gallery
Skateboarding is a spontaneous activity and, like art itself, often flows in
unpredictable and erratic ways. Unlike virtually any other, skateboarding is
a sport which combines creative impulse with physical agility. It allows the
opportunity for artistic expression, not only through ever changing skate fashion,
but also the wealth of board graphics in every conceivable style and subject
matter.
Through photography, original artwork, finished designs on boards, skate clothing
and video, this exhibition explored the unique, artistic culture of skateboarding.
Making Sense
1 February 2003 to 31 May 2003
Nave Gallery
This exciting, hands-on exhibition gave visitors the opportunity to explore
artworks by 17 contemporary artists in a completely different way. As well as
being visually stimulating, all of the artworks involved at least one of the
senses of touch, hearing and smell.
Eliot Baron and Jacquetta Balla’s ‘Oak Archway with Touch-chimes and Glass
Panels’ combined beautiful stained glass with traditional joinery skills to
make a unique musical sculpture. The welsh oak archway was constructed using
traditional pegged joinery. The sides incorporated Jaquetta’s stunning glass
panel, entitled ‘The Diamond Sutra’, along with a number of musical chimes which
were played simply by touching them.
Raphael Daden created a light installation especially for ‘Making Sense’. By
interacting with the work, visitors were able to make their very own installations
of light, whilst discovering the effects that different coloured lights had
on their vision.
The ‘Blind Alphabet C’ is a series of visually stunning tactile sculptures
created by Willem Boshoff and owned by Artsense. Ten of the sculptures were
on show in ‘Making Sense’. Each sculpture is associated with a word, fixture
or shape beginning with the letter C, which is no longer in general use. The
only way to fully understand the piece is to touch it.
This interactive exhibition stimulated the senses of everyone who experienced
it and information about the artworks and artists was available in large print
and Braille.
Embodiment
18 January 2003 to 10 May 2003
Sculpture Courtyard
All of the sculptures in this exhibition related strongly to the body, in terms
of memory of presence in the cast moulds of the human body rested within a pillow
or quilt-like form.
The solidarity of the cast folds and indentations lent a permanent sense of
absence to the work. The wrinkles and lines in the surfaces of the sculptures
reflected as much on the nature of human skin as they did on cloth and bedding.
All the works referred to beds, but the simplicity and weight of form and the
implication of ‘resting place’ may also have pointed to ideas of tombs and coffins.
This was particularly significant as they were located next to the former St
John’s Church. By using full sized beds, duvets and pillows for the casts, Deborah
hoped the viewer could relate the work to their own physicality.
Angels
14 December 2002 to 1 March 2003
Chancel Gallery
The ‘Angels’ exhibition was inspired by the 40 wooden angels carved into the
ceiling of the former St John’s Church, which is now part of the centre where
this exhibition was held.
Twenty contemporary artists took part in the exhibition, each offering their
own insight and ideas regarding the subject of angels.
Caroline Jariwala’s ‘Angel’ painting was inspired by her Gujarati Indian heritage
and her spiritual beliefs, which are now set in Christianity. Her colourful
and vibrant painting described a personal interpretation of Christian art using
Hindu iconography.
Peter McAdam used images of angel headstones to create haunting digital photographs.
Jane Ricketts' ‘Angel of the Multi-storey’ flag and photo-story book showed
a silver winged figure standing resilient to the wind and rain on top of a deserted
inner city multi-storey car park. The work aimed to show that even in the bleakest
of places there is still hope.
Animal Antics
20 July 2002 to 16 November 2003
Nave Gallery
‘Animal Antics’ was a show for all the family and included a menagerie of animals,
from ferocious tigers to cuddly cats. The exhibition contained artwork by 12
contemporary artists including Lawrie Simonson, who makes fantastic birds and
bugs using recycled materials, and Johnny White, who creates amazing and amusing
moving sculptures.
Designer Recliners
14 September 2002 to 30 November 2002
Chancel Gallery and Link Gallery
This exhibition included a selection of unique and imaginative seating by some
of the country’s finest makers.
There were 24 chairs on show created by 11 different designers including;
- Dominic Clare, whose magical 'Silver Fir Chair', which stands over two metres
tall and is created from one solid piece of pine. It makes children feel like
they are in the land of the giants and adults feel like they are children.
- Robert Bailey, whose ‘Jigsaw Chairs’ are cleverly made entirely out of metal
jigsaw pieces.
- John Creed, the artist who worked with local people to create 20-21’s entrance
gate. Three of John’s elegant ‘Dressing Chairs’ made out of forged mild steel
and part-burnt oak were on display.
David Mayne
20 July 2002 to 7 December 2002
Sculpture Courtyard
Daivd Mayne creates sculpture using a variety of materials including steel,
bronze, cast-iron and aluminium. By using welding and grinding equipment, or
simply by twisting wire, spontaneous and richly textured surfaces are produced.
All of the work on show at 20-21 was animal based and influenced by an interest
in cave painting and Egyptian, Celtic and medieval art. Artworks on show included
‘Tower’ - a piece constructed from rows and rows of elephants, and the life
sized ‘Bison’ which is made entirely of welded wire.
Crazy Coffins
23 February 2002 to 20 April 2002
Chancel Gallery
‘Crazy Coffins’ was an exhibition of unusual and bizarre caskets by Vic Fearn
& Company Ltd in Nottingham.
All of the coffins were built at the request of their future users and were
in a variety of shapes including a barge, a skip, and a kite. There was also
a coffin in the style of Anthony Gormley’s ‘Angel of the North’ and one coffin
was even fully equipped with skis!
Art with a Pulse
8 September 2001 to 24 November 2001
Nave Gallery
Tattoos have been in existence for thousands of years. They have a history
in most cultures throughout the world and over the centuries have appeared,
disappeared, been banned and reappeared with even more popularity. People are
continually trying to alter and enhance their appearance and throughout time
tattooing has been one of the most popular forms of permanent body art.
This exhibition explored the art of tattooing, looking at its history and the
techniques used, it also examined the many and varied reasons why people permanently
mark their skin in this way.
Using photographs and original artwork, ‘Art with a Pulse’, showed the wide
variety of styles and designs created by some of the best contemporary British
tattoo artists.
The exhibition also included a display of historic tattooing artefacts on loan
from the British Tattoo History Museum in Oxford. Items on show included early
home made tattoo machines, hand tools and tattoo machines from around the world.
There was also a book of original artwork from George Burchett, the infamous
tattoo artist who worked in London in the early 20th century. He
is renowned for being the man who tattooed King George V.
Visitors to the exhibition were also able to have their own tattoos photographed
and displayed in the gallery.
As part of the Art with a Pulse exhibition there was also a special ‘day of
celebration’ on Saturday 15 September 2001, which included a live tattooing
demonstration by tattoo artist Steve ‘A’.
'Art
with a Pulse' is available to hire, click here for further details.
Body Beautiful
11 August 2001 to 3 November 2001
Chancel Gallery
For centuries, artists have studied the human form and used the body as a source
for their work. ‘Body Beautiful’ explored how issues relating to the human body
such as gender, sexuality, illness and pregnancy have inspired artists.
The exhibition showed work in a variety of different media, including textiles,
ceramics and sculpture, which was produced by contemporary artists from around
the country.
‘Baby Phobia’ by Amanda Wray is a powerful sculpture that used a full size
bath and a resin and fibreglass figure to explore the artist’s fear of how the
birth of a child can have a negative affect on your life, turning it upside
down and restricting an individual's freedom.
Ellen Bell’s intricate textile work ‘Four Pillows’ featured a series of corseted
pillows and addressed issues relating to society's ongoing obsession with body
shape and size.
The delicate ceramic torsos by Jo-anna Duncalf looked at the negative elements
of gender stereotypes. Jason Thomson’s dramatic wooden sculptures used physical
stresses suffered in the carving to express mental and bodily states.
Up and Running
19 May 2001 to 11 August 2001
Nave Gallery
‘Up and Running’ was an exhibition of contemporary automata and mechanical
toys designed and produced by some of the country’s finest makers. The show
included work by Jim Bond, Cinemation, Susan Evans, John Grayson, Neil Hardy,
Tony Mann, Peter Markey, Ian McKay, Pete Rogers, Martin Smith, Melanie Tomlinson,
Darcy Turner, Johnny White, Tom Wilkinson and Douglas Wilson.
Many of the automata on display could be operated by visitors and there was
also a hands-on activity area which explained the various mechanisms used to
bring automata to life.