Craftspace

Made in the Middle: 

Major Touring Contemporary Craft Exhibition launches in Birmingham in February 2012

Craftspace introduce a wealth of talented makers from across the Midlands - featuring digital techniques and exploring ‘Pathways to Craft’ careers.

Craftspace, the Birmingham based craft agency launches its contemporary craft exhibition Made in the Middle at mac birmingham in February 2012. The seventh in its series, Made in the Middle is the Midland’s principal selling exhibition and takes place every three years. For the first time in its history-‘East meets West’ as makers based in or affiliated to the East Midlands will contribute to the exhibition alongside their West Midlands counterparts. This exhibition series promotes the best of recent craft from makers of all disciplines.

35 makers have been especially selected by a panel of curators and craft sector specialists. The makers offer an insight into the skill, creativity and innovative practice within the region. The range of disciplines include ceramics, glass, metalwork, jewellery, textiles, wood work and mixed media from recent graduates to makers with over 30 years experience. ‘Pathways to craft’ careers represented include apprenticeships, traditional university routes and evening courses and provide inspiration for people looking to change career path.

“In light of the current economic climate and University course closures within the arts, we are interested in exploring ‘Pathways to Craft’ through the exhibition. In addition to the makers who have accessed the industry through higher education, we will also be featuring those exhibitors who have adopted alternative routes into craft.”  says Emma Daker, Exhibition Organiser.

Selected exhibitors include pioneering textile artist Amy Twigger Holroyd who is developing a technique called ‘stitch hacking’ while Jannette Matthews explores the potential of laser cutting in developing 3D textiles. Stunning ceramic pieces by James and Tilla Waters will be available for sale alongside work by Anna Collette Hunt.  Beautiful vessels by Kevin Grey and Imogen Luddy’s stainless steel laser cut furniture will demonstrate the possibilities available to makers working in metal.

The exhibition will tour to major galleries across the Midlands for a period of 18 months and will raise the profile of regional makers and give them the opportunity to sell their work to Regional and National collectors. Visitors are encouraged to consider commissioning new work from local makers and a range of more affordable work will be available to buy whether your budget is a few pounds or a thousand pounds.

Made in the Middle is a partnership between Craftspace and mac birmingham in collaboration with The National Centre for Craft & Design.

ENDS

Made in the Middle exhibition launches:  

Showcasing new digital work by makers from the Midlands

 
Contemporary Craft from across the Midlands
Craftspace introduce a wealth of talented makers from across the Midlands - featuring digital techniques and exploring ‘Pathways to Craft’ careers.
 
 
Experience the world’s first augmented reality ceramics – as the tradition of Royal Winton Fine Bone China meets the latest 3D animation technology. Use your phone to build your own beetle to add to a swarm and see a maker’s heartbeat.
 
Craftspace, the Birmingham based craft agency launches its contemporary craft exhibition Made in the Middle at mac birmingham in February 2012. The exhibition features work by contemporary makers from the East and West Midlands, many of which have embraced digital technology to develop new pathways for themselves, pushing the boundaries of their making through experimenting with new processes.
 
Andrew Tanner presents his new range of porcelain collector’s plates. Andrew collaborated with animation studio Unanico Group to explore the potential of augmented reality. The English hedgerow design on the plates references natural flora and fauna in a modern chintz style. The design is then brought to life using an application which runs on smart devices, typically iPhone or iPad.  Amid the brambles, beech and dandelions, a bullfinch tends its nest and as a fly buzzes in the oak and hazel, a caterpillar curls in the grass.  See the animation here: http://www.unanico.com/ehh.html
 
Ceramicist, Anna Collette Hunt shows her installation of ceramic beetles. Stirring the Swarm is a ceramic installation that tells a curiously dark tale and asks the viewer to step into the shoes of a baffled Entomologist who has been chasing the escaped swarm. Using a smart phone you can build your own beetle, adding to the swarm and visitors to the exhibition can unlock secrets using the QR codes hidden within the work.
 
Vanessa Cutler is concerned with pushing the parameters of waterjet cutting technology. In recent years she has been investigating the potential for its creative application with glass. Imogen Luddy’s practice focuses almost entirely on the subversion of traditional craft through digital media. Her current range is inspired by Nottingham lace. Reworking old chairs and ceramics she explores combining new technologies, such as vacuum forming and laser marquetry, with traditional practices such as crochet to create strange hybrids.
 
Karina Thompson uses programmable sewing machines to make two dimensional wall pieces inspired by digital data. Karina is interested in how medical imaging is used in the diagnosis and treatment of illness and the way technology allows us to see into our bodies. She’s fascinated by the importance of this information which appears illegible to the uninitiated. Her quilt in the exhibition is made up of 60 embroidered scans of her heart.
 
Made in the Middle is the Midland’s principal selling exhibition and takes place every three years. The exhibition will tour to major galleries across the Midlands for a period of 18 months. Visitors are encouraged to consider commissioning new work from local makers.
 
Made in the Middle is a partnership between Craftspace and mac birmingham in collaboration with The National Centre for Craft & Design.
 
Twitter: @tweetcraftspace  #madeitm          Blog: www.madeinthemiddle.org

ENDS

Artists

Maggie Smith
Michelle Arieu
Imogen Aust
Jenny Creasey
Anna Collette Hunt
James & Tilla Waters
Jon Williams
Pottinger & Cole
Charlotte Clark
Stuart Akroyd
Li-Chu Wu
Mandana Thompson
Esther Lord
Anna Lorenz
Kevin Grey
Marcus Steel
Ruth Spaak
Imogen Luddy
Zoe Hillyard
Jennifer Collier
Jan Garside
Janette Matthews
Amy Twigger Holroyd
Karina Thompson
Clare Willard
Norman Cherry
Kate McBride
Laura McCafferty
Andrew Tanner
Gill Wilson
Vanessa Cutler
Yoko Izawa
Gareth Neal

Curation And Partners

Our Partners are:

mac birmingham

www.macarts.co.uk

The National Centre for Craft & Design

www.nationalcraftanddesign.org.uk

Editors Notes

MEDIA CONTACT:
Please contact for further information or images:
    Lisa Falaschi, Craftspace, 0121 608 6668, l.falaschi@craftspace.co.uk
    Emma Daker, Craftspace, 0121 608 6668, e.daker@craftspace.co.uk
    Mary Rahman,MRPR, 0207 749 1136 mary@mr-pr.com

NOTES TO EDITOR:

Images left to right:
Amy Twigger-Holroyd, Jannette Matthews, James and Tilla Waters, Kevin Grey, Imogen Luddy.

Tour dates for partner venues:
mac birmingham    11 Feb 2012 -15 April 2012 www.macarts.co.uk    
The National Centre for Craft & Design (The Hub) 28 April 2012 – 1 July 2012 www.thehubcentre.info
The tour begins at mac birmingham in February and continues to venues around the Midlands including Rugby Museum and Art Gallery, Bilston Craft Gallery and Northampton Museum and Art gallery.

Craftspace is a crafts development agency working to increase opportunities for makers and to develop and promote contemporary crafts through touring exhibitions, education projects, action research partnerships and consultancy. Craftspace is revenue funded by Arts Council England West Midlands.

info@craftspace.co.uk craftspace.co.uk @tweetcraftspace facebook.com/craftspace
Craftspace, 208 Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Birmingham B9 4AA Tel: 0121 608 6668

Diary

Forthcoming Tours and Events Only | View all Tours and Events