Press Release
18 | 08 | 23
New Craftsman: A History
Dame Lucie Rie, Shoji Hamada, Bernard Leach, Peter Lanyon, Breon O'Casey
with paintings by Sarah Woods & wood by Anthony Bryant
9th September to 6th October 2023
Dame Lucie Rie ceramic
As part of the St Ives September Festival, this special exhibition, in partnership with The Craft of Selling exhibition currently on show at The Crafts Study Centre, Farnham,celebrates the forthcoming publication of Professor Simon Olding's essay on the history of the New Craftsman and its influence on the story of contemporary craft.
Simon's essay traces the history of the gallery, from its roots in The Craftsmen's Shop, which was opened by Janet Leach in 1952, to its current form as the New Craftsman Gallery, and considers this history in the context of craft selling here in St Ives and further afield.
The Crafts Study Centre holds the archive of the New Craftsman and Janet Leach's personal papers, as well as founding collections by many of the makers whose ceramics were sold through the New Craftsman. These archive documents and works of art are on show in Farnham until 16 December., while in St Ives we present a parallel exhibition by artists associated with the 60 year history of New Craftsman, from Dame Lucie Rie, Shoji Hamada, Bernard Leach, Peter Lanyon and Breon O'Casey, to contemporary artists such as Akiko Hirai and more.
Simon passed away in 2022 before completing his essay, titledFormidable Partners: The Founding of New Craftsman in St Ives,leaving editor and co-author Greta Bertram to complete the text. The essay will be published as a book on 28th October 2023.
Also on show is work by wood turner Anthony Bryant, and rising young painter Sarah Woods. Sarah studied Fine Art at Falmouth University and makes work that responds to the beauty of the Cornish landscape, achieving a pure translation of its clear northern light, wide horizons and coastal colour.
The exhibition is accompanied by a talk by the Crafts Study Centre's Greta Bertram at 4pm on Wednesday 20th September. Booking required at www.stivesseptemberfestival.co.uk
New Craftsman Gallery, 24 Fore St, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1HE.01736 795652 | info@newcraftsmanstives.com | www.newcraftsmanstives.com
-END-
Print Ready 300dpi images for press use:
DAME LUCIE RIE ceramic
Editors Notes
New Craftsman St Ives
With an international reputation amongst art and craft collectors for its painting, sculpture and quality studio ceramics, the New Craftsman is regarded as one of the most important spaces for contemporary artists in St Ives. Founded in the mid-1960s by potter Janet Leach, it holds an unrivalled reputation as one of the country's leading art and craft venues. Today the gallery's annual programme of mixed and solo exhibitions continues to support the work of Cornwall's and the UK's very best painters and craftspeople.
New Craftsman Gallery, 24 Fore Street, St. Ives, Cornwall TR26 1HE |www.newcraftsmanstives.com
For further press information or additional images contact Mercedes Smith at Fine Art Communications director@fineartcommunications.co.uk / Tel 07825 270235 / www.fineartcommunications.co.uk
