Shane Waltener installing Another World Wide Web

The first piece to be installed in Touchstones Rochdale’s new exhibition Knit One, Purl One: Contemporary Knitting and Crochet was Another World Wide Web by artist Shane Waltener.

Shane Waltener is a London-based artist and an associate lecturer in 3D Design at Camberwell College, University of London. He studied at Chelsea College of Art, gaining an MA in Sculpture and then went on to take further study at the College of Fine Arts of Marseille.

Working in sculpture, installation and performance that explore ideas of craft traditions, processes and techniques, Shane has exhibited his work widely in various galleries and museums around the world.

The work on display Another World Wide Web was originally commissioned by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Fracture Gallery in Melbourne, Australia. It is a new version of A World Wide Web which was initially conceived for the Radical Lace, Subversive Knitting exhibition at the Museum Of Art and Design in New York. Knitted in elastic, the piece is designed to accommodate a variety of spaces. The flexibility of the thread allows for the piece to be moulded by the architecture of the venue in which the piece is installed while drawing the viewer’s attention to features and areas that might otherwise be overlooked. The eyes of the webs act as viewfinders bringing into focus as you walk around the piece shifting perspectives of objects and perspectives within the building. Installed here, the piece highlights the architectural features contained within the ceiling of the gallery whilst also bringing different areas of the exhibition together.

Knit One, Purl One: Contemporary Knitting and Crochet opens Saturday 1st May 2010.

Why not come along to Knitty Gritty Goes Large on Saturday 22nd May 1-4pm?

On this day in History 30th April 1887

The income of the New Market for the previous three years averaged £3,740 3s. 9d.; the expenditure, £1,370 10s. 9d.

On this day in History 29th April 1843

Danby’s celebrated picture, “Opening of the Sixth Seal,” worth a thousand guineas, on view at the Town Hall buildings, was mutilated by some persons unknown and rendered valueless.

On this day in History 28th April 1889

Rochdale New Railway station opened. The site extensions cost £70,000.

On this day in History 27th April 1870

Canadian elms planted in the Esplanade.

On this day in History 26th April 1893

Technical School, costing £12,150, opened by Sir Bernard Samuelson, and extensions opened April 29^th 1908.

On this day in History 25th April 1857

“Rochdale Standard” amalgamated with the “Rochdale Observer”.

On this day in History 24th April 1855

St. Mary’s Ragged School opened.

On this day in History 23rd April 1918

A Women’s Citizen’s Association was formed.

On this day in History 22nd April 1870

St. James’s, Calderbrook, consecrated. It was built and endowed by James Dearden.

On this day in History 21st April 1866

Alleged treasure trove case at Gravel Hole, a workman in removing a staircase having found a bag containing £112 which he refused to give up. The coroner held an enquiry and the jury found that the money belonged to a miserly man named Wild, who died in 1838, and who had similarly secreted a sum of £300 which was discovered in 1845.

On this day in History 20th April 1884

Betting raid on a public house at Castleton; 15 persons subsequently summoned and fined in all over £100 and costs.

On this day in History 19th April 1911

First police dog, a cross bred Airedale, arrives at Town Hall.

On this day in History 17th April 1909

Mr Oscar Schofield of Oakenrod won open golf championship of Italy on the links of Asqua Santa on the Roman Campagna.

On this day in History 16th April 1856

Mr. W.A. Scott at a meeting of the Town Commissioners advocated the formation of a Free Library and Museum.

On this day in History 15th April 1847

First Session of the County Court was held. Mr J.S.F. Greene, Judge; Mr J. Woods, Registrar; Mr. H. Lord, Bailiff.

Volunteers Wanted

Volunteer Opportunity

The 'Knit One Pass It On' project aims to teach secondary school art students the skills of knitting. Many young people have missed out on the opportunity to learn these traditional crafts so this project aims to open up this opportunity to them.

Elizabeth and members of the Knitty Gritty group have been invited to work with Holy Family RC and CE College in Heywood, to create knitted sea pieces to add to the sculpture. The art teacher Emma Dolan has selected pupils especially for the project and we will be working in small groups to make the skill sharing more accommodating for everyone.

The first workshop will take place at the school in Heywood. A coach will provide transport from Touchstones Rochdale to the school for volunteers and I will meet people at Touchstones Reception.
Refreshments will be provided at the school.

Monday 26th April 2010
Coach will collect people at Touchstones Rochdale at 1.30pm
We will return from Holy Family School to Touchstones Rochdale at 4.20pm

I hope you are able to take part in the project and look forward to seeing you in the future!

Please contact Alison Cooper at Touchstones Rochdale if you are interested in volunteering.

Thanks Alison.

Knitting News

Knitted Sculpture

Thanks to everyone who made it to the Knitty Gritty workshop with Elizabeth Smith. I'm over halfway through my seaweed strand now so should be finished soon! All the pieces of seaweed we make will be collected by Elizabeth and sewn together to create a unique knitted sculpture. The sculpture will be on display in our very exiting, forthcoming exhibition 'Knit One, Purl One: Contemporary Knitting and Crochet' which opens on May 1st 2010.

When you have finished your marine knitting please hand it in to the reception here at Touchstones. You are
welcome to leave your name with the work too.

If you have finished the first seaweed project and would like a different challenge (which does not have to be the same project as you have finished) leave a note in the bag with your contact details and we will post something new out to you!

Thanks

Alison

On this day in History 14th April 1854

Brimrod U.M.C Chapel opened. There had been an earlier meeting place.

Create Consult

FREE Creative Print Making Workshop, 14-19yrs old

This Wednesday 14th April 1pm-4pm

Join Gallery Staff and print specialist Alan Birch to create your own pieces of printed artwork. Get hints and tips on how to present your work and help the gallery staff get together ideas for the forthcoming exhibition 'People's Art 2010'.

Booking essential, call 01706 924492.

Parental consent form required for young people under 18yrs old.

Consent forms available from Touchstones Rochdale Reception.