Film Makers, which is now opened at Nerve Visual Gallery, Ebrington presents new pieces from six makers responding to heritage footage from Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive.
Featuring functional and conceptual pieces by Sharon Adams, Sheena Devitt, Alison Fitzgerald, Nicola Gates, Ronan Lowery and Peter Surginor, it shows how their encounter with the archive has inspired new ideas and developments in each of the makers’ work.
A range of activities from dry-stone walling to drum-making, butter sculpting to creel weaving captured the group’s imagination and fed into the new work in ceramic, stone, basketry, furniture, textiles and silver. These works will be seen alongside edited footage that shows the heritage inspiration in parallel with new films of the contemporary making process.
The Contemporary Makers:
Sharon Adams explores the theme of work and tools. Using wood, metal and textiles, she makes functionless tools which invite the viewer to imagine what they might be for and comments on the value of skilled making.
Sheena Devitt carves into stone and slate to create site specific sculptural artworks. The designs are inspired by and respond to the site’s topography and history, its orientation and present inhabitants.
Alison Fitzgerald has been weaving willow since moving to Ireland over 25 years ago. Her baskets are admired internationally for their subtle blends of natural bark colours, strong curves and tactile qualities.
Nicola Gates is the founder of Olla Nua, a small weaving studio creating handwoven textiles that add warmth, comfort and tactility to the modern home and accessories that can be carried or worn.
Ronan Lowery runs Design Onion a young energetic furniture design and manufacture studio. Working mainly to commission for both private and corporate clients, they create unique and innovative pieces of bespoke furniture fusing contemporary design with traditional craftsmanship and high quality materials.
Peter Surginor is an artist making beautifully devised works in porcelain that reflect his political consciousness. His interventions contribute to dialogue surrounding wider social injustices, memorial and a divided sense of national identity.
Nerve Visual Gallery is open Tuesday - Friday, 10am - 5pm, Saturday 11 - 5pm and Sunday, 12 - 6pm. Admission is free.
About:
Film Makers emphasises the value of craft makers in the province and records a sample of their activities for future generations to enjoy through archive film. This exhibition is part of the BFI’s Britain on Film celebration of archive film, in partnership with Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive and R-Space Gallery. It features material courtesy of The IFI Irish Film Archive, Museum Services, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, National Museums NI, PRONI and UTV Archive. These new works were possible thanks to the support of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council and the Film Audience Network.
Britain on Film – Our stories. Our Lives
Uncover extraordinary treasures as the film and TV archives of the UK are opened up for the British public to enjoy. Including professional and amateur footage, the 1,000s of newly digitised film and TV titles paint a moving and intimate portrait of British life spanning 100 years. Everyone in the UK can search BFI Player for their personal histories, watch newly digitised films on DVDs and enjoy special Britain on Film screenings and events across the UK. bfi.org.uk/britain-on-film
Britain on Film is supported by Unlocking Film Heritage awarding funds from The National Lottery.
Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive is a free public access resource for teachers, students, historians and anyone who has an interest in moving images. Spanning from 1897 to the present day, the films in the Digital Film Archive cover aspects of life in Northern Ireland and includes everything from dramas to documentaries, newsreels and features, animation to amateur footage. Film Makers showcases Unlocking Film Heritage material courtesy of the UTV Archive, IFI Irish Film Archive, National Museums NI and PRONI. Enjoy watching archive and find out more at digitalfilmarchive.net