Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
Birmingham City University
Made in the Middle
Especially created for this Arts Council England funded touring exhibition, the six pieces shown represented an extension to the ceramic patchwork process created and developed by Hillyard (see output 1). 35 makers were panel selected for this group exhibition that included: Andrew Tanner, James and Tilla Waters, Amy Twigger Holroyd, Jennifer Collier, Laura McCafferty and Karrina Thompson.
The seven venues were: Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham; The National Centre for Craft & Design, Sleaford; Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford; Hereford Museum & Art Gallery; Rugby Art Gallery and Museum; Bilston Craft Gallery; Northampton Museum and Art Gallery.
Hillyard’s pieces were inspired by the legacy of Stoke-on-Trent ceramic manufacturing and her interest in the trade that brought Chinese porcelain to Europe. Research visits were undertaken to a number of museums and exhibitions including the British Ceramics Biennial and series of photographs were taken in the old Spode factory by which Hillyard sought to capture evidence of manufacturing through the materiality of the building; marks left behind on walls, floors and equipment. From these photographs she created blue and white imagery digitally printed onto silk and used to produce ceramic patchwork pieces invoking the region’s tradition of producing oriental china.
The researcher uses the silk fabric to rebuild shattered ceramics deploying only hand-stitching to hold the pieces together - as such the process represents a new application and context for a traditional textile craft skill. This was the first time the ceramic patchwork process was exhibited in gallery contexts and some of the items tested the feasibility of producing larger pieces by this entirely novel process.
As well as the exhibition pieces there was a ‘handling piece’ commissioned by Craftspace to provide a tactile experience for visitors. A series of smaller pieces were also made as retail items for the gallery shops.
