gather-ing

'Gather-ing' Contemporary craft residency and commissions for The Priory, in Stoke Sub Hamdon, Somerset. Curated by Craftspace. Initiated by Somerset Art Works in partnership with the National Trust The large tithe barn within The Priory complex, a rare and unique group of medieval domestic and agricultural buildings, is the focus of this contemporary craft project. The title ‘Gather-ing’ references the function of a barn as a space to collect/bring/gather people, animals and crops, as well as a symbolic meeting place to gather for ritual celebration. Artists Stewart Francis Easton and associates, Jacky Oliver, Helen Snell, Gillian Widden and Chris Jelley will showcase new work made in response to the site. Saturday 3rd October, 11am until 3pm. The installations will be presented with the artists during a ‘live’ celebration in the barn. Sunday 4th October, 11am until 3pm. The installation will be open for viewing and artist Stewart Francis Easton will be available to talk about his work and the project. The exhibtion will also be open on 10th-11th October 11am until 3pm The project will showcase contemporary craft: makers, skills, materials and thinking in the context of the ‘Momentum’ Somerset Art Weeks Festival 2015. It will meet the aspiration of Somerset Art Works to ‘inspire and challenge’ audiences and ‘raise the quality of craft made and seen in Somerset’ by engaging craft practitioners with a track record of excellence and ability to make creative, imaginative and innovative responses to the site and brief. The project is funded by Arts Council England.

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Photo by Robin Savill of the final installation of the Stigmata Forks in the magnificent Abbey Barn. A huge thank you to everyone who helped me to shovel soil, shape large mud pies, do amazing things with tension wire, and do an occasional bit of weeding and watering in the subsequent weeks of the exhibition. Also for all the great company and conversations, coffee, cake, apples and sandwiches.

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Carol and Laytn helping me to tweak the lighting angles.

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Mounds taking shape. 

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Edge of the earth

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A couple of tons of soil and a big team effort

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The Gather-ing | Mr Jelley Poet Technologist

The bi-annual (or so it seems to have become) Gather-ing of five artists responding to Tithe barns opens this Saturday at The Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glas...

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Museum Experience Storywalks | Mr Jelley Poet Technologist

Last month I worked with Huish Episcopi Academy at the Glastonbury Rural Life museum during the Gather-ing exhibition in their Tithe Barn. The session was desig...

Words through time.

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Gather-ing (visitor book) | Mr Jelley Poet Technologist

Visitor books are tricky objects to place in an exhibition, they are essential to capture thoughts and words about the works but often they remain blank. Hundre...

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A few words from the visitor book

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Gather-ing, Abbey Barn, Somerset Rural life Museum

photos by Nisha Haq

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photos by Nisha Haq

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Further developing ideas from Gather-ing research using enamelling

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Here are the funders!

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The word hoard screen where visitors gather key words from the artists word posts and then attach to the screen making a kind of modern day hoarding inside the barn.

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All is quiet in the barn