Kelham Island Museum to host flagship show to showcase region's artists and makers

A group of Sheffield based artists and makers have curated an event to showcasehandmade quality pieces that have been hand crafted in Yorkshire.

The event, entitled Selected Space: Sheffield takes place at Kelham Island Industrial Museum, Sheffield on 11^thand 12^thDecember. The show will feature the work of over 30 emerging and experienced artists, includingDavid Mayne and Roanna Wells who were involved with the ‘Sheffield Bears' project that raised over£750,000 forthe new cancer and leukaemia wardat Sheffield Children's Hospital.

Organised by Selected Space, a collective of four contemporary northern jewellers, Chris Boland, Jane Dzisiewski, Jennie Gill and Emily Thatcher, the event is an opportunity for mixed media artists who have missed out on shows during the pandemic to showcase their work. "The aim of the event isn't just selling our work, it's about building networks for makers and their audience into 2022, supporting each other and sharing contacts ,showcasing and spreading the words ‘buy better , buy less , buy local!' Our region is full of talented makers and artists and Selected Space is a great opportunity for them to engage with the public," saidSheffield jeweller, Jennie Gill.

"In addition toDavid Mayne and Roanna Wells,Rita Britton from Nomad Atelier will also be exhibiting with us. Her garments are hand made in Barnsley and she's a bit of an institution. We also have several exhibitors that have just been selected for awards, including Francisca Onumah, a silversmith who creates tactile textured vessels and jewellery which mimic figurative forms, plus established artists like leading contemporary British silversmith, Brett Payne."

Entry to the event, that takes place from 10.30am to 5pm on Saturday, 11th and 10.30am to 4pm on Sunday, 12^thDecember, costs £2 and all proceeds will go to the Sheffield Museum Trust Charity. Tickets are available to pre-book on Eventbritehttps://www.selectedspace.co.uk/ticketsand on the door.

"Selected Space: Sheffield offers visitors a unique shopping experience not available to them on the high street - a chance to engage with and buy direct from the makers - and we're looking forward to a great event," concluded Ms Gill.

For more information, please visit https://www.selectedspace.co.uk/

Ends

Photos: 

1. David Mayne with the original bear sculpture David Mayne with the original bear sculpture
2. An example of Francisca Onumah's work - Oxidised Copper Pleated Vase - Photo Credit Jerry Lampson Francisca Oxidised Copper Pleated Vase
3. Jennie Gill in her studio Jennie Gill in her studio

For more information or to arrange an interview with Jennie Gill or any of the Selected Space team, please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on:

Direct line:01430 871360

Mobile:07971 961574

E mail:traceybaty@three60marketing.co.uk

Editor's notes

1.     The team at Selected Spaceshow their work in galleries and events around the country and internationally.

2.     In 2004 David Mayne created the Steel bear in Sheffield's Botanical gardens and this sculpture was recently used by The Children's Hospital Charity to create the highly popular Bears of Sheffield Public Art trail which raised a total of £789,000 when all the new bears went to auction in October.David studied sculpture at Sheffield Polytechnic and lived in the city for many years afterwards. The commission for the original steelBear in the Botanical Gardens was completed in 2005 not long after David moved to Holmfirth where he continues to live and work.http://www.david-mayne.co.uk/

3.     Roanna Wells' ‘Nano Bear'was inspired by the on-going research into the use of gold nanoparticles in cancer detection and treatment. Her wish was to create an effect that mirrored the repetitive brush marks of her watercolor paintings, but that shimmered with the contours of the 3D shape of the bear. I used imitation gold leaf to hand apply each individual brush mark. Nano Bear alone raised £20,000 at the final auction event, held at the Crucible Theatre.https://www.roannawells.co.uk/

4.     Francisca Onumah's talent has been recognised and acknowledged prizes such as the prestigious Jerwood Makers Open prize, collaborating with another emerging talent Helena Russell. The Jerwood prize is a touring exhibition starting at the Jerwood Gallery in January 2022, then moving on to Newlyn Art Gallery in April and on to Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum in 2023. Her work has been featured in major exhibitions such as the Crafts Council's Makers Eye exhibition earlier this year. She currently displaying a series of vessels in ‘We Gather', an immersive and pivotal exhibition addressing inequalities in craft, on show now until 5^thFebruary at the Crafts Council Gallery.https://www.franciscaonumah.co.uk/

5.     Rita Britton put Barnsley on the fashion map when she opened the legendary Pollyanna on Shambles Street in 1967. In the 1980s, she brought avant-garde labels to the North for the first time, including Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Comme des Garcons. In 1991 she moved to a two-storey shop at Market Hill and launched her own collection, Nomad in the late Nineties. She was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award byDrapersmagazine in 2014.https://www.nomadatelier.co.uk/

6.     Brett Payne is a leading Contemporary British Silversmith with over twenty-five years' experience. He is a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, a Freeman of The Cutlers' Company of Hallamshire, a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Goldsmiths, a past Chairman of The Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Council and a Director of British Silver Week.https://brettpayne.com/

7.     Jennie Gill been designing and making precious jewellery in Sheffield for 28 years since graduating with a silversmithing degree in 1991. Shewill be showcasing her handmade jewellery that is characterised by a modern spin on traditional methods and materials, including hand cut, natural diamonds and Whitby jet.https://www.jenniegill.co.uk/

8.     Chris Boland is a jewellery designer who draws inspiration fromthe surface treatment of architectural metalwork and sculpture, where marks made during the construction of the work are allowed to remain or are emphasized.https://www.chrisbolanddesigns.com/

9.     Jane Dzisiewski is ais a designer-maker of precious metal and resin, contemporary statement jewellery.https://www.janedzisiewski.com/

10. Emily Thatcher is a jewellery designer who is driven by the individuality of nature, gathering natural gem stones and creating unique pieces of jewellery, that in turn express the individuality of the wearer.https://www.emilythatcher.co.uk/