September 2O13
Free Magazine
Positive Leeds
Reviews On Leeds City Beach Miller & Carter Restaurant BLACKFISH Plus Much More Inside!
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Information Positive Leeds is a cultaral magazine based in the city of Leeds. Tired of seeing nothing but negative news broadcast to us all across the media, Positive Leeds aims to bring you fresh, exciting and most importantly positive news happening right here in the city. Design, Editing, Photography and Writing by Joseph Whitney.
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Contents Events Events In September - Page 4-5
Featured Event Leeds City Beach - Page 6-9
Art Cartoons Of Maragret Thatcher - Page 1O-11 To Morrow Or To Day - Page 12-13
Food & Drink Miller & Carter - Page 14-15 Depressed Cake Shop - Page 16-17
Film & Theatre BLACKFISH - Page 18-19
Other
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Unique Gift Fair - Page 2O-21
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Events In August OutArt Indiff,erent Matter: From Object to Sculpture July 25th - 2Oth October Henry Moore Institute The exhibition pairs four key twentieth-century sculptures by Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1957-96), Hans Haacke (b. 1936), Andy Warhol (1928-87) and Robert Smithson (1938-73) with a series of ancient objects. LAURA PANNACK July 17th - 24th September White Cloth Gallery New exhibition exposes the private world of young british naturists. A Ground breaking photography project by award-winning photographer, Laura Pannack. It’s A Cut Up July 23rd - 12th October The Gallery At Flannels The exhibition shows the art of photomontage and assemblage. To celebrate this glorious art, It’s a Cut Up, has brought together the work of Peter Kennard, Graham Rawle, Chila Kumari Burman, Stephen Golding, Ian Killen, Jon Langford and Mark Lazenby. Spring Rain: Becky Beasley July 12th - 22nd September Leeds Art Gallery In this exhibition, British artist Becky Beasley explores relationships between photography and objects, the body and literature. Through the Magic Mirror July 19th - 12th January Leeds Museum This exciting free exhibition, specially designed for children, brings Anthony Browne’s picture book world to life.
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TO-MORROW or TO-DAY August 29th - 8th Septmeber The exhibition will feature nine artists, five Leeds based and four Ghent based to exhibit in two simulations exhibitions in the both cities. Northern Sole August 1st - 26th October The Craft Centre and Design Gallery Northern ceramicist Hilary Simms showcases her raku fired forms in her first solo showcase here in the gallery.
Music Salt Song September 5th - 6th September Hyde Park Picture House Presented by Imove. Salt Song is by Andy Wood, Dave Kane, Rommi Smith and the Institute for Crazy Dancing. In association with Fuse Box. Kast Off Kinks September 6th - 7:3Opm Brudenell Social Club featuring... ex members of The Kinks including founding member Mick Avery RECON Festival September 22nd - 29th September Various Locations RECON is a festival that showcases and brings together innovators, experimenters, risk-takers, mavericks and outsiders working creatively with music, sonic arts, performance and film. Premier Record Fair September 29th Corn Exchange Come along to one of our fairs and enjoy a great day out. Meet the sellers face to face and examine the condition of the records yourself. No mis-described items or long waits for the post to arrive. Haggle to get that bargain and enjoy the buzz and sociability that only meeting like-minded people can bring.
Film & Theatre
Food & Drink
Zoom Out Festival September 1st 11:OOpm - 12:OOpm Outlaws Yacht Club With some great props, a little imagination and guaranteed dry weather we will be turning ‘Outlaws Yacht Club’ into a mini festival for the day.
Leeds International Beer Festival September 5th - 8th September Leeds Town Hall The Leeds International Beer Festival returns for its 2nd year featuring a selection of some of the best Breweries in the UK - our line up this year includes Brewdog, Dark Star, Hardknott, Ilkley, Kernel, Kirkstall, Magic Rock, Quantum, Red Willow, Roosters, Thornbridge... and many more!
Chapel Allerton Arts Festival Jazz Sunday September 1st, 2:3Opm - 5:3Opm Regent Street, Chapel Allerton,, Leeds, LS7 4PE Jazz Blues ‘n Salsa Sunday@Chapel Allerton Arts Fest Seven Jazz presents a joyful mixture of the best of Leeds jazz, latin, blues funk and big band music
Wild Food Walk July 7th - 9th November Across Leeds If you have ever seen those tv chefs cook up a glorious Alice In Sneaky Wonderland feast full of exotic ingredients like wild watercress or September 8th - 12:3Opm -4:3Opm rock samphire, or just gone for a walk and thought to Outlaws Yacht Club yourself I wonder if I could eat that? then this is the Follow the White Rabbit to Outlaws Yacht Club. Prepare event for you! Visit website for more info to wear your biggest Cheshire Cat smile as Sneaky www.msitu.co.uk Cine plays host to an enchanting Alice in Wonderland film event.
Other
Rock And Roll’s Greatest Failure: The Otway Movie + Q&A September 1Oth - 8:OOpm Hyde Park Picture House Rock and Roll’s Greatest Failure; The Otway Movie is a film funded entirely by his fans and the man himself, John Otway, will be there for a Q&A session after the screening. World Poetry And Indian Classical Music Festival September 14th - 15th September Seven Arts Centre A two-day-long festival of World Poetry and Indian Classical Music Festival (the second one after Nehru Centre this year) featuring brief talks on the crises in connectivity of Indian Classical Music, contemporary poetry sessions by Bengali, Persian, Urdu, Hindi (with translation) and English contemporary poets as well as Saudha’s world-class concerts.
Heritage Open Day! September 14th, 11:OOam -3:OOpm M&S Company Archive Take an Exhibition Tour and find out more about the fascinating history of Marks & Spencer, then go behind the scenes and find out what goes on in areas of the building not normally open to the public! Live Roller Derby September 7th 3:OOpm -7:3Opm Leeds Futsal Arena LRD Rebel Roses vs Copenhagen Roller Derby and LRD Whip-Its vs Kent Roller Girls. The final bout will see the Rebel Roses take on Copenhagen Roller Derby›s A Team - The Rollin Heartbreakers. Neither teams have met on track before so we are excited to see what will happen in both bouts.
Travellers Tales Can’t Stop the Serenity September 11th 8:OOpm - 1O:OOpm September 27th 6:OOpm - 11:OOpm Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre Leeds Metropolitan University Do you have a passion for travelling? Browncoats will be gathering in Leeds to enjoy Seren- Not sure where to go on your next trip? ity - the 2OO5 film conclusion to the epic space west- Traveller’s Tales brings together local people who have ern TV series - Firefly - by Joss Whedon. There will be travelled all over the world to celebrate their journeys an auction, raffle and quiz - with epic prizes, including and the world. signed DVD’s, CD’s and comics.
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Featured Event
Leeds City Beach From the 1Oth August to the 1st September Millennium Square was home to City Beach. City Beach did exactly what its name suggests and brought the seaside to the city. The event itself was free to get into with the rides and amusements each having a set price.Over 3 weeks coinciding with the school summer holidays, this urban beach event attracted hundreds of people each day.
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If I was a child I can imagine never wanting to leave this place with its wide range of amusements including a tropical jungle adventure fun house, seaside swing boats, beach slide, Waikiki cars, seaside carousel and parasol teacups, a traditional helter-skelter, pirate boats, aqua walker balls, dodgers and a traditional beach! Most of the children I saw at this event were wide eyed and screaming with excitement as they couldn’t quite believe their eyes at all the rides and amusements. I even had to pinch myself a few times as Millennium Square was no more and in its place was a beach, yes a beach, minus the sea of course, but it was a very surreal feeling as I sat down in a deck chair in the sand and looked around at the amusements and rides with the towering helter-skelter looking over the event. One thing that did spoil this was the noise of the city - you could never quite feel like you were on the beach as every time you shut your eyes to soak up a bit of sun the sound of a car horn or a lorry rushing past would disturb you. This problem was, I’m sure, one only for the adults as every child was fully entertained be it on a ride or just playing in the sand and seemed oblivious to any external noise! I imagine parents could quite easily take their children here day after day without them ever getting bored.
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It wasn’t all just for children; the event also had snacks and refreshments in wooden beach style stalls with traditional treats and a BBQ swing grill on offer along with ice cream. The neighbouring cafes and restaurant were all still open too and pretty much opened out onto City Beach. Cassa Mia even had a pizza bar “Sorrento Cafe” open for the event. So while the children played, the adults could enjoy refreshments and try to bask in the little of the summer we had left. The City Beach was open everyday from 11am and closed at 9pm Monday to Wednesday, 1Opm from Thursday to Saturday and 7pm on Sundays. It was a great event for the city to host as it is always hard for parents to keep children entertained for the whole summer holidays and so for the parents in Leeds this must have been brilliant. Although it’s not quite the same as the real thing I don’t think the kids would have even noticed the lack of sea!
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Crowd At Everything Everything
Art
Cartoons Of Margret Thatcher
Leeds gallery brings us seventy Political cartoons from the Thatcher years covering diverse subjects including: Education Secretary, Opposition Leader, Election Victories, Union Legislation, Miners’ Strikes, Falklands War, EEC Battles, Poll Tax Riots and Defeat and Resignation. The cartoons were done by the best of their kind and included Stanley Franklin, Michael Frith, John Jensen, Kal, Larry, Ed McLachlan, John Springs. With present cartoonist Peter Brookes and Peter Matt adding with responses to the death and funeral of Thatcher. Having been before to Leeds Gallery where the exhibition was taking place I was quite surprised to see the gallery had been halved for this show with temporary walls put up for all the pictures to hang from. Another new addition was that Cafe 164 who are next door to the gallery had moved some of their tables and chairs into the gallery which enabled you to sit down and have your lunch while you gazed upon the art. The art itself ranged from the colourful work of Kevin Kalluager and Peter Brookes to simple and more up to date work by Matthew Pritchett. Not all of it was your typical cartoon art either with Micheal Frith works being more like a fine art piece with detailed colour and brush strokes. The message in the cartoons is what is really important though so how good the artist is becomes irrelevant. It is well known that peoples opinion of Thatcher is spilt but looking around at the images in the exhibition you wouldn’t of thought so, with almost all of them reflecting on her in a negative way. Having only been alive for two years of her reign as Prime Minister I knew little about some of the cartoons, but this was still an exhibition I would go see again. Its a odd feeling looking and laughing at these portrayals of Baroness Thatcher, the actions the cartoons depict in some instances changed people lives and ended them in cases such as the Miners Strikes and The Falklands War. I am a big fan of Leeds Gallery and they seem to have a knack of getting the best shows around and with something on new pretty much every month its an great addition to the city of Leeds.
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Art
TO-MORROW or TO-DAY Mexico’s latest exhibition features nine artists Simeon Barclay, Sven Boel, Amelia Crouch, Jack Fisher, Joris de Rycke, Lana Schneider, Sander Van Raemdonck, Jenny West and James Woolley. They will showing their work in Leeds and Gent at the same time. The exhibition takes its name from W.H Audan’s poem “As I walked out one evening”.
The gallery always curates its work well and this was again the case with each individual piece standing out from one another. Jack Fisher’s “Re: Scrabble (Dutch Version)” caught my eye with his one huge scrabble rack containing all the letters on it. The piece was accompany by the board set up on a plinth. As I looked at Fisher’s work I noticed the worked next to it off Lana Schneider. Her work consisted of complex diagrams creating stunning pieces of art and if the work wasn’t good enough she comes up with interesting names for each piece naming one “Has anybody seen a boat!? Please! A white boat! They took my son! My son! Help me, please!” “. This perspecific work is becoming more and more popular and Jenny West’s work “Figment” is in the same vain. Both this artists must of spent so long working out the precise dimensions needed for these pieces to look the way they do. Its quite hard to understand some of the art when you go to exhibitions especially if you don’t know some of the artists. MEXICO had designed a handout with all the work in on show, half for the Leeds show and the other half for the Gent exhibition. James Woolley presents the piece “Miss Jersey” a photo of a statue/figure with the sachet of Miss Jersey draped on around her. With the aid of the handout the we learn that the artist has used the concept of a linear approach to this work with the idea of travel. The concept of having two shows running at the same time is something I haven’t come across before and believe that it creates an unique feeling when walking around the gallery as hundreds of miles away someone could be doing exactly the same thing as you looking at exactly the same piece of work.
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Jenny West- Figment
Jack Fisher-Re: Scrabble (Ducth Version)
James Woolley - Miss Jersey
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Food Miller & Carter & Drink
Upon arriving at the lovely Miller & Carter, situated on The Headrow as part of the Light, my girlfriend and I were greeted by the manager of the restaurant - Becky - who warmly welcomed us and showed us to our seats. Having never been inside before, I was pleasantly surprised at the professionalism of the establishment and within no-time at all we had been presented with both food and drink menus.
Looking over the menu, there was only one thing I could possibly order at a specialist steak restaurant - and I’m glad I did as each steak was served with parsley butter, a slice of onion loaf and an wedge of iceberg lettuce with a dressing of my choice along with seasoned fries or a jacket potato. My mouth was starting to water just thinking about it! The decision was which steak to get as they all sounded so delicious. I decided to ask the waitress for her recommendation. She stated that she usually went for the fillet 8oz or the ribeye 12oz which were both popular choices among other customers too, but when she told me the ribeye 12oz was an award winning steak I just had to try it. There were plenty of other meals to choose from if you didn’t fancy tucking into some steak as my girlfriend decided to get the Barbecue Chicken Breast topped with streaky bacon, melted Monterey Jack cheese and barbecue sauce, served with onion loaf and a choice of seasoned fries or jacket potato. We accompanied these with two cocktails, a Summer Sling which was Bombay Sapphire, elderflower, mango, mint and apple juice with a splash of lemonade and then a non-alcoholic cocktail-the Mango Melba-which included mango and strawberry puree topped with lemonade. When the drinks came they looked visually stunning both with vibrant bright colours with the fruit in them tasting fresh and distinctive mine having a subtle kick of rum. As we sat and sipped our fruity cocktails, I had a chance to take in the interior of the restaurant. Covering nearly every wall were artistic paintings of bulls - with these and the perfect lighting the atmosphere was complete. The restaurant has tables to cater for large groups, and it would be an ideal place for birthday meals or office nights out. They also have small tables for couples or just groups of friends and with several sections there is plenty of room so you don’t feel that you are squeezed in with the couple or group next to you. The time had come, my steak had arrived and boy was I happy! Just the smell was worth paying for alone and when I had that first mouthful I was in heaven. I had chosen the peppercorn sauce and I poured it over the 12oz ribeye that was served to me; the steak was medium, just how I like it........
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though you could have it rare or well done depending on your preference. It was the tenderness that struck me as it fell apart in my mouth with the parsley butter and peppercorn sauce exciting every last one of my tastebuds. Each component that accompanied the steak - including the iceberg lettuce with mustard dressing (dressing of my choice) - worked so well; even the fries had a tasty crunch when coated in peppercorn sauce. It was the same with the delicious and crispy onion loaf which I had never seen anywhere before and would come back just to try again. I can’t compliment the dish enough! It was truly one of the tastiest plates of food I have had in a long time. When it came to desert I usually have a rule that if they have a chocolate brownie I order it! So I ordered the brownie and my girlfriend ordered the amazing fresh mango mess. My brownie was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and a strawberry and vanilla ice cream drizzled over the top. The warm gooey centre is always my favourite part and Miller and Carter’s brownie did not disappoint with just the right consistency. The ice cream and strawberry sauce did their part in making this desert the treat that it is. Having now been to Miller & Carter’s I would recommend it to anyone. The prices are fair and the portions more than sizeable - they seem to have got the balance just right. The ambience, the staff, the food - all go together to make it an enjoyable place in which to eat and I can safely say that I will be going back for more!
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Food The Depressed Cake Shop & Drink
The depressed cake shop may not sound like something positive happening in Leeds but infact the title could not be more misleading. The Depressed Cake Shop was a pop up shop in the Corn Exchange which took place on the 4th August. It was part of a global network of shops only selling grey dull coloured cakes which were to reflect mental illness in some form or another to raise awareness of mental health issues.
The shop was situated on the upper balcony of the Corn Exchange and walking in to the crammed tight little room it was great to see so many people taking notice of the shop and what is stood for. Upon looking at the cakes they were indeed all dull in colour but very far from boring in appearance with most cakes having their own individual design. They also tasted pretty amazing helping myself to one or two of their delicious cupcakes. Its said that one in four people are said to suffer from mental illness in their lives and this was a key point the shop tried to reflect in many of the cake designs. The cakes had been baked by fifteen local bakers both professional and non - professional with many of them being made by those with personal experience of depression. The shop had a string of messages hung along one of its walls which you could add to, to write a message about someone you know who suffers from mental health issues. 1OO% of sales from each and every cake were donated to Inkwell and Dial House which are two mental health charities in Leeds. This was a great demonstration of what you can do to raise the awareness of something so important and everyone involved in The Depressed Cake Shop should be proud of themselves as we all need to take into account the seriousness of the effects illnesses like this can have on us and the people around us. Altogther The Dressed Cake Shop raised ÂŁ536.74.
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CHELSEA WARING PHOTOGRAPGHY 365 DAYS OF PEOPLE www.chelseawaringphotography.tumblr.com www.365daysofpeople.tumblr.com
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Other
Unique Gift Fair
Every Month The Corn Exchange is home to the Unique Gift Fair. It enables independant traders and stores to sell there unique products which works out well for both parties. The shops already in the venue get extra customers from all the footfall coming into the fair and the temporary stalls benefit from this plus the customers visiting anyway. The fair runs usually for one day from 1Oam - 5pm allowing plenty of time for trading. With most of the stands coming from around Leeds is it a real chance to purchase local products such as some delicious jams and preserve, jewellery, sweets, clothes and much more. With it being a free event people were flooding in to buy a little something for themselves or a gift from someone else. Often with these sorts of fairs they can become to big and you often get lost in all the stalls trying to remember where you saw what and how much it was. The Unique Gift Fair has it just about right with The Corn Exchange unique circular shape giving you a great opportunity to see all available by simply walking round the walkway of the venue. With about 1O or so stalls its doesn’t over compilcate the event either and with the mix of permnement shops you have a really good variety of shops/stalls to choose from. After its latest revamp The Corn Exchange is really trying to stay with the times and with a full house of trendy and unique shops making home within it. Events like this also give it new audiences who will come and go every month, plus with a whole host of other events coming to the venue monthly such as The Record Fair its ensures they have a footfall of people coming into the wonderful old building.
Digital Cure
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Cezary Gruzewski
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Film & BLACKFISH At Hyde Park Picture Theatre House This eye-opening documentary by Gabriela Cowperthwaite follows the story of Tilikum , the largest orca (killer whale) to be kept in captivity and the death of Seaworld trainer Dawn Brancheau. BLACKFISH shows us how these whales live up to their name with this individual whale being involved in the deaths of three people. Though the true villain is not the whales its the company who deprive these friendly giants off there right to be free and live a normal life not one where they are being used as marine park attractions. The company in question is Seaworld and the film focuses on why whales in captivity attack humans when in the wild there hasn’t been one incident of an orca attacking anyone ever. The film uses Tilikum as an example of what has gone so wrong and how we have seemingly turned a blind eye to it all. The whale in question was caught off the coast of Iceland as Whaling had been banned from the america coast after men working for Sealand were asked to sink dead whales caught up in their nets by cutting them open and filling them with rocks! Something which is hard to even write let alone do! The film takes us on a journey through interviews and snippets of footage and we learn about how Tilikum was seperated from his mother in Iceland at the age of two and brought to Sealand, a small public aquarium in Canada famous for its orcas. Having spent nearly 1O years in a place where he was at the bottom on the social structure and kept in total darkness for 5pm-7am with hardly room to move it isn’t surprising that on February 21st 1991 Tilikum was involved in the death of Tranier Keltie Byrne. The film shows footage of the event happening and photos clearly showing the bent dorsal fin of Tilikum but even with this evidence and with knowledge in his paper work that he dives at trainers Seaworld were happy to take him as Sealand soon shut down after that incident. When Tilikum arrived at Seaworld he was bullied again by the other whales and suffered raking (This is when whales grind there teeth on another whale in an act of aggression) from the other whales. The film is very informative and is for ever throwing facts at you about orca in the wild and and the enrinvorments they live in. For instance whales in the wild go around in big social groups who are all usually related to one another, in sea world this isn’t the case. In one point of the film Seaworld moved an infant orca to a park in another city thus taking it away from its mother which sends the mother screaming out for her child and the whale is noticeable grieving as any mother would be. Just from that information it is pretty clear that this whales will be angry, annoyed, unhappy ready to snap at any minutes notice. The film gives you the difference views of previous sea world trainers and the feeling is mutual that they can’t believe how naive they were. Its sad that people have lost their lives because of this and I hope this film can be a real incentive for people to see how wrong it is. This wouldn’t be acceptable in a zoo if the zoo keepers started parading around on animals so why is it still ok in marine parks?
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Next Issue! World Poetry & Indian Music Festival Can’t Stop The Serenity International Beer Festival Record Fair Recon Festival Spring Rain: Becky Bealsey Shhh Its A Silent Auction
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Up Front
Up Front: 9 designers come together in this exhibition exploring colourful and characterful ceramics, exciting glass, wooden automata, functional ceramics and sculptures with real impact. Featuring work by Laurance Simon, ‘Opi-Works’ Jane Ryan, Ostinelli & Priest (pictured), Sarah Wiberely, Sarah Saunders and Karen McPhail. With wall hung work by Samantha Bryan, Hilke MacIntyre & Nina Archer.
In the Spotlight
Centre Stage
In the Spotlight: 8 designers showcase their intriguing jewellery, keepsake items and wonderful sculptural works. Featuring work by Catherine Chester, Phiona Richards (pictured), Li Chu Wu, Anna Bagnall, Lindsey Mann, Barbara Macleod, Laura Baxter and Angela O’Keefe.
Centre Stage: This showcase of stunning ceramics by 4 designers explores the work of Oliver Mellor, Lisa Ellul, Jin Eui Kim and Susan Disley with additional glass wall hung works by Hannah Lovett for a beautiful contrast.
Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather: 4 designers showcase their unique collections in our window display areas exploring the wonderful world of birds with mixed media works by Robert Race and ceramic collections by Susan O’Byrne (pictured), Anthony Theakston and Fiona Thompson.
Wild Thing Print Show
Wild Thing: Andrew Waddington, Sonia Rollo, Flora McLachlan and Carry Akroyd showcase their beautiful prints exploring wildlife, Lithographs by Andrew, etchings by Sonia and Flora and screen prints by Carry provide a unique look at the way they have interpreted this theme including beautiful animals in their natural habitats and exciting landscapes. On until 22nd February 2014.
The Craft Centre and Design Gallery, City Art Gallery, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 3AB Tel: 0113 247 8241 Email: craftcentre-leeds@btconnect.com www.craftcentreleeds.co.uk
Wild Thing
Wild Thing: Nicola Theakston’s limited edition and unique ceramic animal sculptures are displayed alongside Claire Ireland’s Saggar beasts and bears (pictured) in this themed showcase of beautiful wild animals. Accompanying these freestanding pieces are wall hung works by Rosie O’Connor, whose quirky automata delight audiences across the UK.
What’s On this Christmas at The Craft Centre... From 2nd November 2013 until 11th January 2014
The Jewellery Show
The Jewellery Show: 8 designers showcase their beautiful jewellery collections offering unique earrings, bracelets, necklaces, cufflinks, rings and brooches. Featuring work by Mandana Oskoui, Katherine Campbell-Legg, Annabet Wyndham, Emily Thatcher, Stephanie Johnson (pictured), Becky Crow, Hannah Souter & Shimara Carlow.
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