Su Blackwell's Remnants

News release: 

Artist Su Blackwell will return to Yorkshire next week to talk about her current exhibition, Remnants, at the  Parsonage  on Thursday 21 October at 7.30pm at the West Lane Baptist Centre, Haworth.

Sheffield-born Su Blackwell studied for her first degree at Bradford College of Art and Design before going on to complete her MA at the Royal College of Art in London in 2003. The Brontë Parsonage Museum commissioned Su Blackwell to create an exhibition of new work for the museum, inspired by the Brontë collections. The London-based artist creates intricate miniature artworks using antique books and paper. Her exhibition takes inspiration from the stories surrounding the Brontë family and features a series of site specific installations in the period rooms of the house. For the Children’s Nursery, Su has created an installation inspired by the Brontë children’s imaginary kingdoms. Miniature churches, castles and a mill on a river – complete with turning waterwheel – form the back-drop for a battle between the Brontë children’s toy soldiers. Elsewhere, linen-cut moths fly from a Brontë nightshirt on the bed. A Victorian dress hangs in a window, laser-cut with heather patterns to represent Emily Brontë’s favourite flower. In the Dining Room, the pages of a book turn as if by an invisible hand.

Su will talk about her unique paper-cutting techniques and way of working, as well as her inspiration for the Remnants exhibition, with Grant Gibson, editor of Crafts magazine. Tickets cost £5 and can be booked from Arts Officer Jenna Holmes: jenna.holmes@bronte.org.uk / 01535 640188.

The talk features as part of a series of activities and workshops taking place at the museum during the exhibition. On Saturday 23 October, visitors to the museum will be able to try paper and book-inspired creative activities led by artist and bookbinder Sarah Brown. This is a drop-in event that is free with admission to the museum. On Wednesday 27 October, a half-term holiday workshop for children aged 6-12 will take place with local artist Rachel Lee, making paper-art inspired by the Remnants exhibition. Places cost £5 per child and can be booked from susan.newby@bronte.org.uk / 01535 640185.

Remnants runs until Sunday 28 November 2010 and is free on admission. It has been funded by The Radcliffe Trust and Arts Council England as part of the Parsonage’s contemporary arts programme.