Plaster Clasped Hands (2016) by Shane Waltener

40 Objects for 40 Years

A simple green and white graphic image of three plaster artworks made by pouring plaster into the gap between two joined hands.

Trolley

For Craftspace’s 30th Anniversary, Shane Waltener designed a process where two people would sit, face to face, holding each other’s hands. Plaster was poured into their hands, and they talked until the plaster set. These objects are the product of that process.

They sat on the windowsill of our office and I (Smilla), who only joined Craftspace in 2023, had no idea what they were, but was intrigued by them. They look like seashells or some kind of landscape made small. For me, they capture the Craftspace ethos that the process is just as important, and is a core part of, the end result. Without the story, these objects are beautiful; with it, I think they’re magic.

Nominated by:

Smilla Kristensen, Administrative Assistant
Andrea Collier, Trustee

To celebrate Craftspace’s 40th Anniversary, we commissioned the artist Stewart Francis Easton to create an artwork which would explore the story of Craftspace through 40 objects. Stewart created a series of four beautiful graphic quilts.

A photograph of a plaster, ridged sculpture sitting on top of a metal surface.
A photograph of two people's cupped hands filled with plaster.
A photograph of people's hands. One person's cupped hand contains liquid plaster. Another person has both of their hands around the hand with plaster in it, preventing it from dipping.
A photograph of a plaster, ridged sculpture sitting on top of a metal surface.


Where Next

A simple green and white graphic image of of an artwork by Melanie Tomlinson of a blackbird.

Blackbird (2025) by Melanie Tomlinson

40 Objects: Blackbird (2025) by Melanie Tomlinson

A simple pink and white graphic image of a ceramic tile that reads 'We can't stop the waves But we can learn to surf!', with a drawing of a wave.

‘We Can’t Stop the Waves’ Tile

40 Objects: ‘We Can’t Stop the Waves’ Tile

4 wall hangings on a white gallery wall. they show simple graphic images of objects, using a different colour on each quilt.

40 Objects for 40 Years: A Craftspace Quilt Series

We will be telling the

A simple blue and white graphic image of the Custard Factory building in Digbeth, Birmingham.

The Custard Factory

40 Objects: The Custard Factory



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