RM ropewalk
magazine
craft
issue 32 free
Exhibitions Workshops News September - December 2020 THE ROPEWALK • BARTON UPON HUMBER
September - December 2020 1
The Ropewalk was built in 1801 and as Hall’s Barton Ropery manufactured ropes for the world. It closed as a working factory in 1989 and was brought back to life as an arts centre in April 2000 by an artists’ co-operative who still manage the site today. The Grade II listed building is a cultural quarter of a mile long!
The Ropewalk has 3 temporary exhibition spaces with a rolling exhibition programme that ensures there is always something new to see.
The Ropewalk offers a stimulating programme of art and craft workshops that run throughout the year, including regular classes in printmaking and life drawing and day classes in a range of activities.
Ropery Hall is a small community venue with a capacity of between 100 - 150 that offers a programme of film, theatre, music and comedy.
Coffee Shop
Workshops
The Craft Gallery continually displays in excess of 200 makers’ work from throughout the country including jewellery, ceramics, glass, textiles and a wide selection of artist-made greeting cards. The Hall-Mark Room displays a range of contemporary prints and collectables.
Events
Craft
Galleries
The Ropewalk
The Ropewalk
Fresh local produce is used to create a wide variety of mainly vegetarian snacks and light lunches. A large selection of delicious freshly made cakes, coffees and organic juices are also available.
The building also houses a small Museum, Artist Studios, and meeting rooms for hire.
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welcome
T
he Ropewalk team thought we would put out a magazine this autumn despite not being able to say much with a great deal of certainty. We opened our Coffee Shop and galleries on 1st August and have been delighted to see so many familiar faces behind the face coverings. We have made efforts to make the outside seating area more welcoming to increase our capacity. During August we opened from Thursday to Sunday and from 1st September we will be opening Wednesday to Sunday. If you want a private visit we are taking bookings for Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings where you can have the galleries to yourself from 9 to 9.45am. Just get in touch to book. The last five months have taught us to value what we have as an organisation, we always knew we had lovely customers and we are very grateful to the fantastic patrons who have donated their ticket refunds, purchased gift vouchers and used our online shop to help keep us afloat. And then there are our staff and volunteers, who we have always known were fantastic but they really stepped up. More on them later in the magazine. The Ropewalk secured some emergency funding from Arts Council England and that combined with the furlough scheme has made it possible for us to open our doors again. Funding secured prior to the pandemic for a new extraction system in Ropery Hall and more efficient heating in the Coffee Shop and Craft Gallery has meant that we haven’t been idle whilst the doors were closed. All work is now complete with a newly decorated Art Room to host our art workshops. Although Ropery Hall will be closed for some time yet, ever the optimist I am putting all of our planned shows for 2021 on the website and making them open for sale. There are some great acts lined up with people like Paul Jones and Martyn Joseph eager to get back out and perform. If you purchase tickets and the show is cancelled we will of course give full refunds. Ropery Hall has also been involved in streaming comedy with a monthly show by Mark Thomas bringing in some ticket income to the venue and the Your Place Comedy shows live streaming comedians that have performed here in the past and I hope will do so again in the future. Full details are on our website and Facebook page. Keep in touch, we miss you and take care of yourself and those around you. Best wishes from all at The Ropewalk. Liz Our cover image is by Helen Martino, now available to buy online.
Find us on
Admission Free The Ropewalk is on one level with good wheelchair access; we are a 5 minute walk from the Barton Transport Interchange with half-hourly buses to Hull and Scunthorpe and a 2-hourly rail service to Grimsby and the wider rail network.
September - December 2020 3
jewellery
Featured Jewellers
September - Constance Howarth Connie Howarth is a traditionally trained jeweller, living and working in York. She likes to draw on her interest of ancient adornments and artefacts along with her love of the natural world to inform her unique and contemporary jewellery pieces. Delicate pattern work and organic shapes decorate her jewellery throughout each collection.
October – Becca Macdonald Yorkshire based Becca Macdonald is a conceptual maker inspired by material experimentation, with a background in textiles, ceramics and sculpture influencing her jewellery practice. A common theme throughout her work is documenting the “evidence of presence” and human traces. With an interest in both fluid movement and organic shape, she explores the space where liquid becomes solid and hard meets soft.
November – Norman Eames Norman is inspired by the materials he works with. He loves to create beautiful effects utilising the versatility of the resin in combination with the contrast of the aluminium and he enjoys experimenting with the infinite variety of colour. Chains, findings and earring wire are all sterling silver. Each piece is unique and therefore no two items are identical so there will always be some variation in pattern.
December – Victoria Huckle Victoria is a designer silversmith, based in Derbyshire. Her works are inspired by personal stories, family connections and the symbols that represent them. After university, she spent 10 years working in a Fine Jewellery boutique, and gained a wealth of experience working with top designers and closely with clients helping them celebrate life moments. A desire to be more creative lead her to persue a Masters Degree.
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box gallery
Penny Philips
P
enny divides her time between teaching and creating her own work from her studio in St Peter’s School, York.
Using a mixture of different clay to capture the form, Penny allows the material itself to express as much as possible of the intrinsic nature of the animal. This is done in as loose a way as possible, so the clay is not overworked. She then uses layers of slips and oxides to add more depth to textural the surface. Penny’s work has traditionally dealt with English animals, both domestic and wild. Over the last two years she has begun a series of larger works concentrating on primates. Created on a bigger scale the “portraits” explore the individual spirit of her subjects All Penny’s pieces are sculpted with thoughtfulness and understanding, inviting her audience to contemplate and reflect on the intrinsic beauty and energy of wild things Box Gallery: October 1 - 31
January - April 2020 5
exhibition
Luminescence
Verity Adriana showcases two bodies of her photographic work
V
erity Adriana’s photographic works use light and optical devices to convey ideas of universal connections. Selections from Adriana’s work have previously been exhibited with British Journal of Photography in Arles, France, Life Framer in Rome, Italy and the Center For Fine Art Photography in Denver, Colorado. Adriana grew up in Hull and regularly visited her father in Barton who would narrate the history of the (then) disused rope and tile factory buildings during walks up to the river, sparking a fascination with the area. Lumen, (2015 ongoing), made along the River Humber, investigates how light and photography have the power to transform ordinary and familiar subject matter and materials into moments of sublime experience by challenging our perceptions. Light has the power to transform and transfix; photography is
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a medium that captures light; plastic is a material that holds light, and light itself is our connection to the beginnings of existence. Legacy, (2018), is a body of work created by Adriana in response to the legacy of the impact of the year of City of Culture 2017 within the city’s spaces and places and is a synthesis of careful research done within the various communities and organisations involved and affected. The images show Adriana’s characteristic use of light, along with symbolic devices such as smoke and reflective surfaces, that challenge the viewer to consider the implications for the city and to reflect on their own experiences. Adriana currently lives in Leeds, Yorkshire where she is Course Director of the BA Photography program at Leeds Trinity University. See www.verityadriana.com for more information.
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exhibition
Echoes in the Water : Traces in the Land
Mary Sleigh
T
Verity Adriana Mary Sleigh & Jan Miller
Jan Miller
his new exhibition by Mary Sleigh and Jan Miller is the result of the artists’ numerous visits to the area, absorbing its landscape, history, and industry. While exploring, they have come upon traces of past activity, uncovered the unknown and unexpected, gathered natural and man-made materials and responded to the elements at different times of the year. Artspace Gallery One
September 12 - November 29 September 12 - November 29
September - December 2020 7
volunteers
A Helping Hand
H
ave you thought of volunteering? People come to it for many reasons, a chance to meet new people, give something back, be part of your community, try something new or just to fill free time. Whatever the reason volunteers are a very valuable asset to The Ropewalk and many other organisations. At the end of 2019 the Ropewalk as part of the Barton Tourism Partnership were successful in securing funding from National Lottery Awards for All fund to employ a volunteer co-ordinator for Barton. The project was just getting going when all our worlds were turned upside down. The pandemic did bring
volunteering to the fore and more people than ever got involved. At The Ropewalk we have had volunteers maintaining the building, answering the phones, preparing and delivering meals (over 8,000 of them in the last 21 weeks), whilst Barton Street Volunteers were shopping, picking up prescriptions, walking dogs and making face coverings. We would like to build on this surge of interest and develop an active volunteering environment in Barton. If you are an individual who wants to get involved please email me liz@the-ropewalk.co.uk to receive a monthly e-newsletter with opportunities for volunteering and training. If you are a Barton organisation who needs more volunteers then please email any details of your volunteering opportunities and we will help match volunteers up with you. You can also find more information on our Facebook page @bartonvolunteers.
Membership From 1st September our Membership Scheme is changing. Under the new scheme you can become a Friend of The Ropewalk for £20 a year, this will entitle you to our Ropewalk Magazines delivered to your door, 2 for 1 ticket offers and advance notification of shows. For £100 you can become a Ropewalk Patron receiving all of the above with 10% discount on exhibition purchases over £100. Patrons can remain anonymous or be acknowledged on our website. If you are already a member the new rates will change at your next renewal. During the lockdown many people called or emailed to ask if they could help in any way and joining as a member really does help us. The previous membership rate of £35 will now become a Print Room membership only offering discounts on the regular print classes.. Further details are available at www.the-ropewalk.co.uk
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coffee shop
Ropery Coffee Shop
W
e understand that visitors to The Ropewalk may not yet be ready to sit down and have a meal. You may miss our delicious cakes and freshly made meals but it is still too early for you to eat out. We have done our best to make sure that customers feel safe by reducing table numbers inside, introducing a one way system and asking everyone to wear face coverings whilst they are standing (once you are sat down you can take them off). All our staff wear face coverings and tables, chairs, menus etc are all sanitised between customers. We are also now offering a takeaway service. We have sourced vegware containers that are biodegradable to suit our green ethos and have got a range of our favourites ready to go. Our full range of cakes is waiting for you to ‘Cakeaway’ or how about an afternoon treat – scone, jam, butter and clotted cream for £3? Using Grays of Winterton baker’s bread we have our sandwiches to grab and go, just choose from our full menu of fillings.
A sandwich with Pipers crisps and soft drink of your choice is £6, Quiche with salad is available and our ever-popular Ploughman’s is available for £6.50 or as a picnic option with a drink and a tray bake for £10 a head. You can either ring ahead to book and pay or place your order on arrival and wait at one of our outside tables before you stroll off to eat whilst admiring the Humber Bridge or the wildlife ponds. Whether you come for a sit down meal or just a grab and go it will be lovely to see you!
September - December 2020 9
workshops
Workshops
O
ur workshop programme opens on Saturday (September 5) in a dedicated workshop space that was converted during lockdown. This room means that workshops can take place while adhering to social distance and other government guidance.
J
oin Vivienne Morpeth this Halloween to learn how to make your very own needle felt hare created from dry sheep’s wool.
Autumn Workshops
Vivienne has been making felt for more than 25 years and continues to be fascinated by the integrity and qualities of working dynamically with sheep’s fleece to create 2D and 3D pieces. She first learnt how to make felt whilst an Exhibition Officer, curating exhibitions and initiating workshops. “I was amazed at the possibilities of making fabric from such a luscious, richly textured and tactile primary source. After much practice at the kitchen table, I went on to
learn to make felt from master feltmaker Sheila Smith in the North of England, Nuno felting with Polly Stirling in her studio in the Bush in Nimbin, NSW, Australia, and international felters in Hungary and Turkey”.
September 5
Willow Obelisks
Alison Walling
£35
September 6
Willow Obelisks
Alison Walling
£35
September 19
Sheep and Pig Willow Sculpture
Alison Walling
£60
September 26
The Dynamic Surface
Linda Ingham
£61
October 3
Silver Loop and Ball Bangle
Alistair Scargall
£73
October 25
Precious Metal Clay Jewellery
Becca Macdonald
£74
October 31
Hare Needle Felting
Vivienne Morpeth
£60
November 8
Willow Stags Head
Alison Walling
£60
November 14
Recycled Plastic Lanterns
Anna Roebuck
£60
November 21
A Focus on Faces, Applique and Hand Sue Stone Stitch Portraits
£63
November 22
Say Something with Stitch
Sue Stone
£61
November 28
Willow Christmas Wreaths/Garland
Alison Walling
£60
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online shop
Shop Online
E
xplore our online shop this autumn and discover our new curated selection of craft work. We understand not everyone is able to visit our gallery at the moment, and with this in mind we have updated our online collection to include a wider selection of artists for you to discover. From decorative ceramics by Pru Green to Barton themed greeting cards by Kate Thornton, join us online and support your local Art Centre at www.the-ropewalk.co.uk/shop/ Deliveries in Barton and surrounding villages, Winterton and Scunthorpe are postage free as our staff and volunteers will deliver to your door.
Artist Bio – Pru Green
P
ru Green has dedicated her life to creating fine earthware. Pru attended Sheffield College of Art at age eleven and studied there for seven years. She taught ceramics and pottery for seven years, including five part time at the East Coast School of Art and Design in Grimsby. Pru’s work is thrown, slip decorated earthenware inspired by nature. Earthenware is fired at low temperatures, as a result it is porous and opaque, and it retains a rich clay colour. Earthenware has been made for over 9,000 years all over the world, and continues to be a popular today. Pru has founded two pottery bstudios, the first, Alvingham Pottery, in 1966 and then the Gwili Pottery in Wales. Pru now lives in Kelverdon, Essex.
September - December 2020 11
Ropery Hall
The Venue is a small community venue with a capacity of around 120. For small music nights seating is cabaret-style; for all other performances it is theatre-style and seating is not numbered. Please ensure that you arrive in good time if you wish to be seated together. There is a fully licenced bar at all performances. Doors open an hour before the start of performances.
How To Book
Tickets are available: In Person at The Ropewalk. Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm (4pm Sundays). By Telephone: pay by credit or debit card. (An additional charge of £2 is applied) Online at www.roperyhall.co.uk
Directions
We are well signposted from the A15. Just follow the brown signs... Exit the A15 at J.3 and take the A1077 into Barton (Ferriby Road). Turn left at mini roundabout at the bottom of the hill and follow the road round to the next mini roundabout and turn left again. Follow the one-way system through Castledyke West and get in the left-hand lane. Turn left at the junction opposite the railway station, then take the first right off Waterside Road onto Maltkiln Road. For The Ropewalk Galleries turn left into Tesco’s car park where you will find us in the far left corner. There is ample free car parking adjacent to the building. For Ropery Hall, follow the road round to the Waters’ Edge park gates and then left into the car park. Please park at the end of the car park nearest Ropery Hall then walk to the first set of doors at the side of the building. For Sat Nav users please input DN18 5JR which will lead you straight to Waters’ Edge Car Park.
The Ropewalk•Maltkiln Road•Barton upon Humber.•North Lincolnshire•DN18 5JT t: 01652 660380•f: 01652 637495•e: info@the-ropewalk.co.uk•www.the-ropewalk.co.uk
The Ropewalk is the trading name for the Waterside Artists’ Co-operative Limited reg no 3820744 VAT no 875 7455 72
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