Teapots, tankards, kibbo kift, moon vases and more
- Latest exhibition in the Reid Gallery explores
the politics of craft - Honesty stall to be created as part of the
project
|
| Replica of arrow shot through the window of 10 Downing Street by members of Kibbo Kift in the 1930s |
In the mass
production age, which can be dated to Henry Ford’s introduction of the driven
conveyor belt for the manufacture of the “Model T”, artisanal production has
been pretty much driven to the margins. In this new exhibition from Lake District-based
Grizedale Arts the utopian dreams
of the celebrated Arts and Crafts movement are once put centre stage. It asks
us to think about how we can be true to our craft heritage and live life
artfully, to experience working not only as labouring for financial reward, but
as something that can also help us learn and develop. The Politics of Craft: After Ford
151 runs at the Reid Galley from
Saturday 7 February – Sunday 8 March 2015.
production age, which can be dated to Henry Ford’s introduction of the driven
conveyor belt for the manufacture of the “Model T”, artisanal production has
been pretty much driven to the margins. In this new exhibition from Lake District-based
Grizedale Arts the utopian dreams
of the celebrated Arts and Crafts movement are once put centre stage. It asks
us to think about how we can be true to our craft heritage and live life
artfully, to experience working not only as labouring for financial reward, but
as something that can also help us learn and develop. The Politics of Craft: After Ford
151 runs at the Reid Galley from
Saturday 7 February – Sunday 8 March 2015.
Curated
by Jina Lee and Adam Sutherland, The Politics of Craft: After Ford 151
was first staged in The Lake District last year as part of Grizedale
Art’s 15 years retrospective ‘The
Nuisance of Landscape (2014). It features a wide selection of
objects dating from the early 19th century to newly made pieces.
Teapots, tankards, kibbo kift, moon vases and more ‘orbit’ around the upturned,
vaulted ceiling of St Peter’s Seminary (Cardross), made as a skeletal cardboard
form. The exhibition draws on the works of John Ruskin through William Morris,
the Kibo Kift movement and Woodcraft Folk to contemporary makers and looks at the
notion of Arts and Crafts as a resistance movement.
by Jina Lee and Adam Sutherland, The Politics of Craft: After Ford 151
was first staged in The Lake District last year as part of Grizedale
Art’s 15 years retrospective ‘The
Nuisance of Landscape (2014). It features a wide selection of
objects dating from the early 19th century to newly made pieces.
Teapots, tankards, kibbo kift, moon vases and more ‘orbit’ around the upturned,
vaulted ceiling of St Peter’s Seminary (Cardross), made as a skeletal cardboard
form. The exhibition draws on the works of John Ruskin through William Morris,
the Kibo Kift movement and Woodcraft Folk to contemporary makers and looks at the
notion of Arts and Crafts as a resistance movement.
“The
Politics of Craft raises many questions
around creative working,” says Adam Sutherland. “For
example, can we really afford to continue thinking of craft merely in terms of
the hobby, nothing but a pastime? We want to inspire people to think more about
how we can be true to our craft heritage and to see working not simply as
labouring for reward, but also as a process of learning, engaging and
developing.”
Politics of Craft raises many questions
around creative working,” says Adam Sutherland. “For
example, can we really afford to continue thinking of craft merely in terms of
the hobby, nothing but a pastime? We want to inspire people to think more about
how we can be true to our craft heritage and to see working not simply as
labouring for reward, but also as a process of learning, engaging and
developing.”
“We are delighted to be able to show Grizedale Arts’ The Politics of
Craft: After Ford 151,” adds Jenny Brownrigg, Exhibitions Director at the Glasgow
School of Art. “It is staged in the Reid
Gallery opposite a building that was both inspired by and exemplifies some of
the most important characteristics of the Arts and Crafts movement, Mackintosh’s
Glasgow School of Art.”
Craft: After Ford 151,” adds Jenny Brownrigg, Exhibitions Director at the Glasgow
School of Art. “It is staged in the Reid
Gallery opposite a building that was both inspired by and exemplifies some of
the most important characteristics of the Arts and Crafts movement, Mackintosh’s
Glasgow School of Art.”
St.
Peter’s Seminary – a modernist interpretation of the medieval cathedral
Peter’s Seminary – a modernist interpretation of the medieval cathedral
|
| Image of Ruskin by Jina Lee, depicted on the gallery wall |
For
John Ruskin and the Arts and Crafts movement the Cathedral was the
architectural model that set the agenda. It was created communally: by the
artist, craftsman, architect and builder. Medieval architecture became the
visual cornerstone of the movement, and a political interpretation of the
medieval craftsman ideology became its guiding philosophy. Drawing heavily on Le Corbusier’s Ronchamp
chapel, with its roots in the Arts and Crafts movement, St. Peter’s Seminary is
a modernist interpretation of a medieval cathedral. One of the centrepieces of the
exhibition by leading Scottish architects practice Sutherland Hussey. Also on
show in the exhibition is Murray Grigor’s seminal 1972 film St Peter’s Seminary and the recent frame
for frame remake commissioned by NVA as part of the project to save the
celebrated Macmillan-Metzstein building from total ruin, bringing it back to
life as a cultural centre.
John Ruskin and the Arts and Crafts movement the Cathedral was the
architectural model that set the agenda. It was created communally: by the
artist, craftsman, architect and builder. Medieval architecture became the
visual cornerstone of the movement, and a political interpretation of the
medieval craftsman ideology became its guiding philosophy. Drawing heavily on Le Corbusier’s Ronchamp
chapel, with its roots in the Arts and Crafts movement, St. Peter’s Seminary is
a modernist interpretation of a medieval cathedral. One of the centrepieces of the
exhibition by leading Scottish architects practice Sutherland Hussey. Also on
show in the exhibition is Murray Grigor’s seminal 1972 film St Peter’s Seminary and the recent frame
for frame remake commissioned by NVA as part of the project to save the
celebrated Macmillan-Metzstein building from total ruin, bringing it back to
life as a cultural centre.
The
Politics of Craft: Kibbo Kift
Politics of Craft: Kibbo Kift
Whilst the theme of the of politics of craft imbues the whole exhibition,
it is particularly resonant in the Kibbo Kift items. The artist-led Kibbo Kift movement,
which broke away from Baden Powell’s Scouting movement, believed in spiritual
enlightenment through camping and nature. In the pre WWII years, Kibbo Kift
became “the Green Shirts”, a particularly active campaigning force for
environmental interests which promoted Ruskinian notions of alternative
economies, principally social credit – a kind of labour exchange system. Although
wound up in the 1950s many of the principles of Kibbo Kift can still be found
in the Woodcraft Folk movement. The arrow featured in the exhibition represents
one of Kibbo Kift’s most famous exploits: an arrow that was shot from a longbow
by “Robin Hood” through the window of 10 Downing Street in February 1940. On
the shaft was the script ‘Social Credit is Coming’. Earlier political events in
Downing Street had seen Green Bricks thrown through a window of No 10 first in
1933 and again in 1938. The arrow
included in the exhibition is replica made by Tom Philipson, a furniture-maker
and leader of the Woodcraft Folk. In the full spirit of Kibbo Kift he made this
arrow in exchange for a weekend at Grizedale Arts off-grid eco holiday home (Low
Parkamoo).
it is particularly resonant in the Kibbo Kift items. The artist-led Kibbo Kift movement,
which broke away from Baden Powell’s Scouting movement, believed in spiritual
enlightenment through camping and nature. In the pre WWII years, Kibbo Kift
became “the Green Shirts”, a particularly active campaigning force for
environmental interests which promoted Ruskinian notions of alternative
economies, principally social credit – a kind of labour exchange system. Although
wound up in the 1950s many of the principles of Kibbo Kift can still be found
in the Woodcraft Folk movement. The arrow featured in the exhibition represents
one of Kibbo Kift’s most famous exploits: an arrow that was shot from a longbow
by “Robin Hood” through the window of 10 Downing Street in February 1940. On
the shaft was the script ‘Social Credit is Coming’. Earlier political events in
Downing Street had seen Green Bricks thrown through a window of No 10 first in
1933 and again in 1938. The arrow
included in the exhibition is replica made by Tom Philipson, a furniture-maker
and leader of the Woodcraft Folk. In the full spirit of Kibbo Kift he made this
arrow in exchange for a weekend at Grizedale Arts off-grid eco holiday home (Low
Parkamoo).
For full
list of artefacts on show in the exhibition see Notes for editors.
list of artefacts on show in the exhibition see Notes for editors.
Grizedale Arts “Honest Shop” introduced in
Glasgow
Glasgow
Also included in the exhibition will be an honesty
stall. Over the years Grizedale
Arts has created different honesty stalls as a way of working with a local
communities and creating a local economy. The simple premise is that Grizedale
makes a stall or shop to which a wide range of local suppliers makers and
artists bring homemade produce to be sold in “an honest manner”. Grizedale now
runs an honest shop in the Coniston Institute at the Lakes. The suppliers
deliver their goods, sign in the book what they have brought with their own
product code – customers do much the same, but leave the money too. The Honest
Stall in The Politics of Craft: After Ford 151 exhibition will initially
sell produce made by Coniston Villagers. In the meantime an invitation has been
extended to GSA students and staff community for home-made produce.
stall. Over the years Grizedale
Arts has created different honesty stalls as a way of working with a local
communities and creating a local economy. The simple premise is that Grizedale
makes a stall or shop to which a wide range of local suppliers makers and
artists bring homemade produce to be sold in “an honest manner”. Grizedale now
runs an honest shop in the Coniston Institute at the Lakes. The suppliers
deliver their goods, sign in the book what they have brought with their own
product code – customers do much the same, but leave the money too. The Honest
Stall in The Politics of Craft: After Ford 151 exhibition will initially
sell produce made by Coniston Villagers. In the meantime an invitation has been
extended to GSA students and staff community for home-made produce.
Ends
Further information:
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474 / press@gsa.ac.uk
Notes for
Editors
Editors
Items on show in The Politics of Craft: After Ford 151
·
Ceiling of St Peter’s Cardross An upturned cardboard
model by Sutherland Hussy as an interpretation of the design by Andy MacMillan
+ Isi Metzstein
Ceiling of St Peter’s Cardross An upturned cardboard
model by Sutherland Hussy as an interpretation of the design by Andy MacMillan
+ Isi Metzstein
·
Murray Grigor’s two films Space and Light 1972 and the
more recent frame for frame remake. Taken together the films reveal how the
building has gone from active seminary to modern ruin.
Murray Grigor’s two films Space and Light 1972 and the
more recent frame for frame remake. Taken together the films reveal how the
building has gone from active seminary to modern ruin.
·
Anchorhold: Sutherland Hussey. A large structure referencing
the anchoritic
life, one of the earliest forms of Christian Monastic living prevalent
in Medieval Tiimes.
Anchorhold: Sutherland Hussey. A large structure referencing
the anchoritic
life, one of the earliest forms of Christian Monastic living prevalent
in Medieval Tiimes.
Tea pots
·
Green Kenji: Christopher Dresser and Henry Tooth,
Linthorpe 1880s
Green Kenji: Christopher Dresser and Henry Tooth,
Linthorpe 1880s
·
Eltonware Teapot: Sir Edmund Elton and George Masters,
c 1900
Eltonware Teapot: Sir Edmund Elton and George Masters,
c 1900
·
Wantee Teapot: Laure Prouvost and Adam Sutherland,
2013
Wantee Teapot: Laure Prouvost and Adam Sutherland,
2013
Bowls
·
Teacup and saucer: Joseph Albers 1921 (representation)
Teacup and saucer: Joseph Albers 1921 (representation)
·
Love Cup: Ryan Gander, 2014
Love Cup: Ryan Gander, 2014
·
Unomi Japanese tea bowl, 2014
Unomi Japanese tea bowl, 2014
Kibbo Kift
·
Kibbo Kift Costume (1930); Olivia / Celia Plender 2005
(replica)
Kibbo Kift Costume (1930); Olivia / Celia Plender 2005
(replica)
·
Kibbo Kift arrow (1933): Tom Philipson, 2014 (replica)
Kibbo Kift arrow (1933): Tom Philipson, 2014 (replica)
·
Infocalypse Stack Data Ritual Necklaces: Juneau
Projects, 2013
Infocalypse Stack Data Ritual Necklaces: Juneau
Projects, 2013
·
Oak Latin Cross: Tom Philipson, 2014
Oak Latin Cross: Tom Philipson, 2014
·
Mug Tree: Peter Myers, 2014
Mug Tree: Peter Myers, 2014
Tankards
·
Bernard Leech, 1940s
Bernard Leech, 1940s
·
Keith Murray, 1930s
Keith Murray, 1930s
·
Tankard Mussolini Memento: Jonathan Meese, 2009
Tankard Mussolini Memento: Jonathan Meese, 2009
Novelties
·
Wealth lies within – Ruskin Head Money Box: Grizedale
Arts, 2010
Wealth lies within – Ruskin Head Money Box: Grizedale
Arts, 2010
·
Monkey Tennis Toby Jug: Grizedale Arts, 2014
Monkey Tennis Toby Jug: Grizedale Arts, 2014
·
Toby Jug Pepper Pot: Compton Pottery, c 1880
Toby Jug Pepper Pot: Compton Pottery, c 1880
Local Economy (Lake District)
·
Vase, Ambleside Pottery: George Cook, 1950s
Vase, Ambleside Pottery: George Cook, 1950s
·
Jug, Coniston Secession Pottery: Giles Round, 2014
Jug, Coniston Secession Pottery: Giles Round, 2014
Basalt
·
After Ford 151 Teapot: Jina Lee, 2014
After Ford 151 Teapot: Jina Lee, 2014
·
Engine-turned Teapot: Wedgewood c 1820
Engine-turned Teapot: Wedgewood c 1820
Glass
·
Jug: Whitefriars, c 1870
Jug: Whitefriars, c 1870
·
Chemistry equipment: Whitefriars, c 1930s
Chemistry equipment: Whitefriars, c 1930s
·
Light bulb (machined), 2014
Light bulb (machined), 2014
Arte Until
·
Newspaper Printed Hats: Traditional
Newspaper Printed Hats: Traditional
·
Table Lamp: Robert Welch, 1960s
Table Lamp: Robert Welch, 1960s
·
Farm Chair: Gordon Russell, 1928
Farm Chair: Gordon Russell, 1928
Mugs
·
Ugly Mug: Ugly Mug Company, 1970s
Ugly Mug: Ugly Mug Company, 1970s
·
Roadshow Mug: Mark Titchner, 2002
Roadshow Mug: Mark Titchner, 2002
·
World’s Best…Mug: John Clappison 1960s
World’s Best…Mug: John Clappison 1960s
Moon Vase
·
Pale Moon vase, Joseon Dynasty (copy)
Pale Moon vase, Joseon Dynasty (copy)
·
Dark Mood Vase Joseon Dynasty Korea
Dark Mood Vase Joseon Dynasty Korea
Rupture
·
Rupture: George Ohr, 1894 (copy 2014)
Rupture: George Ohr, 1894 (copy 2014)
·
Hand-Rolled Cigarettes (props for OHR): Nathaniel
Mellors, 2006
Hand-Rolled Cigarettes (props for OHR): Nathaniel
Mellors, 2006
·
Teapot: Christopher Dresser for James Dixon, c 1870
Teapot: Christopher Dresser for James Dixon, c 1870
·
London Transport: Aesthetic Chair 1900 and 2008 ,
Grizedale Arts
London Transport: Aesthetic Chair 1900 and 2008 ,
Grizedale Arts
Machine
·
Robot Arm: Tandy, 1982
Robot Arm: Tandy, 1982
·
Georgian Plant Stands: Anonymous c 1830
Georgian Plant Stands: Anonymous c 1830
Mended Objects
·
Basalt Teapot,1840
Basalt Teapot,1840
·
Doulton Jug, 1890
Doulton Jug, 1890
·
Ruskin’s Road (1873) Window Seat Cushions: Grizedale
Arts, 2014
Ruskin’s Road (1873) Window Seat Cushions: Grizedale
Arts, 2014
The Side Chapel
·
Sotsass Curtains: Laura Davis, 2008
Sotsass Curtains: Laura Davis, 2008
·
Kick Wheel: designed by Dicon Nance for Bernard Leach,
1930s
Kick Wheel: designed by Dicon Nance for Bernard Leach,
1930s
·
Three Handled vase: Lakes Pottery Truro, c 1930s
Three Handled vase: Lakes Pottery Truro, c 1930s
·
Gatling gun (Chinese paper hobby project version):
designed by Richard Gatling 1861
Gatling gun (Chinese paper hobby project version):
designed by Richard Gatling 1861
·
Fire Dogs: Christopher Dresser, 1870s
Fire Dogs: Christopher Dresser, 1870s
Books
·
Library – Penguin Donkey mark II
Library – Penguin Donkey mark II
·
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, Mark
Twain 1889
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, Mark
Twain 1889
·
News From Nowhere, William Morris, 1890
News From Nowhere, William Morris, 1890
·
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, 1932
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, 1932