Mother Art Prize
Curated and organised by Procreate Project, an arts organisation driven by an ‘ethos for innovation and sociocultural impact’, and in support for artists who are mothers and work across multiple disciplines, the Mother Art Prize features 19 artists that work across a range of media. Artists include: Cassie Arnold, Helen Benigson, Violet Costello, Emmeline de Mooij, Christine De Vuono, Sabba Elahi, Michelle Hartney, Madison Hendry, Sadie Hennessy, Katherine Lovett, Lauren Pisano, Eileen Reynolds, Louise Richardson, Carly Schmitt, Holly Stevenson, Marta Stysiak, Kim Walker, Emma Wilson and Coral Woodbury.
The winner of this year’s edition, announced in May 2020, is Helen Benigson, who will have an upcoming solo show in partnership with The Showroom as part of her award. In addition, Violet Costello has received the Online Award, with an online Solo Exhibition with Richard Saltoun Gallery, and Eileen Reynolds the International Award with an upcoming residency with Procreate Project and art material sponsored by Colart.
Until 30 October, Cromwell Place, London www.procreateproject.com/mother-art-prize-exhibition-2020-cromwell-place/
Falling Birds
a-n member Helena Hunter‘s new solo show at the Horniman Museum highlights the ongoing environmental crisis in relation to bird species. Her works blend larger-than-life X-ray images of extinct and endangered bird specimens from the Horniman’s Natural History collection, with fragments of poetic text. Displayed alongside the images are taxidermy mounts of the birds that inspired them: Passenger Pigeon, Snowy Owl, Kakapo and Huia. Writing from different subject positions and perspectives, Falling Birds points to the historical implication of museum collections and human interaction in the extinct and endangered lives of birds.
Until 10 October 2021, Horniman Museum, London www.horniman.ac.uk/event/falling-birds/
A Script for an Archive
Cardiff based artist and a-n Artists Council member Holly Davey has exhibited across the UK and internationally. For her latest show at Danielle Arnaud Gallery, which has been extended to 31 October, she has created an environment out of unusable props, half-made costumes and semi-constructed sets, that will sit alongside a central script: ‘A Script for an Archive’. Together, these components will explore society’s fascination with archiving human existence and the way we perform our stories.
Until 31 October, Danielle Arnaud Gallery, London www.daniellearnaud.com/exhibitions/exhibition-holly-davey-a-script-for-an-archive.html
[Accelerate Sessions] Curating artists’ animation
Join Helen De Witt (BFI London Film Festival Experimenta) as she talks with Edwin Carels (International Film Festival Rotterdam), Aneta Ozorek (Kaboom Animation Festival, Amsterdam), Wiktoria Petzer (Vienna Shorts), and Herb Shellenberger (Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival), about the place of experimental and artists’ animation in exhibition in galleries, experimental and mainstream festivals, online, and in the context of COVID-19. The first of three sessions Animate Projects are doing in partnership with British Council Film.
21 October, Zoom (free) www.a-n.co.uk/events/accelerate-sessions-curating-artists-animation/
Matt Smith: 2020
Crafts Council and Brookfield Properties present this showcase of work by ceramic artist and winner of the Brookfield Properties Crafts Council Collection Prize at Collect 2020, Matt Smith. Featuring 20 works, ranging from tapestries to ceramic sculpture, it illustrates how Smith works as a hybrid artist and curator, unpicking the work of establishment organisations and their points of reference, as well as those of their visitors.
Until 6 November, 99 Bishopsgate, London www.craftscouncil.org.uk/whats-on/brookfield-properties-crafts-council-collection-prize-winner-matt-smith-99-bishopgate
Kick Down The Barriers
Artist and a-n member Karen Mathison, who is also a lecturer and MA Photography Student at UCLAN, Preston, is featured in this group exhibition at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery. The culmination of a year-long project that saw eight artists and 10 writers working in and with the communities of Blackburn, the results redefine ‘the labels of ‘segregation’ and ‘division’ that have been put onto Blackburn by national press and media channels’. The exhibition spans six of the galleries inside the museum, and includes poetry, performance, sculpture, video, painting, collage, photography and installation work.
Until 21 November, Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, Blackburn www.blackburnmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/kick-down-the-barriers-exhibition/
Images:
1. Eileen Reynolds and Shannon Castleman, Biotechnological Madonna and Child, photograph. Credits: Eileen Reynolds and Shannon Castleman
2. Helena Hunter, Falling Birds
3. Holly Davey, Skirt, 2020, pattern paper, cotton fabric, plaster, plywood, green felt Dimensions variable
4. Dominica Harrison, Chado, 2019. Produced by Animate Projects, co-produced with Blind Pig, and supported by the BFI Network with National Lottery funding
5. Matt Smith, Hide and Seek, 2019, found textile and wool. Copyright: The Artist
