Blackwell The Arts and Crafts House

houseplace will be the result of a short residency undertaken by Chris Keenan at Blackwell in early 2016 organised jointly by the Craft Potters Association and Lakeland Arts, funded by the Headley Trust. The resulting work will be on display later in 2016.

'There are few things that offer me greater satisfaction than being at the wheel, throwing or turning. My work and knowledge of clay occupies a fairly narrow band of the extremely broad ceramic spectrum but that band does go deep. I have only ever used porcelain and for the most part, only two glazes. I largely make work in small batches and for these, repetition is key; but the word “repetition” belies the reality that each piece represents a separate examination of the form in question and is a nuanced response to a previous incarnation.

In addition, over the past few years, I have been making my “extra-curricular” work – non-functional, interactive installation pieces which have at their core a sense of playfulness, incorporating elements of theatre which is a nod to my previous existence as an actor.

My work is exhibited around the world and is held in the permanent collections of several Museums including the V&A in London, the Ashmolean in Oxford and the Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art, Japan.'

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Adult £8.50 (without donation £7.70)
Friends, Patrons & Benefactors FREE
Free admission for young people up to the age of 16 and full-time students over 16.
National Art Pass 50% discount

Website

http://www.blackwell.org.uk/exhibitions/houseplace-chris-keenan

‘Colour I revel in’ – the words of Annie Garnett, the creative Arts and Crafts designer and entrepreneur who became a key figure in the revival of hand spinning and weaving in the Lake District.

The exhibition is based on the unique archives of the Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry in Kendal and will describe the establishment and ethos of Annie Garnett’s Spinnery workshops in Bowness-on-Windermere.

It examines how she created employment for up to a hundred women, working at home in cottages and farmhouses, to hand-spin flax and silk yarns for weaving into wonderfully coloured textiles, some richly embroidered, for making into dresses and soft furnishings of all kinds. These won numerous star prizes at important regional and national exhibitions and were purchased not only by local Lakeland folk, but also by the rich and famous from far and wide, including royalty, with some customers being as far away as the United States of America.

Website

http://www.blackwell.org.uk/exhibitions/spinning-colours-lakeland-annie-garnetts-spinnery-textiles-and-garden

Learn the techniques of hand embroidery and enjoy an afternoon of stitching in the White Drawing Room. Great for all ages.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

£10/£3 Friends, material provided. Booking essential

Website

http://www.blackwell.org.uk/event/27