wolverhampton art gallery Exhibitions & Events September October November 2010Free entry

Welcome

Could there be a more appropriate show for the current

economic situation than Pop Protest: Art for an Anxious

Age? These are indeed challenging times for the arts

faced with reduced resources and we share the anxiety

of many at this time about what the future holds.

Nonetheless we are able to present a wide ranging

exhibition programme for the autumn.

The Return of the Highland Laddie, by

Morris is a favourite with many visitors

and it might surprise some that the

subject represents a soldier returning

form the 2nd Anglo-Afghan war. Also

presented are contemporary images of

Afghanistan, its people, landscape and

politics in an exhibition which aims to

give an alternative view to the media.

Showing in Afghanistan, the recent

Langlands and Bell acquisitions continue

the courageous policy pursued by

Wolverhampton to collect works which

offer a strong social commentary. Our

collecting is currently supported by the

Heritage Lottery Fund and our Friends

organisation and has allowed us

to develop a collection of national

distinction with modest means. I

am delighted that we have been

shortlisted for the Contemporary Art

Society’s Centenary commission, so

fingers crossed!

Our Northern Ireland collection continues

to attract international attention and was

recently the focus of an extensive article

in the Irish Post. We worked closely with

the Millennium Court Arts Centre and

the Manchester Metropolitan University

to develop Archiving Place & Time, an

exhibition that considers how a new

generation of artists from Northern

Ireland have responded to the

Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

Last year we welcomed over 150,000

visitors to the Gallery and so far this

year even more people are coming in

to see what’s on offer. We trust that

you and yours will enjoy the programme

of exhibitions and events.

Corinne Miller

Head of Arts and Heritage

Cover image: Aqa Ali Shams, part of Kabul (detail) by Jenny Matthews

‘The Taliban killed my husband in 2001. He was in the military. I have four daughters and two sons. The sons work

pushing carts and selling vegetables. Five months after I was widowed, my daughter who had been engaged since

she was 3 months old, disappeared. She was 16. I do not know what happened to her. The family of her fiancé was

furious. They demanded two daughters in her place ...there was nothing I could do. Now they are unhappy wives.'

Afghanistan18 Sept – 20 Nov

This exhibition presents a number of contemporary

artists’ reflections and visual responses to the people,

landscape and politics of Afghanistan.

Exploring the contemporary situation, as well as

attempting to provide a historical context for the

current conflict, the aims of the exhibition are not to

replicate the media coverage but to provide a platform

for visitors to form their own responses and opinions.

The exhibition will include artwork from

Wolverhampton’s own collection by Simon Norfolk,

Paul Seawright, and a new acquisition from Langlands

and Bell alongside loans from Cornford & Cross, Jenny

Matthews and Broomberg and Chanarin.

EventsPhotography Walkabout

Sat 9 Oct 12pm – 2pm

A guided photography walk around

Wolverhampton City Centre to take

photographs on the theme of the

Afghanistan exhibition - landscape,

people and politics.

Former Teahouse in a Park next to Afghan

Exhibition of Economic and Social Achievements

in the Shah Shahid District of Kabul by Simon

Norfolk, 2001, Digital C-type on Fuji Crystal

Archive. Purchased through the Contemporary

Art Society Special Collection Scheme with

funds from the Arts Council Lottery.

Pop Protest: Art for an Anxious AgeUntil 30 Oct

This exhibition compares two periods in our recent history: 1965-1975

and 2000-2010, exploring what made these years so fragile and

turbulent for us.

The exhibition includes Gerald Laing’s War Paintings, Derek Boshier’s

Pantomime War works, and Jann Haworth’s Hollow Men piece from

the noughties, while artworks by Richard Hamilton, Colin Self, Joe

Tilson, and James Rosenquist cast a critical lens on the sixties and

seventies. Objects and ephemera highlight the political events that

inspired the artists and a soundtrack of protest and war-related songs

from each era accompanies the exhibition.

EventsPop Art Painting

Fri 15 Oct & Fri 22 Oct

10am – 12pm

Join artist Adrian Clamp for

this two-part adult painting

workshop and learn how to

create your own striking Pop

Art paintings. Cost £15,

to book call the gallery.

Participants must attend

both sessions.

The Art of Protest

Sat 23 Oct 11am – 12.30pm

Discover how Pop artists have

used collage to comment on

society and make your own at

this hands-on adult workshop.

Swingeing London 67-poster

by Richard Hamilton.

Courtesy Richard Hamilton.

Under Gods: Stories from Soho

Road by Liz Hingley6 Nov – 26 Feb

Photographer Liz Hingley presents a

beautiful and poignant photographic portrait

of the different religious communities living

along the Soho Road in Handsworth,

Birmingham. In this particular area over

thirty buildings act as centres for different

religious denominations and serve ethnic

groups from all over the world.

Through her research the artist found that it

is religion, rather than race or culture, which

now defines local communities. This thought

provoking exhibition looks at issues which

have both a local and a wider universal

resonance.

It is now just over a decade since the historic

Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was signed,

bringing an end to some thirty years of bitter

conflict in Northern Ireland. This has brought

significant changes not just for people’s

everyday lives but for their awareness of the

past and their hopes for the future.

Photographs, installations and drawings reveal

how a new generation of artists from the

north have responded to this changed

situation.

Developed by Millennium Court Arts Centre, Craigavon, and

Manchester Metropolitan University in association with

Wolverhampton Art Gallery. An education pack and exhibition

catalogue accompanies this exhibition.

Sikh Wedding by Liz Hingley © the artist

The Council of Faiths Dinner by Liz Hingley © the artist

EventAn Afternoon with Colum Sands

Sat 9 Oct 1pm – 2pm

A musical afternoon with singer songwriter

Colum Sands, and an opportunity to openly

discuss his career and song writing.

Remembering the Past

11 Nov 11.30am – 12.30pm

A talk focusing on Phillip Napier’s Poppy

Wreath sculpture, The Texture of Memory,

and a discussion about how we remember

past events.

Archiving Place & Time:

Contemporary Art Practice

in Northern Ireland since

the Belfast AgreementUntil 4 Dec

Sleech by Rita Duffy © WAHS

Through the Eyes of an Apprentice:

A Community Panel ExhibitionUntil 18 Oct

Wolverhampton’s late Victorian and Edwardian

history is explored through the eyes of a

Sunbeam apprentice in this community

panel exhibition. The exhibition explores

Wolverhampton’s rich transport history and

life in Victorian Wolverhampton with a focus

on the Sunbeam story.

19th C

entu

ry Chin

ese Kin

gfish

er Hea

ddress ©

WA

HS

EventsWolverhampton’s Bicycle and Motor Industry

Fri 17 Sept 2pm – 3pm

Using objects from our collection, explore

the beginnings of the Bicycle & Motor Car

Industry in Wolverhampton with Jefny Ashcroft.

Wolverhampton’s Medical Heritage

Fri 15 Oct 2pm – 3pm

Discover the Victorian and Edwardian

medical heritage of Wolverhampton in

this illustrated talk with Roy Stallard.

Victorian GalleryDiscover Wolverhampton’s collection of Victorian decorative objects and art works

in a permanent exhibition. The two-room display explores the fascinating world of

the Victorians, including their passion for Eastern influenced design.

For a short period view the magnificent 19th Century Chinese Kingfisher Headdress,

made of silver filigree and Kingfisher feathers with semi precious stones and pearls.

Photograph reproduced with permission of Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies

RE-animate4 Sept - 27 Nov

A series of films that embody a sense

of movement, and look at non-narrative

structures and objects selected in

conjunction with the FLIP Animation

Festival (4 – 6 Nov, Light House

Wolverhampton).

The films were originally chosen as part

of a biennial Open exhibition held at Oriel

Davies Gallery, Newtown, Wales.

Journey into the Contemporary Collection: David BurrowsFrom 4 Sept

Take a journey into Wolverhampton’s contemporary collection with Snowy

Landscape with Wreckage (2002). In this colourful installation by award-winning

artist David Burrows personal belongings lie scattered across a snowy landscape.

Made from coloured polyethylene foam, the cartoon-like objects appear like

fall-out debris from an accident, frozen in time.

This installation is the first in a rotating series of displays showing hidden gems

within our contemporary collection.

Snowy Landscape

with Wreckage

(installation view,

detail) by David

Burrows

RE-TOLLED by Sean Vicary © The artist

Hire Space

Innocence

11 Sept – 9 Oct

An exhibition of paintings by artist Anne

Bennett, on the subject of children.

Dirty Old Town -

memories of an industrial past

16 Oct – 13 Nov

An exhibition of paintings by local artist

David Barlow, reflecting the post war

industrial landscapes both in the Midlands

and North of England, before recession and

modernisation changed the townscapes for

ever.

Faith Stories

20 Nov – 18 Dec

Artwork produced by young people from

Whitmore Reans looking at the diversity of

faith groups in Wolverhampton. The young

people have participated in a week long

project with photographer Liz Hingley to

capture images that represent their religion.

Heritage Open Days

Pests, People & Pictures:

Collection Store Tour

Thurs 9 Sept 3pm / Sat 11 Sept 3pm

A behind the scenes tour of our collections.

Explore the art stores and discover how we

protect our art collections from pests, light

and heat. Booking required, Please call

01902 551069.

We Started It

Sat 11 Sept 11am, 1pm & 3pm

Travel back in time with this new comic play

exploring the early days of Wolverhampton

Wanderers in 1877. Special football related

exhibitions will be on show at The Molineux

Hotel, the home of the Archives service and

the Gallery.

Black History Month Launch

2 October 11am – 4.30pm

Black History Month 2010 promises to be

an exciting array of activity. This year

Wolverhampton Art Gallery will host the

launch with a preview of activity happening

across the city.

Ask a Curator Day

Wed 1 Sept 10am – 4pm

An online question and answer day for

our curators. Post your questions to our

Facebook page, Twitter account or email

to artgallery@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

Dirty Old Town by David Barlow © the artist

Family

We understand that visiting anywhere with little

ones can be stressful but we’ve tried to change

that by making our venue a great place to

explore and have fun together.

We have a range of dedicated family facilities -

from high chairs, a buggy park and colouring

sheets to a family activity trail.

Animation Day

Sat 6 Nov 11am – 3pm

Have a go at a range of techniques from flip

books to 3-D stop animation at this back to

basics animation workshop. All abilities

welcome.

Art 4 Kids

Sat 4 Sept, Sat 2 Oct, Sat 6 Nov 11am – 1pm

Get creative at our free monthly club for

budding young artists. Aged 11 and under.

Family Focus

Sat 13 Nov 11am – 12pm & 1pm – 2pm

Bring along your grown-ups and explore our

collection in a hands-on workshop.

Make your Mark at the Gallery

Thur 9 Sept, 23 Sept, 14 Oct, 11 Nov, 25 Nov

10.30am - 12pm

Come along to our new under 5s workshop and

meet other artists in the making! £1.50, with a

discount for brothers and sisters, booking

required.

For more family events pick up

our family friendly leaflet, or go

to www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk

ArtforumArtforum is the Gallery’s group for young

people (14-25).

Contact Jen Dooner at the Gallery or check

out tinyurl.com/wagartforum to see the

upcoming programme.

Events Diary

Booking: 01902 552055

Events are free and drop in, unless stated otherwise

Wed 1 Sept

Sat 4 Sept

Thurs 9 Sept &

Sat 11 Sept

Sat 11 Sept

Fri 17 Sept

Sat 2 Oct

Sat 2 Oct

Sat 9 Oct

Sat 9 Oct

Fri 15 Oct

Fri 15 & 22 Oct

Sat 23 Oct

Sat 6 Nov

Sat 6 Nov

Thur 11 Nov

Sat 13 Nov

Ask a Curator Day

Art 4 Kids

Pests, People & Pictures:

Collection Store Tour

We Started It

Wolverhampton’s Bicycle & Motor Industry

Art 4 Kids

Black History Month Launch

Photography Walkabout

An Afternoon with Colum Sands

Wolverhampton’s Medical Heritage

Pop Art Painting

The Art of Protest

Art 4 Kids

Animation Day

Remembering the Past

Family Focus

10am – 4pm

11am – 1pm

3pm

11am, 1pm & 3pm

2pm – 3pm

11am – 1pm

11am – 4.30pm

12pm – 2pm

1pm – 2pm

2pm – 3pm

10am – 12pm

11am – 12.30pm

11am – 1pm

11am – 3pm

11.30am – 12.30pm

11am – 12pm &

1pm – 2pm

Online event

Family

Adult tour

Adult event

Adult talk

Family

Adult event

Adult event

Adult event

Adult talk

Adult workshop

Adult workshop

Family

Family

Adult talk

Family

Venue HireWolverhampton Art Gallery is perfect

city centre venue for a special event,

conference or meeting, from as little as

£60. For further information please call

or email artgallery@wolverhampton.gov.uk

WeddingsThe Rococo Room at the Molineux Hotel,

now the City Archives, is licensed for

weddings, capacity 70. For further

information call 01902 552450.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery is grateful to the following for their funding and support:

Our Supporters

New works for the collectionMajor acquisitions for our internationally

renowned Northern Ireland collection

featured recently in the Irish Post.

Buried by Willie Doherty

The single screen installation has been

purchased jointly by Wolverhampton Art

Gallery and Imperial War Museum, London

with the generous support of the Art Fund.

Walls Belfast by Paul Seawright (2007)

These photographs have been purchased

from the artist as part of Collecting Cultures,

funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

We have also received a generous gift

from Professor Peter Herbert of a

beautiful silver casket designed and

made at Wolverhampton Art School for

the 1902 Art and Industrial exhibition.

NewsWolverhampton Arts + Museums Service

has achieved Investors in Excellence. This

is a great tribute to the hard work of those

who provide the infrastructure which

underpins our ambitious service.

This winter Wolverhampton will host a pop

up shop to support the BBC’s Turn Back Time,

The High Street television series and deepen

knowledge and understanding of the history

of our high streets. Look out for a programme

of activities at arts and heritage sites as well

as in the city centre.

Friends of Wolverhampton

Arts & MuseumsBecome a 'Friend' and help buy works of

art for the collections as well as enjoying

special events and trips. Pick up a form at

the Gallery or print a copy from our website:

www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk

We wish to thank both The Old Bookshop and Wolverhampton Books and Collectables forthe generous donation of books for the installation within the atrium area.

Silver C

asket © W

AH

S

TravelThe Gallery is 5 minutes walk from rail, metro and bus stations. The nearest car park is

the Civic Centre just two minutes away. By car follow the signs from the M5, M6 & M54.

ShopA treasure trove of souvenirs, original crafts, cards and jewellery, for all tastes and budgets.

CaféRelax in the laid-back setting of the Café with its delicious menu, range of speciality

loose-leaf teas and fresh coffees.

Information PointThe Information Point at Wolverhampton Art Gallery provides a wide range of information

about what’s on and what there is to do in the city.

AccessBlue badge holders may use the parking bays on Wulfruna Street, just a few metres from

the ramped entrance in St. Peter's Passage. Two lifts serve the upper floors of the gallery.

Limited seating is available on the lower floor of the Cafe. To reserve a seat please call

01902 552055.

Events are free and drop in, unless stated otherwise.

To book for an event please call the gallery on 01902 552055.

Visit www.wolverhamptoncity.co.uk for your ultimate guide to visiting the city.

Visit Us

Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Lichfield Street Wolverhampton

WV1 1DU

Open Monday - Saturday

10am - 5pm, Free Entry

Tel: 01902 552055 fax: 01902 552053

artgallery@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Find us online:

www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk

Facebook: Facebook.com/WolverhamptonArtGallery

Twitter: Twitter.com/WolvArtGallery