giant sculpture

Had fun this weekend supporting sculptor Gillian Brent building giant furniture outside the Hepworth Wakefield. Families were inspired by Franz West and his interactive works that are activated and only become art when gallery visitors sit on sofas within the exhibition. 

 Table with fruit bowl

 Table and cup

 A giant bed, carefully wrapped with wool

Detail of a wool wrapped chair and table

the grand depart

Much excitement in Yorkshire this weekend as the Tour de France set off from Leeds. We got into the spirit at The Hepworth Wakefield inviting families to work together to build a giant cyclist viewable from the sky. Our cyclist was drawn by a very talented 6 year old and scaled up to 15 x 9 meters, families used sports and play equipment, including skipping ropes, bean bags, colourful parachutes and swimming noodles to create our drawing on the grass outside the gallery.

A really wonderful weekend with so many fantastic ideas from the children. With thanks to volunteers Ann, Hilary, Partick and Sophie. Thanks also to Alex who took the first photo below.

Saturday 5th July

Stage 1: Leeds to Harrogate

Sunday 6th July
Stage 2: York to Sheffield
With thanks to volunteers Hilary and Rebecca

over and under

Thrilled to be exhibiting with Lucy Williams during the Leytonstone Arts Trail which began today in various venues in E11, London. Over and Under is showing at The Stone Space until the 13th of July. We both haven't exhibited for a couple of years so the trail provides a perfect opportunity to tentatively open up practice and meet local folk.

This is our joint statement:

We met at an Arts Trail meeting earlier this year and found a connection with our practices, the cross overs are the materials we use and thought processes and concepts behind the work. We use time consuming methods, working by hand to stitch and knit exploring issues such as belonging, absence and place. We also shared that finding time for our practices was a challenge and hoped that setting this goal could provide a springboard into making more work.

We decided to use the Leytonstone Arts Trail to begin a conversation between selected works. We wonder how meanings may alter and new ideas emerge from this staging and the possibilities of future conversations together. 

Over and Under at The Stone Space

Selection of works from my Close Knit project

Lucy Williams, Worn Jackets (detail), 2014. Jackets, wool and buttons

 

out & about - may

Out and About is an exciting project at The Hepworth Wakefield working with local school children and their parents exploring sculpture at venues on their doorstep. Firstly, we went further afield to North Yorkshire, visiting the breathtaking landscape of Brimham Rocks and wondering if the rock formations were created by nature or human hands. Our next visit was to Yorkshire Sculpture Park, looking at and touching works by Barbara Hepworth and Thomas Houseago, we also viewed the delicate works of Ursula Von Rydingsvard and the children were transfixed. In June we are off to Leeds Art Gallery and Henry Moore Institute and our final destination will be The Hepworth Wakefield. 

During our project we are considering natural sculptural forms, sculpture in the landscape, sculpture in the cityscape and sculpture in a purpose built gallery. My intention is that the families will gain confidence in looking at art and continue their questioning and exploring together beyond the Out and About project.

With all good intentions I never get a chance to photograph my workshops while working, so here are a couple to whet your appetite, I’ll post more about the project in June.

Explorer backpacks for visits to Brimham Rocks and The Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Coach activity packs for the long journey to Brimham Rocks!

all aboard

Family fun at The Hepworth Wakefield using grass as a surface for drawing.

violet

movement in space - 3

Our Movement in Space project at The Hepworth Wakefield came to a finale during the Wakefield Artwalk at the end of March. Our group of young people led an activity they designed and developed called Crazy Sculpture Web and invited members of the public to get involved. A wide range of people participated and had fun inventing sculpture with pound shop tat, playing and laughing over their creations and transforming the studio spaces with sculpture and colour. 

Sign by Kayleigh

A young participant enjoys the space

Inventing with everyday stuff

An inviting space