Wolverhampton Arts & Museums Events : Oct 2007

Exhibitions

Pop Art and Politics in the 1960s
Until 2 February 2008
Reflects on political events during the 1960s, a time when the young president John F Kennedy was assassinated and people campaigned against racism. Includes work by Andy Warhol, Joe Tilson and Larry Rivers.

Jock McFadyen
Until May 2008
Exhibition puts the work of Jock McFadyen in spotlight, featuring work produced in 1987 following a visit to Belfast to document a personal view of the Orange Day parades and their aftermath.

You’re Joking! I-IV by Rachel Garfield
Until 13 October
Video which explores issues surrounding stereotypes, racism, belonging and identity. Different shots depict a black man in different spaces with different clothing, telling stories about racial encounters.

Zoo by Richard Billingham
15 September – 10 November
Compelling series of photography and video installations, inspired by childhood visits to Dudley Zoo in the 1970s. The artist spent time studying animals in zoos throughout the world, from the UK to South America, to produce this work.

Freianlage by Andrew Bracey
15 September – 10 November
Emerging British artist invites visitors to discover the unexpected scale of his works, which appear in surprising and covert positions in the gallery. Painter Bracey has developed his practice from large scale abstract works to his more recent use of found objects, including pistachio nut shells and heads of nails.

Sugar Coated Tears
15 September – 27 October
Collaborative display between artist Vanley Burke and blacksmith Lofty Wright. Instruments of restraint and punishment have been re-created based on historical documentation, in a moving tribute to those who suffered through the slave trade.

William Knight Keeling
29 September – 29 March 2008
This special display celebrates the bicentenary of Manchester-born artist William Knight Keeling (1807-1886), a British artist who fell in love with Spain.

The Northern Ireland Collection
Extended until October 2008
Powerful display of work that addresses the political situation and history of conflict in Northern Ireland, taken from the only collection of its kind in the UK. Artwork dates from the from the early 1980s to the present day and includes pieces by Paul Graham, John Keane, Jock McFadyen, Willie Doherty and recent acquisitions by Rita Duffy and Conrad Atkinson.

Family Events

Art 4 Kids
6 October and 3 November 10.30am-11.30am and 12pm-1pm
Free monthly club for those aged 11 and under. Sat 3 November: Flip animation festival special. Create your own cartoon with zoetropes and flip books. Drop-in, free.

The Big Draw
Mon 22 – Fri 26 October, 11am-1pm
Come and contribute to our large communal drawing piece! Half-term workshop, drop-in.

The Big Draw…the big reveal!
Sat 27 October, 10.30am-4.30pm
Come and look at the large drawing that has been created this week, drop-in.

Halloween movie and spooky stories
Wed 31 October, 4pm–6pm
Don your best ghostly fancy dress for this evening in the Gallery to watch the Winnie the Pooh Halloween movie. Followed by spooky story telling with torches. Booking advised: booking fee of £1, refundable on attendance to event.

Young People’s Events
Artforum

Artforum meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month, 4.30pm-6.30pm at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Meet like-minded people, make your own art and take part in exclusive art related projects at the gallery. Drop-in, free.
Look out on http://www.myspace.com/popwag for more youth events!

Adult Events

World Food Day
Tue 16 October, 12.30pm–1pm
Join art interpreter Keith as he takes a tour around the gallery to look at food within the art works. Drop-in.

Pop Quiz
Wed 17 October, 6pm-8pm
Test your team’s knowledge of all things Pop in this pub style quiz. Over 18s only, booking advised.

Black Europeans: Lecture
Sat 20 October, 11am–12.30pm
Join knowledgeable Olga Baird to explore the black presence in European art from the Renaissance to the early 1800s, in the new Resource Centre, as part of Black History Month. Drop-in, prompt start.

Julia Bigham on Pop and Politics
Tue 30 October, 12.30pm–1pm
Explore how the turbulent politics of the 1960s – the Civil Rights movement, Vietnam, and the Cold War influenced the artists of the day. Drop-in.

Bilston Craft Gallery
Mount Pleasant, Bilston, Wolverhampton, WV14 7LU
T: 01902 552507. Free entry

Exhibitions

Trades of Bilston
Until 6 October
Bilston’s rich industrial history brought to life through photography, archival sources and memories collected from local people describing their experiences of working for companies such as GKN Sankey.

Breakout
29 September - 10 November
Members of the British Association of Modern Mosaic aim to challenge the accepted understanding of mosaic as a creative medium. This exhibition features makers who are working at the cutting edge of mosaic, exploring and evolving it as a technique. Work by 15 artists including Katie Hellon, Dugald MacInnes and Kate Rattray and international artists Brit Hammer and Brooks Tower will be on display.

RoundAbout
13 October - 27 October
From broad abstraction to delicate illustration, artists Steven Bateman, Margaret Jarvis and Richard Randall explore and interpret aspects of their personal environment, using a wide range of media.

Family Events

All events we recommend booking, unless otherwise stated. Please contact the Gallery on 01902 552507 or email bilstoncraftgallery@dsl.pipex.com to reserve a place.

Breakout Family Open Day
Saturday 29 September, 11am - 12.30pm & 1.30 - 3.30pm
Don’t miss the Family Open Day for the Breakout exhibition, where you can discover the technique of mosaic for yourself and create a finished piece to take away with you, with artist Amanda Anderson of Wigwam Arts. Free.

Family Learning Day and The Big Draw
13 October 07, 11am – 3pm
Join artist Ranbir Kaur for a great day full of activities to celebrate these national initiatives.
Discover wellbeing and healthy living for Family Learning Day and draw on a large scale, all through the medium of Rangoli. All children taking part get a free healthy food goody bag! Free, drop in.

Special Needs Stay and Play
13 October, 11am - 12.30pm
Tailored with your child’s needs in mind, suitable for carers with 0-7 year olds. Free.

Create with Nature Stay and Play
13 October, 1.30 - 3pm
Explore and create with natural materials, suitable for carers with 0-7 year olds. Free.

Half Term Workshops
23 - 26 October, 10.30am - 12.00pm and 1.30 - 3.00pm
Workshops are suitable for children aged 5 -12. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Booking is advised, please contact the Gallery on 01902 552507 or email bilstoncraftgallery@dsl.pipex.com to reserve your place. £1 per child.

Magic Mosaic
Tuesday 23 October, be inspired by Breakout.

Willow Lanterns
Wednesday 24 October, brighten up your Autumn.

Collage Plantpots
Thursday 25 October, with a growing plant.

Paper Shoes
Friday 26 October, 10.30am – 12pm only
Footwear just for show.

Bantock House Museum and Park
Finchfield Road, Wolverhampton, WV3 9LQ.
Tel: 01902 552195

Bantock House reveals the secrets of Wolverhampton’s past through a range of hands on activities and displays. The park provides families a chance to enjoy the outdoors with a play area, nature trail and pitch and putt, plus a Café, which serves the best cakes in Wolverhampton.

Exhibitions

Our Ancestors, Our Histories, Our Stories
2 – 31 October
This exhibition is a unique collection of local people work inspired by a visit the British Empire Museum to see the “Breaking the Chains” exhibition. Contributions range from young children to retired members of our community.

The essence of the project was to look at slavery, its legacy and how the has made an impact on the African Caribbean people. Panel members and friends have produced a selection of work ranging from written interpretations, oral recordings, paintings, photography, ceramics and poetry that have been inspired by the “Breaking the Chains” exhibition at The British Empire Museum in Bristol.

Spooky Stories
24 Aug 07, 2pm – 3.30pm
Spine tingling tales with our Deaf story teller and hands on craft activities for Halloween. With BSL interpreter for hearing visitors.

Adult Events

Slavery by Jonathan Payne
27 Oct 07, 7.00 - 9.00pm

“Slavery” by Jonathan Payne, a one act play, receiving its UK premiere in the Bicentenary of the Abolition of Slavery.

This play is not suitable for children under 14 yrs.
Tickets, £5.00 Tel: 01902 552195, emial: bantockhouse@wolverhampton.gov.uk or call into Bantock House during house opening hours.