'Unfurl' Residency with Exhibition & Performance September - November 2011

"Extremely compelling piece - beautifully choreographed!"

 

Unfurl: A Work in Two Parts

by Clare Thornton

Sat 3 Sept 2011 - Red Lodge Museum, Bristol

Rogelio Vallejo (performer) and Zoe Childerley (photography)

These activities were framed by the Artist's research into depictions of the Fold in paintings, historical interiors and in critical texts. This research was furthered during her inaugural Artist in Residence with the University of Bristol Theatre Collection. Through the production of objects, garments and writing the Artist explored site specificity, processes of display, concealment and transformation.

Unfurl extended beyond the Performance Installation to include a variety of free Public Events.

Mon 26 Sept - Fri 11 Nov - Unfurl Exhibition, University of Bristol Theatre Collection, 21 Park Row. Focusing on the recently acquired Mander & Mitchenson Collection, revealing some unexpected treasures and making new work inspired by its holdings.

Tues 18 Oct, 2 & 3pm – Unfurl Exhibition tours with the Artist and Jo Elsworth, Director, Theatre Collection as part of InsideArts, the University of Bristol Festival of the Arts and Humanities, (free, booking via this link - Eventbrite)

Thurs 3 Nov, 5.30pm for 6pm start – an In Conversation informal discussion about the inaugural Residency Project and a wider discussion around artists responding to museums, archive and historical buildings. The discussion included input from project collaborators and practitioners interested in these fields.

Unfurl, Performance Installation, Red Lodge Museum Bristol

UNFURL
Performance Installation

Saturday 3 September 2011

Red Lodge Museum, Park Row, Bristol

A Tudor Lodge, the opulent setting for a tableau poised to unfurl. Pleats of delicate cloth, lengths of red ribbon, a model posing for his painter. As the piece unfolds, the artist’s material transforms the scene in our midst.

Artist in Residence - Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Hetherington Creative Units

May - July 2011

During the residency I developed the participatory gallery project 'Material Matters' more info here
and studio works around fragile materials and The Fold.

I produced a film work
'A Heightened Sense of Making' which will be screened at in The Box, Aberystwyth Arts Centre in October 2012. 

'Salad Dressing - A Cover of Crackers' Bookwork

Performance Re-enactment Society were commissioned by Arnolfini to produce a new bookwork.

Salad Dressing is a remake of Ed Ruscha's bookwork Crackers 

and was created with Tom Sowden, Samantha Sweeting and David Curtis-Ring

We also produced a costume and live event to launch this new publication.

Salad Dressing was part of: 'Cover-ed', Arnolfini, Bristol March 5 -April 30 2011

Urban Retreat - Survival Jacket Commission & Survival Kit Bag Workshop, Art Gene, Barrow

Urban Retreat 

A series of artist commissions, activities and events exploring the edges of urbanism

"Artist Sophie Mellor spent two weeks as an urban wanderer relying on the kindness of strangers and the bounty of the land to house and feed her. Clothed in an especially designed survival jacket by Clare Thornton, she placed herself directly in Barrow's marginalised landscapes, investing in its use and beauty through her interactions with people and place."

As well as making the survival jacket for Sophie Mellor's urban wander, I ran a 'Survival Kit Bag' workshop. Participants brought along three essential items they needed to negotiate their environment. Items included mobiles, oatcakes, knife, spare socks, water bottle, lighter, chocolate, lipstick, guitar, inhaler. We each then made and customized a survival bag to hold our essential items.

Nine Trades of Dundee - Artist Commission

Artist No. 5 Clare Thornton - Tailor & Trimmer

In the Nine Trades of Dundee public art project, nine UK/Eire based artists/makers were commissioned by Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design to develop a project in their second ‘non-art’ trade.

I combined my skills as an artist and seamstress and took on the role of a traveling Tailor and Trimmer, gathering work stories and tools of the trade as I roved the city. A unique Trench Coat and Samples Book were the physical outcome of this process.

The bespoke garment, which I exhibited at Dundee Contemporary Arts/VRC and wore at the celebratory Final Gathering event embodied my encounters with the workers/work places in Dundee’s contemporary textile trade. The coat is now being accessioned into the city’s Mcmanus Museum permanent collection.

To research and develop the project I met with diverse textile workers and asked about the tools of their trade. This process involved a great deal of conversation and social history research. I was later able to draw on a wealth of local textile trade expertise to co-produce the garment. I established links with with three Dundee based textile related businesses Halley Stevensons (Waxed Cotton), Utopia Costumes and Cooper and McKenzie gents’ outfitters.

Girl Racer Rides Again!

Hosted by Tea & Make
Stitched Up - Victoria & Albert Museum
Friday 30th April 6:30pm - 10pm Free

Girl Racer The 1970's Atari style racing game just got crafty!

Clare Thornton’s fun interactive sewing contest presented during IgFest 2008
Winner Festival Award for Best Use of Technology
Race against the clock in a battle of skill and speed
The ultimate stitch off!