Questions to our Viewers...

We've been asking our artists a few questions, and we'd like the chance to ask you our viewers some too. If you could answer them in the comment box then that would be perfect.

1. If you could collaborate with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why?

2. What are the benefits of working with others?

3. List 3 things you like and 3 things you dislike.

Collaborators . . .

The list is still growing but confirmed exhibitors include:

Richard Foot, Arron Fowler, Christophe Dillinger, Sam Pooley, Kate Millbank, Helen Foot, George Clayton, Darren Gate, Mathew Pucky, Daisy Pooley, Lilly Rutherford and myself, Katie Eccleston

Profiles of the Collaborators and their interactions coming soon . . . . 

The Hive programme...

Exhibition Space...

The space is ready for the team to transform from the 24th of November. We'll be using all the walls, the plinths and the projector for video work. The challenge is incorporating a piano that's in the far right hand corner of the space and can't be moved.  Overall it's a good sized space with lots of light.

Branding COLLABORATE

The branding and printed media for the show has been entrusted to a great team who have been aptly named the 'New Faces'.  Fresh from art colleges and brimming with creative ideas the team have been building up their commercial portfolios recently.  The 'New Faces' includes; George Clayton, Darren Gate, Mathew Pucky, Lilly Rutherford and Daisy Pooley.    The group are being coordinated by marketing and advertising guru, Sam Pooley.  They have also come up with some inventive promotions ideas so watch out for some teasers . . . . 

Curator Profile: Helen Foot

Helen Foot is predominantly a textile design but since graduating last year from The Royal College of Art and moving back to her home town, Shrewsbury, she has been involved in the curation of a couple of local exhibitions.  She co-curated MATERIAL, an exhibition of contemporary textiles, in June with printed textile designer, Sophie Copage and was also involved in the selection of work for the Shrewsbury Coffeehouse's Photography Month in August.

Helen runs her design business alongside being an Associate Lecturer at Chelsea College of Art and Design and she is currently part of the Crafts Council UKs HOTHOUSE 2011 scheme for emerging makers.  She has previously done freelance designing for Alexander McQueen and Paul Smith, and was the Studio Manager for Wallace Sewell in London before doing her MA. She is currently concentrating on designing her own product line and will be launching her first collection of scarves next month.

Helen has a studio in the heart of Shrewsbury which she shares with her brother, Richard Foot, who is a photographer.  The studio is also currently hosting Osian Jones, architect, and Matt Sewell, illustrator.

Helen's Masters Collection at the RCA

To find out more visit Helen's website: www.helenfoot.co.uk

The Build Up Begins...

Hello, I'm Katie and I shall be blogging about the forthcoming exhibition, COLLABORATE, at The Hive, Shrewsbury.  I shall be working closely with the exhibitions curator, Helen Foot, and the team at The Hive to get things ready for the show.  So I shall be talking to the artists, asking them more about their work for the show and posting info on here for you to get to know more about who is involved.  The exhibition will run from the 30th November until the 20th of January 2012.

Here's the paragraph that's in the Hive Programme advertising COLLABORATE...

'Collaborate is an exhibition showcasing the crème de la crème of Shrewsburys creative talent, who by sharing their skills with each other have enhanced their commercial design practice. From a mixture of creative backgrounds; photography, fine art, fashion, textiles, digital media, and illustration, collaborate looks to document the creative process behind these exchanges. The result is a story of interdisciplinary projects.'

In my first meeting with the team on the 12th October I met a few of the exhibiting artists. I was introduced to the group and I got more of an idea of the shows theme. COLLABORATE will showcase a mixture of creative disciplines and rather than showing a final article it documents a process. Artists work may be added to throughout the duration of the show, so the work will not be final, it will be gradual and the public will have chance to see the works grow from idea to idea.