wolverhampton art gallery Exhibitions & Events March April May 2010Free entry

Welcome

As we head into 2010, it’s natural to look

back upon a decade that has ended with

so much uncertainty. The new Pop Gallery

exhibition, Pop Protest: Art for an Anxious

Age compares the last decade with another

turbulent political period, 1965 – 1975, when

Pop artists became social commentators.

We continue the season of

exhibitions showcasing the

best in film and video art with

Holylands by Seamus Harahan.

This is a recent acquisition,

funded by the Contemporary

Art Society. The film portrays

an extraordinary residential

area in Belfast, defined by its

history of religious divide and

social unrest and through its

name draws comparison with

the situation in the Middle

East.

This season’s programme is

teaming with talks by artists

and curators, including an

opportunity to tour The

Northern Ireland Collection:

Fresh Perspectives in May,

before it is replaced in June

by a 6 month touring

exhibition.

Finally, we will be celebrating

International Women’s Week

(8 – 14 March) with a talk

looking at how traditional

‘feminine’ skills such as sewing

have crossed the conceptual

barrier to be used in fine art

practice. There will be a

chance to try your hand at

knitting, and a last chance to

see the exhibition POP: Jann

Haworth, which has brought

the work of one of Pop’s

underrepresented women

artists to public attention.

We hope you enjoy the new

season, and that you will

discover an event or exhibition

at Wolverhampton Art Gallery

that will spark your creativity

in 2010.

Corinne Miller

Head of Arts and Museums

Cover image: Rose’s Halo (detail) by Aether & Hemera © the artists

Pop Jann HaworthUntil 10 Apr 2010

Hollywood-born artist Jann Haworth

(b. 1942) is among the few women

associated with the Pop Art movement

of the 1960s. Her sewn cloth soft

sculptures refer to typically American

Pop themes such as fast food, film

stars, cheerleaders, cowboys and

comics, as well as to her experiences

of living in England during a period

of cultural transformation. Developed

in partnership with the artist, this

exhibition is the first UK solo show

of Haworth’s work in a public gallery

since 1972.

EventsThe Power of the Stitch

Sat 13 Mar 2 – 4pm

To celebrate International Women’s

Week, this talk will look at traditional

feminine crafts crossing the barrier

into the masculine world of fine art

followed by demonstrations and a

chance to learn a new skill. All skill

levels welcomed.

Stitches & Hos at

Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Wed 31 Mar 6 – 9pm

Stitches and Hos are a motley crew

of enthusiasts for all things knitted,

crocheted and stitched who will be

bringing their monthly knitting night

to the gallery for a one-off special.

Dj’s will be playing music throughout

the evening and a pay bar will be

available.

Image: Pop Jann Haworth installation © Lee Allen

Balnakiel by Shona IllingworthUntil 1 May

A mesmerizing journey into sight, sound

and memory. Shona Illingworth’s newly

commissioned film offers a vivid portrait

of Balnakiel, a remarkable location, at the

furthermost edge of Britain. Exposed to

extremes of weather, geology and the

disturbing omnipresence of the RAF and

Royal Navy, who use this area of Scottish

land as a bombing range, the brooding,

melancholic landscape has a significant

emotional and psychological impact on its

residents.

The artist explores the social context of this

land through photography, film and recorded

narrative. Herself an ex-resident, Shona’s

investigative processes come from both a

personal perspective and a more objectiv

e conceptual approach, shaped in part by

exchanges with cognitive neuro-psychologist

Martin Conway, whose work draws attention

to the strategies memory employs to attempt

to either articulate or suppress strong

undercurrents of experience when a sense

of self and community identity is under threat.

Balnakiel is commissioned by Film and Video

Umbrella in association with John Hansard

Gallery and Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

Funded by the Wellcome Trust with support

from The Highland Legacy Trust and

Danish Embassy.

Still from Balnakiel by Shona Illingworth © the artist

EventsCurator Tour – Kate Pryor-Williams

Sat 27 Mar 2pm

Join the curator of Balnakiel by

Shona Illingworth for a tour of the

exhibition and a chance to find out

more about the work and the themes

around it.

Highland Connections

Sat 3 April 2pm - 3pm

Join Art Interpreter Keith Oram for

a talk linking The Highland Laddies’

Return and Sunday in the Backwoods

to Shona Illingworth’s exhibition

Balnakiel. It will draw on Scottish

history and the social implications

of the Highland Clearances.

Memory

Sat 24 Apr 11am – 2pm

Painter and Art Interpreter

Dean Melbourne will lead you in

a creative session exploring the

themes of Shona Illingworth’s

Balnakiel exhibition. Contrasting

social and personal memory, this

workshop will use photographs as

a source to create challenging

drawings and painting. £10 per

person, booking is essential.

Please call 01902 550060.

Holylands

by Seamus Harahan20 Mar - 3 Jul

This exhibition presents our latest

acquisition, acquired thorough the

Contemporary Art Society. By Belfast

based artist and filmmaker Seamus

Harahan, Holylands was shot through

the artist’s window on the streets of

Belfast and directly references the

names of his neighbourhoods streets -

Jerusalem Street, Palestine Street,

Damascus Street, Carmel Street and

Cairo Street.

The film depicts people going about

their everyday lives where a bag lady

rummages in a bin, young boys play

with a water pipe, and a delivery

van unloads outside a shop. It is an

ordinary snapshot of an extraordinary

area, defined by its history of religious

divide and social unrest.

EventSeamus Harahan in Conversation

Wed 17 Jul 3.30 – 4.30pm

Join Seamus Harahan as he speaks about

Holylands. Followed by drinks recepti

on and live music by Gallagher Brothers.

Free, drop in.

The Northern Ireland Collection:Fresh Perspectives

This exhibition considers the role of visual

artists in representing Northern Ireland’s

contested past and future.

Highlights from Wolverhampton’s Northern

Ireland Collection are shown alongside

borrowed works from national and artist

collections.

EventsVisions of Northern Ireland

Wed 22 Apr

Join art interpreter Adrian Clamp for this

talk and discover how artists have responded

to the sensitive issues of Northern Ireland.

Evening tour of Northern Ireland Collection

Wed 19 May 5.30pm – 6.30pm

An informal tour of the Northern Ireland

Collection before the installation of a new

6 month temporary exhibition in June.

Seamus Harahan, Holylands, 2004, single channel video installation, colour

with sound, 32.30 mins. Purchased through the Contemporary Art Society's

Acquisition Scheme 2009.

Pop Protest:

Art for an Anxious Age1 May - 30 Oct

Drawing on the gallery’s extensive

collection of Pop Art and artist

collections, Pop Protest compares two

periods in our recent history: 1965-1975

and 2000-2010, exploring what made

these years so fragile and turbulent for

us.

In both periods Pop artists have acted

as social commentators, demonstrating

the impact of war and politics on

society- whether it be in 1970s Vietnam

or modern day Iraq. The exhibition

includes Gerald Laing’s War Paintings,

Derek Boshier’s Pantomime War works,

and Jann Haworth’s Hollow Men piece

from the noughties, while artworks by

Richard Hamilton, Colin Self, Joe Tilson,

and James Rosenquist cast a critical

lens on the sixties and seventies.

Objects and ephemera highlight the

political events that inspired the artists

and which shaped the social anxiety

that defines each of the periods.

EventArt Speaking – Pop Protest

Sat 15 May 1pm – 2pm

As part of our audio describing

season Dean Melbourne will

explore a key piece in the Pop

Protest exhibition.

Boston Massacre by Larry Rivers © Estate

of Larry Rivers/ DACS, London/VAGA, New

York 2010.

Gift This display showcases some of the many

art works that The Friends of Wolverhampton

Arts and Museums Service has helped us to

acquire, through their fundraising activities,

over the years. 2009 is their 30th anniversary

and visitors will be able to discover more

about the work of the Friends group and

find out how to get involved.

EventArt Speaking – Gift

Sat 20 Mar 1pm – 2pm

Art Interpreter Keith Oram will deliver an

Audio Described session in our Gift exhibition

allowing those with a visual impairment to

experience these fascinating works.

Pork Knocker Dreams- Recent work by Donald LockeUntil 29 May 2010

Donald Locke has lived, studied and worked in Guyana, Britain and the USA, moving backwards

and forwards across the Atlantic for a number of years. In Guyana, during the 1960’s, he was

a key part of the creative elite who shaped art after Independence, using the language of

modernism allied with traditional motifs to help mould a new International Style. His artwork

explores elements of modernism and folk art and his distinctive sculptures fuse the influences

of Western, Caribbean and Southern American culture.

Pork Knocker dreams is Donald Locke’s first UK solo show since the 1970s. The exhibition has

been curated by Indra Khanna and produced in partnership with The New Art Exchange.

Queen 2003

© Donald Locke

Victorian GalleryDiscover Wolverhampton’s collection of

Victorian decorative objects and artworks in

a new permanent exhibition. The two-room

display explores the fascinating world of the

Victorians, including their passion for eastern

influenced design.

Event Art Speaking – Victorian Gallery

Sat 17 Apr 1pm – 2pm

Allowing those with a visual impairment to

experience this exhibition, Art Interpreter

Janet Crook will deliver an Audio Described

talk in the Victorian Gallery.

Dodda Maggy3 Apr - 29 May

Icelandic artist, Dodda Maggy explores

the role of women in films, recreating and

exaggerating women’s traits and

stereotypes on screen.

In the film Margret, the character spins

around, spiralling out of control whilst

raising her hands before she falls over-

unable to keep her balance without

appearing confused or disorientated.

The film I’m not Here shows a woman

in a leotard fading in and out of sight

in a domestic setting, the artist here is

challenging the representation of women

in film and the conclusions viewers make

from women’s behaviour, appearance and

surroundings.

Shift Life30 Jan - 26 Mar

This interactive digital projection provides

visitors with a chance to explore a virtual

world made of biological life forms. By

playing with the objects around a large

wooden box, you are able to alter the living

environment for the digital creatures. This is

a fun and interactive show for everyone to

experiment and engage with, where the

stability of the virtual world rests in your

hands.

Hire Space

Days Like These

by Andrew Christopher

Until 13 Mar

Paintings from Andrew Christopher’s Days

Like These exhibition capture the fragile

moments of everyday life. A figure sits

motionless high up in a tree surveying the

world that surrounds him, whilst shadows

bustle and birds dance across the starlit sky.

Shining Stars

20 Mar - 17 Apr

Shining stars will highlight the achievements

of Wolverhampton people from schools and

community groups in partnership with the

Education and Outreach team at Wolver-

hampton Arts and Museums Service.

Object, Sound and Image

by George Clark-Roden

24 Apr – 22 May

This exhibition focuses on the tensions

between perception, form and sound. The

artist’s approach involves the development

of material and sonic encounters with the

public, creating a dialogue between the art

and the participant.

Stills from Margret/I’m not Here

© Vane and Dodda Maggy

Family events

Big Stuff

Wed 7 Apr, Fri 9 Apr

11am – 1pm

Go poptastic and make

oversized everyday objects

inspired by the Jann Haworth

exhibition. £2 per child.

Art 4 Kids

Sat 6 Mar, Sat 3 Apr

Sat 1 May 11am – 1pm

Get creative and come along

to our free monthly club for

budding young artists. Aged

11 and under.

Family Focus

Sat 8 May 11am – 12pm

and 1pm-2pm

Bring along your grown-ups

and explore our collection in

a hands-on workshop. Free,

booking advised, please call

01902 550060.

Stories15 May - 28 Aug

Enter a magical world of storytelling

and discover work inspired by childhood

memories, fictional stories and fairy tales.

Through paintings, drawings, sculptures

and art installations, the gallery space will

be transformed into an enchanted, playful

and mysterious land. Look out for a few

surprises dotted about the gallery.

Spend some time in our resource area

reading a range of interesting and

delightful books available.

Rose’s Halo by Aether & Hemera © the artists

Artforum

Artforum is the Gallery’s group

for young people (14-25).

Contact Jen Dooner at

the Gallery or check out

www.myspace.com/wagartforum.

All sessions are free and drop in.

Jann Haworth animation workshop

Wed 3 Mar 4.30pm - 6.30pm

Follow up from last session with

more animation; finish your work

from last time or make something

new!

Jann Haworth workshop

Wed 17 Mar 4.30pm - 6.30pm

Explore the techniques and ideas

in Jann Haworth’s textile work

and get creative in this workshop

exploring fabric portraits. Add

your piece to our wall hanging

which will be exhibited in the

gallery later this year.

Behind the scenes

Wed 21 Apr 4.30pm - 6.30pm

Take a look behind the scenes

with our collections officer. Learn

how we care for works of art and get

the chance to explore pieces close-

up.

Pop Protest

Part 1: Wed 5 May 4.30 - 6.30

Part 2: Wed 19 May 4.30 - 6.30

Get to grips with this challenging

new exhibition which explores

protest and social commentary in

pop art. Take inspiration from the

show and explore the ideas and

techniques used in Pop Protest

in this creative workshop.

Image: Pop Jann Haworth installation © Lee Allen

Pop Protest band night

Thu 6 May 5pm - 8pm

Our band night will showcase a

selection of the best local unsigned

bands... plus there'll be arty

activities, badgemaking and our

brand new Pop Protest exhibition.

Free drinks and snacks.

Access

Blue badge holders may use the parking bays

on Wulfruna Street, just a few metres from the

ramped entrance in St. Peter's Passage. Two

lifts serve the upper floors of the gallery.

Limited seating is available on the lower floor

of the Cafe - to reserve a seat please call 01902

552055.

Information

Gallery assistants are happy to answer your

questions. Each exhibition also has extra

information in a variety of ways to help you

get the most from your visit.

Travel

The Gallery is 5 minutes walk from rail, metro

and bus stations. The nearest car park is the

Civic Centre (entrance in Wulfruna Street), just

two minutes from the Gallery. By car follow the

signs for Wolverhampton from the M5, M6 &

M54. The Art Gallery is clearly signposted in the

city centre. The nearest car parks are the Civic

Centre or Broad Street.

Shop

A treasure trove of souvenirs, original crafts,

cards and jewellery, for all tastes and budgets.

Café

Relax in the laid-back setting of the Café

with its delicious menu, including a range of

speciality loose-leaf teas and fantastic fresh

coffees to accompany the famous cake

selection.

Friends of Wolverhampton Arts + Museums

Become a 'Friend' and help buy works of art

for the collections as well as enjoying special

events and trips. Pick up a form at the Gallery

or print a copy from our website

www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk.

Venue Hire

The perfect city centre venue for a special

event, conference or meeting, from as little as

£60. For further information, call 01902 552055

or email marketing@wolverhamptonart.org.uk

Resource Centre

Find out more about pictures and objects from

Wolverhampton's collections in the new

Resource Centre. Contact the Gallery to make

an appointment or to find out more.

Visit www.wolverhamptoncity.co.uk for your

ultimate guide to visiting the city.

Visit UsWolverhampton Art Gallery

Lichfield Street Wolverhampton

WV1 1DU

Open Monday - Saturday

10am - 5pm, Free Entry

The Gallery will be closed for Bank Holidays:

2 April, 5 April, 6 April, 3 May, 31 May

Tel: 01902 552055 fax: 01902 552053

artgallery@wolverhampton.gov.uk

www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk

Wolverhampton Art Gallery is grateful to the following for their funding and support: