Celebrate our Past, Exploring our Future

‘Growing ‘takes its lead from the very first exhibition we held in 2003, called ‘What is Craft?’ Ten years on, we’ve invited leading figures in the sphere of contemporary craft and design, artists, curators, writers and influencers, to nominate work by emerging and established artists who will be the innovators of the future.

Over thirty artists have been proposed by our nominators to create an exhibition
demonstrating a wide range of craft media and forms: textiles, ceramics, glass, jewellery, basketry, furniture and millinery.

The 10th anniversary of The National Centre for Craft & Design (formerly The Hub) comes at an exciting time for contemporary craft. Technical and conceptual innovations have taken craft forward in exciting and unexpected ways, whilst the economic downturn has led to a re-evaluation of traditional techniques and re-use of materials. This exhibition will provoke new ideas and stimulate new ways of thinking about craft as a whole.

Our own NCCD nomination is Paulo Goldstein, a Project Space artist at Collect 2013, the Crafts Council’s prestigious craft fair. We are commissioning Paulo to create new work as part of his ‘Repair is Beautiful’ collection.

Our second commission will be a mini -residency throughout the opening weekend of the exhibition by performance craft artist Alec Stevens, who will be making new work in response to visitor input.

Crafts Council Director Rosy Greenlees nominated basketry artist Stella Harding for her innovative use of material and techniques and ambitious approach to scale and Sarah Warsop, “for her movement inspired jewellery which draws directly on her experience as a dancer and choreographer”.

Journalist and former director of the Design Museum Alice Rawsthorn proposed Dutch based Italian designers Formafantasma, whose work comments on nostalgia and tradition. Japanese-born Hitomi Hosono impressed Bonnie Kemske, Editor of Ceramic Review, who nominated her exquisitely delicate and detailed porcelain sculptures adorned with intricate patterns influenced by traditional British ceramic techniques.

A body of ceramic work will also be on show by Joseph Hartley, New Designers
2013 ‘Designer of the Year’ whose work impressed no less than five of our nominators. There will be textiles by Mister Finch and Mai Tabakian, the latter selected by artist Gabriel Dawe. We are also showing glass from Samantha Donaldson (nominated by our sister organisation Design Factory), jewellery by Lisa Juen and furniture from designer  Sebastian Cox.

Complementing the exhibition will be an online gallery of all nominated artists’ work expanding on the physical show. This online gallery will offer an opportunity for comment and debate on the subject of the future of craft and design as well as an opportunity to view the exhibited artworks from afar.

In her essay for ‘What is Craft?’, Louise Taylor (then director of the Crafts Council) said: “Craft retains its traditional core but many innovators are challenging boundaries and using the language of ‘craftsmanship’ in new ways”. These words still pertain today, especially the extraordinary 3D printed work created by Michael Eden, nominated by leading ceramics specialist Adrian Sassoon, whose work uses new technologies to explore and alter traditional and iconic English designs.

The artworks displayed in ‘Growing’ are destined to become the icons of the future.

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Alcantara Dialogues - Grand Opening / Design & Sustainability: The Future

Alcantara renews its commitment inviting to intervene in this first opening night some dignitaries, including the Minister for the Environment Corrado Clini, Franca Sozzani of Italian Vogue, the internationally renowned designer Marcel Wanders and the Nobel Prize for Peace Betty Williams. At the opening event, the CEO of Andrea Alcantara Boragno stressed that today it is crucial to pay attention to this kind of issues during the production process: "Sustainability is an opportunity, not a cost."

At the panel took part the Nobel Prize for Peace Betty Williams too: " It is our responsibility to leave our children a cleaner, better world" According to the Nobel Prize sustainable development, like water, will be one of the biggest issues of the future. "Companies and people - continued Betty Williams - will be measured daily on the need to respect the environment, better use of resources, think and act in a fair manner. The imbalances threaten the peace. "

The recognition of Alcantara and Connect4Climate came from the Minister for the Environment (Italian), Corrado Clini: "This is an initiative that we support wholeheartedly. It 'important to convey information to the best solutions to tackle climate changes. Nowadays - concluded Minister Clini - the rapidly changing of social medias is a great opportunity for dialogue and global support. With an extraordinary coalition of partners, Connect4Climate amplify local voices, enabling policymakers to listen and learn from local innovations and brings together people from around the world sensitive to environmental problems. "

The world of design is committed to the environment and sustainable creativity. "We don't need the best idea...we need a thousand ideas. We need a thousand solutions" raised Marcel Wanders, international designer. An idea shared by Giulio Cappellini, Alcantara Art Director: " Our goal is to give people not only beautiful objects but sustainable products”.  

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