The Atkinson celebrates Merseyside craft makers on Thursday 10 July with the launch ‘Handmade in Merseyside’ its new collection of contemporary jewellery and craft.
‘Hand Made in Merseyside’ is the second selling exhibition of contemporary jewellery and craft to be displayed at The Atkinson and itreflects the venues ongoing commitment to showcasing contemporary craft and design, particularly by artists who are based on our doorstep, and have international reputations for their work.
Emma Anderson, The Atkinson Director said:
“We have selected work that reflects the quality of makers in Sefton and on Merseyside.
The exhibition brings together work by an outstanding group of 8 artists, and explores themes of recycling, the inspiration of the coastal landscape as well as beautiful combinations of materials.”
There are 8 makers featured in the collection; they include:
Helen Chatterton’s textile collection uses colour as the inspiration for her work, and often colours not usually put together. She sources new fabrics and colour ways, particularly in the velvet scarf range, that reflects her favourite periods in history, literature and music – the 1920’s and 1930’s.
Alison Bailey Smith uses reclaimed wire from old televisions to make the most extraordinary jewellery. Her need to re-use, re-develop and re-create can be seen in her wide use of ordinary materials with extra-ordinary results.
Alan Phillips is a silversmith and jeweller originally from Manchester, but trained who trained at Sheffield. Who taught Silversmithing, Jewellery and Foundation Studies at Southport College of Art for 10yrs. He uses mould making techniques used in the metalwork industry to produce ceramic forms on display. He enjoys the aesthetics of other crafts where colour is used or marks made in the process of manufacture are left untouched. Both these qualities are evident in the rings he makes, where shaped steel punches are impressed into textured silver resulting in a pattern enhanced by patination.
Ruth Ball spans contemporary jewellery, fine silverware and unique artworks for public or private display. Observation of colour and light in everyday environments sustains her modern design style. Moreover her art based, painterly approach to enamelling underpins the elegant sense of beauty in her work.
Vivien Garland is a ceramist with two collections on display at The Atkinson. The Smoke Fired collection is a stunning range of Earthenware pots, each unique and each telling a story of the incredible North Wales Coastline.
While her Ceramic Lilies are delicate and emotional, with potential to be an incredibly personal piece of ceramic art. Her sculpting and mould making skills has made it possible to create a range of lilies that will last forever and each flower is shaped by hand, making them unique and individual.
Nawal Gebreel is an innovative textile designer who draws inspiration from geometric forms, Japanese “shibori” and paper-folding. She specialises in fabric manipulation and prints selling her work in Europe, America, Japan and Britain, to designers and established galleries, boutiques and craft fairs around the world. Nawal employs sumptuous fabrics and colours to luxurious effect. Her work is made individually with a variety of techniques, including screen-printing, hand pleating and fabric manipulation.
Since 2008 Elaine Jenkins has built a growing reputation for exquisite organic jewellery designs. By doing so she now stocks numerous galleries across the UK and makes commissioned work for UK and international clients. She is currently taking part in the Hothouse 4 programme with the Crafts Council.
Jenny Robson is a freelance illustrator and printmaker, who creates bright, eye-catching designs inspired by nature and the colours and style seen in textiles and lifestyle illustration of the 1950s and 60s.
Her work is mainly hand drawn and produced using traditional printing techniques including Lino cutting, screen printing and collography. She also creates a variety of handmade gifts including floral corsages and custom tablet cases; I am also developing a range of home-wares using my surface pattern designs. All of the materials used in my products are Eco-friendly and vegan.
The Handmade on Merseyside Collection is on display in The Atkinson Gift Shop now. For more information on the makers, please visit theatkinson.co.uk
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Posted on 8 July 2014 under General news
