A performance by children from Cheshire Primary Schools for their COTTON: Global Threads project. The movement and dance event was performed in front of invited guests, parents and their teachers. The children’s act portrays the ‘life of a cotton picker’ and was the result of a two week adventure with Primary Schools linked to Fallibroome Academy – Special Arts College.
Curator Dr Jennifer Harris discusses Anne Wilson‘s work, articles from the Whitworth’s collection that the artist chose to display in the Pilkington Gallery, and interesting connections with further pieces in COTTON: Global Threads.
Audio recorded in Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester with Liza Lemsatef Cunningham. Photography © ellelens.com
Dr Jennifer Harris takes us into the gallery to discuss Les Arbres à Bleus from Aboubakar Fofana and Still Life by Grace Ndiritu, two works occupying spaces leading on from each other in COTTON: Global Threads.
Audio recorded in Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester with Liza Lemsatef Cunningham. Photography © ellelens.com
The Curator of COTTON: Global Threads and Deputy Director of the Whitworth, Dr Jennifer Harris discusses with Liza Lemsatef Cunningham this curious design, currently on display in the Textile Gallery, part of the gallery’s extensive textile collection.
Artist Grace Ndiritu discusses her work in the exhibition and her wider practice with curator Dr Jennifer Harris.
Recorded at a public event to accompany the exhibition COTTON: Global Threads at the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester. (Approx 46 mins.)
The COTTON: Global Threads exhibition introduces visitors to a number of complex issues and human stories told through a wealth of beautiful, fascinating historical objects and thought-provoking contemporary artworks in a range of media. The Whitworth’s Learning and Interpretation team is here to support learning and discovery through resources, and a range of tours, development days and more, created for your group to get the most out of your visit. Bespoke practical workshops can also be arranged (a fee is payable for these.)
Browse the free Educators’ resource below for KS3 – KS5 students, teachers and lecturers for lots of ideas for discussion and further exploration.
For information on the education services the Whitworth provides, or to book a group visit, please contact Denise Bowler, telephone 0161 275 8455 or email denise.bowler@manchester.ac.uk
A video showing an installation view of Liz Rideal‘s Drop Sari, at the Whitworth Art Gallery, as part of COTTON: Global Threads. Rideal’s work displays imagery from India and tumbling sari fabrics projected upon white cotton saris – in the gallery, the work has a ‘conversation’ with the delicately draped, magnificently decorated Sultan Tipu’s Tent on the wall opposite. The exhibits are flanked by Rideal’s Ghost Sari prints and a display of vintage sample books featuring Indian fabrics – some of which are actually featured in the Drop Sari film.
(Video © ellelens.com)
Lucy Siegle, Observer columnist and author of To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing out the World? visited the Whitworth last night to talk about the ethics of fashion and how the roles we play as designers through to consumers can affect the world and the lives of other people.
Clothes have become so disposable, they are literally litter.
Lucy Siegle
She talked about how closely fashion and nature are linked but how distant the consumer is from this, how we are unaware of what actually happens in order for us to buy those bargain jeans or that high street top that help us keep up with the latest fashions. She declared that as a result of fast fashion ‘clothes have become so disposable they are literally litter’, saying that young consumers don’t remember a time before fast fashion, when people would buy clothes to last. Instead consumers buy clothes that are so cheap and of such bad quality they often don’t last the first wash and charity shops can only sell them to other countries, thus exporting the problem.
Aboubakar Fofana Installation view. Photo © ellelens.com
A tree… they saw many, many things… wars, conflicts, and also they hear many secrets…
Aboubakar Fofana, Artist
Aboubakar Fofana with his work. Photo © ellelens.com
Liza Lemsatef Cunningham chatted to artist Aboubakar Fofana about his work, its meaning, and his unique process of contemporary art-making inspired by traditional techniques and materials from Mali, West Africa, and his background as a painter and calligrapher.
Fofana’s striking installation Les Arbres a Bleus is currently on display as part of COTTON : Global Threads at the Whitworth Art Gallery, and the artist also gives his impressions of the exhibit, describing which pieces he found particularly resonant within the exhibition.
Cotton's Children ipad game
Cotton’s Children is a game specially created to accompany the COTTON: Global Threads exhibition.It was developed by a team of young people aged 16-20 years old, working with graphic designers Smiling Wolf and games company Onteca, as part of the Stories of the World 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The iPad game is available to download for free from the iTunes store.
If you can visit the Whitworth Art Gallery, come in and play the game (rated age 9+) on specially commissioned gaming booths in our interactive Stories of the World section. Continue reading
