Re-Route exhibition
Re-route is an exhibition celebrating the culmination of the pilot Contemporary Craft Fellowship Scheme in the south-west. Featuring five makers Re-Route is on show at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey, from 14 March 2009 to 26 April 2009.
The Contemporary Craft Fellowship Scheme (CCFS) was a pilot project supporting growth in the size and the economy of the contemporary craft sector in the South West of England. The scheme was supported by the Crafts Council, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Arts Council England South West, ArtsMatrix and The Devon Guild of Craftsmen. Applications were drawn from across the South West.
The Contemporary Craft Fellowship Scheme is part of the Crafts Council’s current professional development portfolio for mid-career makers which is piloting three approaches: placing makers in Higher Education Institutions through peer learning residencies; within a museum environment through residencies at the V&A in a programme running from 2008 – 2010, and through studio practice and mentorship for a group of artists in the south-west in partnership with the development agency ArtsMatrix.
The five selected makers were awarded development bursaries to be spent over a year to research new ways of working with peers and complementary specialists. The Fellows are:
• Fabrizia Bazzo (Architectural Glass). Fabrizia worked with her commercial partner Derix Glasstudios to learn about the application of commercial lamination technique, as opposed to traditional leading, to create large-scale architectural glass pieces.
• Jenny Beavan (Ceramics). Jenny had access to Par Docks in Cornwall, where china clay used to be dried before being exported. The dryers at the Docks are in the process of being decommissioned and Jenny has explored and charted the site through photography, drawing and text.
• Katie Bunnell & Jessie Higginson (Ceramics). Katie and Jessie use digital technologies and traditional mould-making respectively. As a partnership they looked at the possibility of developing a viable domestic ceramic product for manufacture and production in the UK.
• Fionna Hesketh (Jewellery). Fionna wanted to develop and explore her ideas in 3-D through drawing and also through a more experimental use of materials. Her mentors encouraged her to experiment with drawing and materials and establish a personal identity with her subject matter.
• Janet Stoyel (Textiles). Janet specialises in laser technologies and wanted to explore the commercial Arab textile markets. She researched and developed Laserlace headwear – hijab and interior lengths. Janet Stoyel’s project is still underway and will not be part of this exhibition.
Re-route celebrates the journeys each maker has embarked on throughout the year. The exhibition will show experimental and finished work alongside documentation in all sorts of media from personal diaries to film.
“The Contemporary Craft Fellowship Scheme has provided five mid-career makers with the opportunity to step outside their usual practice and explore new ways of working. The support and knowledge received over the year will give them a renewed confidence and vigour in their work.”
Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director, Crafts Council
—Ends—
For further information and press images please contact Jill Read, Press Officer, Crafts Council, 020 7806 2549, media@craftscouncil.org.uk
Notes to Editors
• The Crafts Council is the national agency for contemporary crafts. It aims to position the UK as the best place in the world for making, seeing and collecting contemporary craft.
• For further information about the Crafts Council visit www.craftscouncil.org.uk
• The Crafts Council is supported by Arts Council England. Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people’s lives. As the national development agency for the arts, it supports a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography to digital art, and carnival to crafts. Between 2008 and 2011, Arts Council England will invest £1.3 billion of public money from government and a further £0.3 billion from the National Lottery to create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.
Download documents
BBC Devon interview with Rosy Greenlees
Rosy Greenlees is Executive Director of the Crafts Council. Listen to the BBC Devon interview with Rosy Greenlees on Re-route an exhibition celebrating the culmination of the pilot Contemporary Craft Fellowship Scheme in the south-west.
BBC Devon interview with Rosy Greenlees (1918KB mp3 File)
