Ref: tn_6905
Date: 3rd August 2005

Turnpike Gallery hosts the Masters of Clay

The spirit of the Wigan One World festival continues beyond August at the Turnpike gallery, Leigh and will continue to entertain and enthrall through to the autumn. From Saturday 13th August to 24th September, an exhibition from the heart of Africa ‘Terres d'Afrique’, will display the finest examples of artistic craftsmanship from Mali and Morocco.

This exhibition offers a fascinating insight into the craft skills of the men and women of Mali and Morocco who continue to use traditional methods of working with one of the earth’s most basic resources – soil. Featuring decorative tiles and jewellery, practical pots and baskets, and small-scale models of buildings constructed using mud, the exhibition highlights a range of installations unlike any witnessed before at the Turnpike Gallery.

A result of collaboration between Cinemas d’Afrique in Angers, France, and African artists, the exhibition, provides a great opportunity to see craft works with an age-old tradition.

“All of the pieces on display are stunning - the skills of the artists involved with the exhibition are remarkable. This is an artistic genre that is often overlooked and we are keen to bring it the people of Leigh and Wigan to continue the tradition and will of the WOW Festival,” says Martyn Lucas, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Visual Arts Outreach Officer. “Africa is a topic very much at the forefront of people’s minds at the moment. We believe this exhibition will inspire better understanding of African culture and expose local people to the unique skills and technique’s of these artists.”

The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday 13th August. There are a variety of workshops for children and adults during the show, where visitors can explore some of the techniques of working with clay and mosaic. Admission to the exhibition and workshops is free.
/more…

For more information please contact Louise Clennell, Gallery Co-ordinator on 01942 404469 or at turnpikegallery@wlct.org.
-ends-

NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information about this News Release, please contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or at c.dunbar@wlct.org.

Return to Trust News
 

Trust Home Page | About Us | Leisure | Culture | Tourism | Sport | Arts | Libraries | Contact Us