a good day out
a couple of days ago we tootled off to Saltaire to see some Hockneys at Salt's Mill - on the way in was a poster for a new exhibition "Cloth & Memory {2}", it sounded just my cup of tea so we decided to check it out first - well, that was a good move...
firstly it was in a huge space at the top of the building, the Spinning Room, with lots of roof-lights, flaking paintwork and the ageing remnants of a well used workplace - when build it was the largest unsupported ceiling in the world (or something like that)
... and the exhibition was brilliant too - a really interesting selection of installations and textile works, created in response to the Spinning Room by established and emerging artists - the website gives a lot more detail, pictures and video
the gallery guide sheet was very helpful - it gave one concise paragraph about each exhibit, conveying just enough information to give the gist of what the artist's intention was - i found myself filling in the gaps for myself for some of them
over the last few years i have learned quite a bit about the textile industry, it's processes, the working conditions etc - i found that had a strong influence on my appreciation of many of the exhibits - not so long ago many of the brief statements in the gallery guide would have seemed like arty-farty twaddle, now these mostly made sense - i'd like to think that this is due to my increased understanding of the theme and subject as well as the beginnings of an understanding of the 'creative process'
in the evening mick and i had a long discussion about the exhibition, we couldn't have done that a few years ago and mick would not even have taken a look at it - i am very lucky to share my life with someone who shows interest in my interests
enough ramblings
i met a couple of women at the exhibition who had their own relevant cloth memories - the grandparents of one of them lived nearby in saltaire, she remembered visiting them often along with the sound of the mill siren calling the workers and their clatter and rush as they all came and went - the father of the other had been a local alpaca and mohair trader, salt's mill specialised in these - later i met an elderly woman who has recently had to abandon her home on the east yorkshire coast, it is falling into the sea, she is bereft - i felt helpless, but we managed to share a few words of hope - a day of living history
firstly it was in a huge space at the top of the building, the Spinning Room, with lots of roof-lights, flaking paintwork and the ageing remnants of a well used workplace - when build it was the largest unsupported ceiling in the world (or something like that)
... and the exhibition was brilliant too - a really interesting selection of installations and textile works, created in response to the Spinning Room by established and emerging artists - the website gives a lot more detail, pictures and video
the gallery guide sheet was very helpful - it gave one concise paragraph about each exhibit, conveying just enough information to give the gist of what the artist's intention was - i found myself filling in the gaps for myself for some of them
over the last few years i have learned quite a bit about the textile industry, it's processes, the working conditions etc - i found that had a strong influence on my appreciation of many of the exhibits - not so long ago many of the brief statements in the gallery guide would have seemed like arty-farty twaddle, now these mostly made sense - i'd like to think that this is due to my increased understanding of the theme and subject as well as the beginnings of an understanding of the 'creative process'
in the evening mick and i had a long discussion about the exhibition, we couldn't have done that a few years ago and mick would not even have taken a look at it - i am very lucky to share my life with someone who shows interest in my interests
enough ramblings
now see the slideshow
i met a couple of women at the exhibition who had their own relevant cloth memories - the grandparents of one of them lived nearby in saltaire, she remembered visiting them often along with the sound of the mill siren calling the workers and their clatter and rush as they all came and went - the father of the other had been a local alpaca and mohair trader, salt's mill specialised in these - later i met an elderly woman who has recently had to abandon her home on the east yorkshire coast, it is falling into the sea, she is bereft - i felt helpless, but we managed to share a few words of hope - a day of living history
Comments
the Exhibit, but for your way of
telling your own experience of the
day....WonderFull post, thank you
again....