Take the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes and visit a selection of artists’ studios at the Bluecoat: to include Anthony Wong (jeweller), Bob Porter (engraver), Juniper Press (letterpress studio), Mike Phoenix (violinmaker), and an introduction to the Intaglio Print Studio with Gill Curry & more.
The tour will be followed by coffee and cake at the Upstairs Bistro and a Cleo Mussi exhibition talk at the Bluecoat Display Centre.
We are delighted to announce that our Gardner-Medwin Lecture for 2014 will be given by the paper artist Jennifer Collier.
Jennifer Collier works with a range of organic materials to create non-functional craft and textile pieces. She uses methods of weaving, waxing, draping, embedding and stitching, to produce objects that are redefined and given a new sense of worth. From this, she encourages the viewer to consider the nature of value and recycling, by integrating found objects, plastics, papers and fabrics. Since graduating in Textiles from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1999, Jennifer has regularly exhibited her work in a number of solo and group shows across the UK and abroad.
“My practice focuses on creating work from paper; by bonding, waxing, trapping and stitching I produce unusual paper ‘fabrics’, which are used to explore the ‘remaking’ of household objects. The papers are treated as if cloth, with the main technique employed being stitch; a contemporary twist on traditional textiles. The papers themselves serve as both the inspiration and the media for my work, with the narrative of the books and papers suggesting the forms. I tend to find items then investigate a way in which they can be reused and transformed; giving new life to things that would otherwise go unloved or be thrown away.” – Jennifer Collier
The talk will last for about an hour and will be followed by refreshments and chat at the Display Centre with an opportunity to see Jennifer’s magical bespoke In the Window installation.
As part of Bluecoat Display Centre’s ongoing programme of exciting artist’s talks, the next event will feature silversmith Jacqueline Scholes.
Jacqueline derives satisfaction from making objects that are elegant and people actually use and enjoy. She finds working with metal particularly fulfilling, enjoying its permanence and indestructibility. She looks at the relationship between food and tableware and the interaction between the user and tableware.
A traditional afternoon tea in the grand setting of The Athenaeum will follow the talk.
This event is open to current and new subscribing Friends of Bluecoat Display Centre and Members of The Athenaeum. Attendees must be over the age of 14.
As part of Bluecoat Display Centre’s ongoing programme of exciting artist’s talks, local textile artist Rachael Howard will speak about her career as a textile designer. She has pioneered a lively mix of embroidery and screen-printing techniques, using images, text and objects to tell stories of everyday life. She has also worked as a freelance designer and illustrator for many companies including Paul Smith, Habitat, Liberty and magazines such as Selvedge.
A traditional afternoon tea in the grand setting of The Athenaeum will follow the talk.
This event is open to current and new subscribing Friends of Bluecoat Display Centre and Members of The Athenaeum. Attendees must be over the age of 14.
Meet at 1.30pm at the Metropolitan Cathedral Piazza Cafe (situated at the bottom of the cathedral steps).
City of Culture, Learning and Faith Walk, led by expert guides trained by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). This guided walk will begin in Hope Street, following a route in Liverpool city centre, and will conclude at Bluecoat Display Centre to see the Liverpool-inspired Downtown exhibition, which will be open from early July.
The exhibition curator will then give a short talk about the show and refreshments will be provided.
Also led by Linda Jeanne Jones & Gill Curry.
The walk will take approx. 2 hours.
Meet at 10.30am at the reception, The Cornerstone Gallery, Liverpool Hope University, The Creative Campus, Shaw Street, Liverpool, L6 1HP.
This is a unique opportunity to visit Liverpool Hope University to see the final year exhibition of works by the students. Bluecoat Display Centre will award a graduate from the show a spotlight exhibition, which will take place at Bluecoat Display Centre during September 2014. The winner of this award will speak about what the prize means to their career.
As part of Bluecoat Display Centre’s ongoing programme of exciting artist’s talks, the next event will feature local printmaker Gill Curry. Gill will speak about her artistic career as a printmaker.
Gill Curry is a Liverpool based printmaker, she studied Art and Contemporary Dance and has pursued a career teaching Art & Design. During the past fifteen years she has specialised in print, screenprinting, etching and collagraphy, exhibiting both locally and nationally.
In September 2006 she completed an MA in Fine Art at Chester College culminating in an installation based on the theme of the ‘Middle Passage’ focussing on the Joseph Heap Rice Mill in Upper Pownell Street.
Her latest series of prints focus in particular upon French landscapes. She regularly creates new prints in The Bluecoat’s print studios.
A traditional afternoon tea in the grand setting of The Athenaeum will follow the talk.
This event is open to current and new subscribing Friends of Bluecoat Display Centre and Members of The Athenaeum. Attendees must be over the age of 14.
Ruthin Craft Centre is Wales’s premier space for exhibitions by the very best contemporary applied artists from both Wales and beyond. This purpose-built centre houses three gallery spaces, a retail shop, six artists studios, residency & workshop spaces and a cafe. A member of the gallery staff will give an introduction to the centre and the current exhibition.
The day will also include the unique opportunity to visit one of our represented artists in their North Wales studio/workshop, where they will give you an introduction to their practice.
Led by Bdc Friends Linda Jeanne Jones and Gill Curry.
Spend the day wondering through the fabulous Salt’s Mill, a Grade II Listed historic mill building built in 1853 by Sir Titus Salt. Today it houses a large number of works by David Hockney, including paintings, drawings and prints, specialist kitchen, book, early music and antique shops, Kath Libbert’s contemporary jewellery shop plus a great cafe to re-fuel.
The day will include a guided tour of Saltaire Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built after the Mill by Titus Salt to house his mill workers. It includes a church, a school and a place for adult learning and a park.
Transport from Liverpool City Centre and the Saltaire guided tour are included in the price.
Led by Bdc Friends Linda Jeanne Jones and Gill Curry.
As part of Bluecoat Display Centre’s ongoing programme of exciting artist’s talks, the next event will feature local enamel artist Ruth Ball speaking about her career in enamelling.
Ruth designs a range of jewellery, fine silverware and unique artworks by using fine enamelling techniques on silver. Her variety of artworks range from bespoke jewellery commissions to caddy spoons, dishes & wall-based pieces. Ruth’s painterly enamelling style underpins the elegant sense of beauty found in her work. Ruth says “Making a special piece is a pleasure, I enjoy working to create works of art which can be celebrated”.
A traditional afternoon tea in the grand setting of The Athenaeum will follow the talk.
This event is open to current and new subscribing Friends of Bluecoat Display Centre and Members of The Athenaeum. Attendees must be over the age of 14.