Major contemporary craft exhibition opens

Craftspace present a wealth of talented makers from across the Midlands.

On the 6th March 2017, contemporary craft charity Craftspace’s contemporary craft exhibition Made in the Middle, will be on show at the Parkside Gallery in Birmingham. Made in the Middle is a recurring touring exhibition of high quality contemporary craft and applied art from the Midlands. The eighth in the series, the exhibition provides a great opportunity to purchase and commission work from some of the best makers in the region. This exhibition is developed in partnership with Herbert and is part of Craftspace’s thirtieth anniversary programme.

Featuring both recent graduates and makers with established reputations, there is a wealth of creativity on display, including ceramics, jewellery, metalwork and textiles. Selected by an expert panel through open entry, it promotes the best of contemporary craft from makers living and working in the Midlands or with a strong recent regional connection.

28 makers have been selected by a panel of curators and craft sector specialists. The makers offer an insight into the skill, creativity and innovative practice within the region.

Selected exhibitors include jeweller Dauvit Alexander who creates striking jewellery for men combining found materials and precious gemstones, Aimee Bollu who also takes inspiration from found items which she combines with beautiful minimal ceramic vessels, John Grayson who uses traditional metal forming and enamel decorating processes to create whimsical, humorous and decorative metal objects and Karina Thompson who pushes the boundaries of digital embroidery.

The exhibition will continue its tour to major galleries across the Midlands into 2018 raising the profile of regional makers and giving them the opportunity to sell their work to regional and national collectors. Visitors are encouraged to consider commissioning new work from local makers and a range of more affordable work will be available to buy, whether your budget is a few pounds or a thousand pounds.

A new website celebrating thirty years of Made in the Middle has recently launched. The online exhibition madeinthemiddle.org features thirty makers from almost 250 who have exhibited during the exhibition and draws on the wealth of resources created to tell the story of Made in the Middle from 1988 to the present.