Spike Island

Harriet Bowman's moulded and stacked leather sculptures are tanned in the sun and recall car interiors. In her work 'and the atoms began to freely pass to the larger body', thick leather has been shaped by the artist through a traditional wet moulding technique. Image: Harriet Bowman, Stacked leather moulds (obstruction) (2018) Moulded leather. Installation view, All Round-er (sad sale), Spike Island (2018) Photograph by Stuart Whipps #leathersculpture #tanning #harrietbowman #spikeisland https://ift.tt/2vxEvNF

Installation views of Harriet Bowman All Round-er (sad sale) exhibition at Spike Island (21 July to 23 September 2018)
Harriet Bowman (b. 1990, based in Bristol) works with sculpture and writing. For her solo exhibition, All Round-er (sad sale), Bowman presents a new body of ceramic, leather, metal and sound works based on an ongoing narrative. This text – a key part of the artist’s process similar to making preliminary sketches – follows a fictional character called Fled who... explores Bowman’s own curiosities for cars, horsepower and the language of advertising. Her writing generates symbolic objects that act as physical footnotes to the text. In the exhibition these objects are revealed in a theatrical diorama.
www.spikeisland.org.uk/…/exhibit…/har riet-bowman-exhibition/
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Installation views of European Interiors at Spike Island (21 July to 23 September 2018)
Danish artist Nina Beier works with an array of objects that carry particular social histories, from human hair wigs to mechanical rodeo bulls and cigars to soap. By physically challenging these objects in various ways, she investigates how their value is constructed and communicated and reveals implicit power structures.
www.spikeisland.org.uk/e…/exhibitions/e xhibition-nina-beier/

Our next I Am Making Art session is fast approaching! Balance, prop and combine objects before documenting them as photographs with artist Natasha MacVoy. You are welcome to bring an object with you or to play with the found objects brought from the artist’s studio. Book your free place >>> https://buff.ly/2vMVDOI Image courtesy the artist. #artmaking #bristol #thingstodo #natashamacvoy #spikeisland https://ift.tt/2vRMapi

Nina Beier, Curly Maroon Fade Pixie (2016); Layered Side-Swept Ombre (2015); Rich Copper Charleston (2015); Choppy Layers Blunt Bang (2016); Ebony Volume Frizz (2015) Human hair wigs, painted frames. Installation view, European Interiors, Spike Island (2018) Photograph by Stuart Whipps.
www.spikeisland.org.uk/e…/exhibitions/e xhibition-nina-beier/

A major new commission for Nina Beier's exhibition #EuropeanInteriors is 'Plug' , a series of pastel coloured bathroom sinks scattered across the main gallery and protruding out of the floor and walls. Hand-rolled cigars – objects heavily loaded with references to patriarchy, power and global trade – are made to fit the hole of the drain in these domestic sinks, just as cigars are made to fit the human mouth. #NinaBeier Installation view (2018), Spike Island. Photograph by Stuart Whipps https://ift.tt/2nhBWe1

Our alumni artist Andrea Luka Zimmerman's film 'Civil Rites' is presented at #TheLondonOpen2018 exhibition until 26 August at Whitechapel Gallery http://bit.ly/2nhn4fy
A timely meditation on contemporary social justice movements. Don't miss it.

This week's top exhibitions via A-N includes Harriet Bowman's current show at Spike Island http://bit.ly/2M06ejF
Harriet Bowman (b. 1990, based in Bristol) works with sculpture and writing. For her solo exhibition, 'All Round-er (sad sale)', Bowman presents a new body of ceramic, leather, metal and sound works based on an ongoing narrative. #HarrietBowman

THREE exhibitions to enjoy at Spike Island this weekend! Nina Beier, Harriet Bowman and Colin Higginson upstairs in Test Space >>> http://bit.ly/2Kpx1kr Galleries open 12-5pm (free entry) #Bristol #art #exhibitions

Announcing the next Spike Island exhibition: Benoît Maire, 'Thebes' opens 6 October 2018 https://buff.ly/2n428c5 Benoît Maire can be described as a visual philosopher, taking inspiration from a range of disciplines including geometry, sociology and mythology. His major solo exhibition #Thebes at Spike Island features more than ninety works ranging from paintings and sculptures to furniture, everyday objects and films. Image: Benoît Maire, 'Origin of numbers' (2017) Courtesy the artist #BenoîtMaire #SpikeIsland Thebes was originally commissioned by CAPC musée d’art contemporain, Bordeaux. https://ift.tt/2OG2faq

A shortlist of reading that we recommend to you this summer ☀️📚 (including books, journals and one conversation) http://bit.ly/2vslQCd #summerreads
Featuring writers ranging from Sophie Mackintosh to Jacquetta Hawkes, and publishers including The White Review, Penguin Books, Whitechapel Gallery and The Good Journal.

Our August e-news is filled with exhibitions, events, recommendations and news! Read it here 👀>>> http://bit.ly/2O20wuH

'An intriguing pair of shows at Spike Island this summer features, respectively, some familiar objects placed in unfamiliar settings' via @bristol247

The first sculpture you almost trip over as you enter Beier’s exhibition is 'Charity Hotel', a toppled bronze imitation of Antonio Canova’s statue The Three Graces stuffed with steel wool. A well-known motif, The Three Graces was created as an allegory for feminine qualities and we are immediately reminded of society’s projections onto the female body. Beier places the object on a journey from the symbolic to purely material and back again. 'Charity Hotel', besides being a sy...mbol of old gendered ideals, represents flesh in patinated bronze and wool in finely shredded steel. Beier uncovers multiple layers of meaning in her works: what is implied through the intention, use and trading of objects and perhaps most importantly, what is projected onto them. #NinaBeier #EuropeanInteriors Exhibition continues until 23 September 2018 (free entry) Installation photograph by Stuart Whipps. https://ift.tt/2mXjRSk
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Harriet Bowman (b. 1990, based in Bristol) works with sculpture and writing. For her solo exhibition, 'All Round-er (sad sale)', she presents a new body of ceramic, leather, metal and sound works based on an ongoing narrative. This text – a key part of the artist’s process similar to making preliminary sketches – follows a fictional character called Fled who explores Bowman’s own curiosities for cars, horsepower and the language of advertising. Her writing generates symbolic objects that act as physical footnotes to the text. In the exhibition these objects are revealed in a theatrical diorama. https://buff.ly/2N2JHQE Exhibition continues to 23 September 2018. Installation view, Spike Island, Bristol. Photograph by Stuart Whipps #HarrietBowman #leathersculpture #leatherwork #Bristol https://ift.tt/2NUcB5c

Harriet Bowman 'All Round-er (sad sale)' 21 July to 23 September 2018 http://bit.ly/2v6csni Installation view, Spike Island... Photograph by Stuart Whipps, courtesy the artist and Spike Island
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We had a wonderful day learning about

Silk screening.

Gail was a superb teacher.

The cafe food was delicious too!

Visited to view a colleagues art work, really enjoyed the exhibits, some very thought provoking pieces.

The cafe sold amazing coffee and lovely cakes .

Will visit again.

This was my first visit, and I was very impressed by the layout, and ease of contact with artists and their work. A great variety of inspiring art; I was especially drawn to the creations of Beth Carter. Mythical, perceptive and unforgettable. And the cafe has a good variety of drinks and reasonably priced food.

It is always a treat to visit Spike Island cafe, and the Earth Hour event was no exception. Fantastic food, ambiance, speakers and entertainment. Met the most wonderful people too. Just brilliant

I work there every Tuesday volunteer and a day before that I work at the M Shed I do a lot of volunteering around Bristol I'm very surprised today because they had a power cut but we still carries on and everybody work to the team

I always go see what's on, have a snack in the cafe with my family, enjoy the walk.

Great space, made very welcome by helpful staff. Came to see UWE’s Fine Art degree show. Not disappointed- rich, diverse and very engaging work.

First time only went to cafe but food was great i had cheese and onion flan with salad and chips it was sooo nice only complaint is i had a latte but it was cold i like my drinks hot

Fantastic atmosphere at your Open Studios event today, and the Raku workshop was brilliant! Would definitely do it again :)

Definitely a place to visit when in Bristol. Locally roasted coffee in the cafe was delicious and the staff were accommodating and friendly - we even had a guided tour after viewing the exhibition. Thank you �

Classy place lots to see and do but not cheap.It seems really up market but I do the know why eating out was V expensive house wine £19 a bottle ffs????

An amazing place where you never know when you meet the most popular artist or an amazing person. Where opportunities are at every corner. Love it!!!@

A great start to a very interesting project for all age groups. Highly informative and interesting to see how people in that environment lived.

Very much look forward to the ongoing refurbishment of buildings on the island as I have no doubt that this will add even more to this excellent project.

An amazing range of artwork to suit many tastes, it was great to meet the artists and talk about their interests and motivation.

Superb exhibition space. Excellent toilets. Good cafe and enjoyed cheese and onion quiche with a proper mug of tea. Friendly staff. Only had time to look at one exhibition. Amusing artwork and artefacts referencing domestic interiors. Surprised there was no tie in with Upfest that was going on only 15 minutes away over Vauxhall bridge. Upfest was-heaving. Spike Island was virtually empty. Think this gallery is rather too rarified. Live outside of Bristol but like to pop into Spike Island when I can. Never been wowed yet.

Nice welcome from a friendly chap in the gallery, really stimulating exhibition and enjoyed a quick coffee in the tea room afterward. Free exhibition folks... who could ask for more?

Great space, potential and artists. Not really open to youngsters and experimentation tho

Spike Island / Stuart Whipps 2016 by Hanz Koontz



When you study art at a higher degree level, you resolve issues of fragmentation within your practice and you develop an understanding of aesthetics and contextualisation. A fine art degree is separate - but may contain elements of graphics,photography and other / all.



As an individual that has trained as a photographer this work is questionable as art. The work is fragmented, it fails contextually and in its translation to an engaging piece of art. It's difficult to see how this work has any validation within a contemporary art gallery.



It's really confusing when a white photographer (unqualified artist) has more opportunities to progress in the arts than a qualified black artist. This work is endorsed by Helen Legg Director of Spike Island Gallery Bristol. Maybe she has an answer?

We had a wonderful day learning about

Silk screening.

Gail was a superb teacher.

The cafe food was delicious too!

Visited to view a colleagues art work, really enjoyed the exhibits, some very thought provoking pieces.

The cafe sold amazing coffee and lovely cakes .

Will visit again.

This was my first visit, and I was very impressed by the layout, and ease of contact with artists and their work. A great variety of inspiring art; I was especially drawn to the creations of Beth Carter. Mythical, perceptive and unforgettable. And the cafe has a good variety of drinks and reasonably priced food.

It is always a treat to visit Spike Island cafe, and the Earth Hour event was no exception. Fantastic food, ambiance, speakers and entertainment. Met the most wonderful people too. Just brilliant

I work there every Tuesday volunteer and a day before that I work at the M Shed I do a lot of volunteering around Bristol I'm very surprised today because they had a power cut but we still carries on and everybody work to the team

I always go see what's on, have a snack in the cafe with my family, enjoy the walk.

Great space, made very welcome by helpful staff. Came to see UWE’s Fine Art degree show. Not disappointed- rich, diverse and very engaging work.

First time only went to cafe but food was great i had cheese and onion flan with salad and chips it was sooo nice only complaint is i had a latte but it was cold i like my drinks hot

Fantastic atmosphere at your Open Studios event today, and the Raku workshop was brilliant! Would definitely do it again :)

Definitely a place to visit when in Bristol. Locally roasted coffee in the cafe was delicious and the staff were accommodating and friendly - we even had a guided tour after viewing the exhibition. Thank you �

Classy place lots to see and do but not cheap.It seems really up market but I do the know why eating out was V expensive house wine £19 a bottle ffs????

An amazing place where you never know when you meet the most popular artist or an amazing person. Where opportunities are at every corner. Love it!!!@

A great start to a very interesting project for all age groups. Highly informative and interesting to see how people in that environment lived.

Very much look forward to the ongoing refurbishment of buildings on the island as I have no doubt that this will add even more to this excellent project.

An amazing range of artwork to suit many tastes, it was great to meet the artists and talk about their interests and motivation.

Superb exhibition space. Excellent toilets. Good cafe and enjoyed cheese and onion quiche with a proper mug of tea. Friendly staff. Only had time to look at one exhibition. Amusing artwork and artefacts referencing domestic interiors. Surprised there was no tie in with Upfest that was going on only 15 minutes away over Vauxhall bridge. Upfest was-heaving. Spike Island was virtually empty. Think this gallery is rather too rarified. Live outside of Bristol but like to pop into Spike Island when I can. Never been wowed yet.

Nice welcome from a friendly chap in the gallery, really stimulating exhibition and enjoyed a quick coffee in the tea room afterward. Free exhibition folks... who could ask for more?

Great space, potential and artists. Not really open to youngsters and experimentation tho

Spike Island / Stuart Whipps 2016 by Hanz Koontz



When you study art at a higher degree level, you resolve issues of fragmentation within your practice and you develop an understanding of aesthetics and contextualisation. A fine art degree is separate - but may contain elements of graphics,photography and other / all.



As an individual that has trained as a photographer this work is questionable as art. The work is fragmented, it fails contextually and in its translation to an engaging piece of art. It's difficult to see how this work has any validation within a contemporary art gallery.



It's really confusing when a white photographer (unqualified artist) has more opportunities to progress in the arts than a qualified black artist. This work is endorsed by Helen Legg Director of Spike Island Gallery Bristol. Maybe she has an answer?