TYNE & WEAR MUSEUMS JOINT COMMITTEE
25 SEPTEMBER 2003
REPORT OF: Director of Museums and Galleries
SUBJECT:
Shipley Art Gallery
1.
Spring exhibitions at the Shipley Art Gallery
1.1 Over the Hills and Far Away – From Northumberland Farm to
Folktale Farm (28 February – 8 June)
This exhibition (in collaboration with the Centre for the Children’s
Book) explored how life on a farm has inspired the children’s
illustrator and writer Kim Lewis. A reconstruction of Kim’s studio was
built in the centre of the gallery and 74 of her original artworks were
displayed. The exhibition attracted 17,578 people.
1.2 Fantasy Farms (19 April – 8 June)
This was the second part of the collaboration with the Centre for the
Children’s Book. In this display over 70 artworks by leading children’s
story writers and illustrators told the story of farms - from ‘folktale to
fantasy’ with work from key figures such as Roald Dahl, Pat Hutchins
and Quentin Blake.
1.3 Fabulous Beasties (28 February – 20 June)
A display of decorative art and craft from Tyne and Wear Museums
collections which complemented the Over the Hills and Far Away and
Lucy Casson exhibitions.
1.4
Weaving Stories (20 June – 31 August)
This exhibition explored many different forms of weaving and featured
commissioned work by 10 of the most innovative designers in Britain
today. Using a variety of materials from nylon and plastics to precious
metal and willow, Weaving Stories was a hands-on exhibition that
examined the ideas and thoughts behind each of the makers’ work.
In June, July and August 4,431 people visited the exhibition.
1.5
New Talent (20 June – 21 September)
This exhibition featured and promoted 9 new jewellery makers from
Britain. Makers were chosen for their skill, talent and innovative use
of materials. In contrast to the work by up and coming artists, there
was also a selection of work from the International Jewellery
Collection form Cleveland Craft Centre.
2.
School visits to the Shipley.
2.1 There were 71 school visits (1,513 pupils) to the gallery in June and
July. Activities were led by Education staff and artists.
2.2 The Gallery hosted an event to support ‘Cultural Ambassadors’ for
schools. This is an initiative to encourage each school to have a
teacher who will create networks with local cultural organisations. 65
teachers attended.
2.3 On 6 June illustrator Axel Scheffler and children’s author Julia
Donaldson ran a workshop for 121 children.
2.4 On 7 June a collaboration between Friends of the Gallery, the Centre
for the Children’s Book and Shipley education staff resulted in a
celebratory family fun event which marked the end of the Over the
Hills exhibition and 25th anniversary of the Friends of the Shipley Art
Gallery. The event attracted 346 visitors who took part in a
performance by children’s writer Julia Donaldson, a workshop with
illustrator Axel Scheffler, video making, plate painting, music, balloon
race, raffle, pottery workshop and refreshments.
2.5 On 19 June 12 teachers attended an induction session prior to the
opening of Weaving Stories.
2.6 Artist Cath Campbell led eight workshop sessions for school children,
linked to the exhibition Weaving Stories.
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2.7 Summer activities held at the Gallery included:
Summer Scoot a summer school programme for 11-16 year olds in
Gateshead took place 21-25 July and 28 July – 1 August. Storyteller
Pascale Konyn led the sessions and 20 young people participated in
developing a performance for the gallery. The project was funded by NOF
as part of Gateshead Councils summer programme
Get Crafty Saturday 2 August
Weaving sculpture with artist Fiona Gray. 20 people took part
Weaving from junk! Tuesday 22 and 29 July
Artist Jen Douglas created woven and collaged artworks with
visitors. 50 people took part
Wild Weaving Thursday 24 July
Learning to use natural materials with Textiles through time. 59
people took part
Bags of Weaving! Thursday 31 July
Artist Tanya Axford made woven bags. 70 people took part
A Sea of Stories Tuesday 5, 12, 19, and 26 August
Tales from around the world with Pascale Konyn. 100 people took
part
Wild Weaving Thursday 7 August
Tapestry weaver Fiona Rutherford. 30 people took part
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Weaving Sculpture Thursday 14 August
Artist Tanya Axford creating amazing hanging sculptures. 64
people took part
Weave it! Thursday 21 and 28 August
Artist Cath Campbell made jewellery with visitors. 65 people took
part
2.8 The 10-week courses (organised by Gateshead College) at the
Shipley in Painting & Drawing and Oil Painting continued in June and
July with between 10 and 15 people at each session.
3.
New Craft Publication for the Shipley
In July a new book about the craft collection called ‘Contemporary Craft
Collecting at the Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead’ was published. This
50- page book was produced to celebrate 25 years of collecting
contemporary craft and was funded by a grant from the Northern Rock
Foundation.
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5.
Friends of the Shipley Art Gallery
The friends of the Shipley Art Gallery organised the following events:
6 and 7 June: a Family Fun Day organised in conjunction with gallery
education staff and the Centre for the Children’s Book to mark the Friends’
25th anniversary
26 June: 87 members attended a talk given by artist Doug Braithwaite,
who converts Spiderman stories into images for Marvel Comics.
Visitor Performance
Visitor figures at the Shipley Art Gallery are 29% up on the same period
for last year. This is largely a result of the popularity of the Over the Hills
and Far Away exhibition which was boosted by excellent newspaper
coverage. The exhibition was covered by Tyne Tees Television on two
separate occasions and several radio interviews were also aired.
6.
RECOMMENDATION
The Committee is recommended to note the report.
Background Papers held by the Curator, Shipley Art Gallery, tel: 0191-477
1495.