Feast
Feast was chosen as a context to explore the viewing and making of artwork, and as it can be used to express experience literally and imaginatively. The theme was not a limit on ideas, but used to create focus and to inform the choices faced in thinking about and making work.
Two artists worked together to lead this programme. Working in this way achieved more in the limited time available, being able to give extra support to what was often a very large group. Fran Tristram and Rod Bailey have a wide range of skills between them, and they brought in artists Andrew Mason, Karen Elkins, Barbara Coulam and Shaun Belcher for individual sessions.
Visits were planned around exploring the theme and included Rufford Craft and Ceramics Centre, Lady Bay Pottery, Nottingham Castle Museum, View from the Top Gallery, and Pretty Orchid Thai restaurant
Workshops included pottery making and decorating, clay brick carving, raku ceramic decoration and firing, hand painted tiles, fusion firing glass work, textiles, drawing, painting, collage, collagraph printmaking, creative writing and sound, and felt making working as a group on two large wall hangings.
A highlight at the end of the programme was a group visit to Pretty Orchid Thai Restaurant for a demonstration and workshop on traditional decorative carving and presentation of fruit and vegetables for dining, and of course then eating them! The public exhibition of work was held for a week in January at the View From the Top Gallery in Waterstones bookshop, Nottingham.
