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Discover & Research

Fabrication

Summer 2021

The practicalities of how artists approach making sculpture, and their relationship with skilled fabricators, has often been shrouded in mystery.

We examine the blurred lines between art, craft and industry, revealing how sculptors realise their vision through collaboration and exchange.

Black and white photograph of numerous steel pipes and grid covers, piled together on a concrete floor.

About this season

This Research Season makes visible rarely-acknowledged ways in which sculptors, in both historical and contemporary contexts, collaborate with skilled fabricators to bring their projects to fruition. It also examines ways in which making sculpture has changed, particularly in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

This Research Season has been organised in collaboration with Pangaea Sculptors’ Centre and the Universities of Leeds, York and Sheffield.

Fabrication as a Career

Roundtable discussion with artists Simeon Barclay & Karin Ruggaber and fabricators Rui Pignatelli & Nigel Schofield, Wednesday 21 April 2021.

 

Artists Simeon Barclay, Professor Karin Ruggaber (University College London) and fabricators Rui Pignatelli (Pangaea Sculptors’ Centre) and Nigel Schofield (MDM Props) join us for a live roundtable discussion on the professional relationship between sculpture and fabrication.

The speakers explore issues regarding the teaching of fabrication in art schools, access to fabrication facilities and how knowledge of fabrication may inform sculptural practice. This is followed by discussion and questions from the audience.

 

About the speakers

Simeon Barclay

Simeon Barclay

Rui Pignatelli

Rui Pignatelli

Karin Ruggaber

Karin Ruggaber

Nigel Schofield

Nigel Schofield

Engaging Technologies / Emerging Technologies

Roundtable discussion with artists Alice Channer, Zachary Eastwood-Bloom and Daniel Steegman Mangrané, Wednesday 26 May 2021.

 

Artists Alice Channer, Zachary Eastwood-Bloom and Daniel Steegman Mangrané join us for a live roundtable discussion about the use of new and emerging technologies in sculptural production.

The speakers explore the use of new technologies in their own sculptural practice, followed by discussion and questions from the audience.

 

About the speakers

Alice Channer

Alice Channer

Zachary Eastwood-Bloom

Zachary Eastwood-Bloom

Daniel Steegmann Mangrané

Daniel Steegmann Mangrané

Artist in-conversation series

Curator Clare O’Dowd talks to a range of sculptors about public commissions and collaborations.

 

Thomas J Price

Wednesday 28 April 2021

Artist Thomas J Price discusses recent examples of his work with fabricators, including the use of bronze foundry processes for sculptures such as Reaching Out 2020, installed at The Line, London and Within the Folds (Dialogue 1) 2020, currently at Sculpture Milwaukee, USA.

 

Heather Phillipson

Wednesday 12 May 2021

Artist Heather Phillipson talks about her experience of working on two recent public commissions: THE END, for the Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square 2020-22, and RUPTURE NO 1: blowtorching the bitten peach, commissioned for Duveen Galleries, Tate Britain (2021).

 

Nicola Ellis

Wednesday 23 June 2021

Artist Nicola Ellis discusses the works she has produced as part of Return to Ritherdon, a project based on a two-year artist placement at Ritherdon & Co Ltd, a manufacturer of steel enclosures based in Darwen, Lancashire.

 

Ivan Clarke, Matt Ridsdale and Petra Schmidt

Wednesday 14 July 2021

Ivan Clarke, Matt Ridsdale (Directors, millimetre) and Petra Schmidt (Production Manager, Commissions, Tate Modern) discuss their work on Kara Walker’s Fons Americanus, the 2019 Hyundai Turbine Hall Commission at Tate Modern, highlighting practices of sustainability in fabrication.

 

About the speakers

Thomas J Price

Thomas J Price

Heather Phillipson

Heather Phillipson

Nicola Ellis

Nicola Ellis

Ivan Clarke

Ivan Clarke

Matt Ridsdale

Matt Ridsdale

Petra Schmidt

Petra Schmidt

Fabrication and Accessibility

Panel discussion exploring the practicalities of making sculpture for artists with disabilities, Wednesday 13 October 2021.

 

Artists Anna Berry and Tony Heaton and fabricator Nigel Schofield (MDM Props) discuss the issue of accessibility in art fabrication.

This event explores some of the practical issues for artists with disabilities around working with fabricators on large-scale sculpture and installation projects, from communication to health and safety, funding and more.

 

About the speakers

Anna Berry

Anna Berry

Tony Heaton

Tony Heaton

Nigel Schofield

Nigel Schofield

Valuing Sculpture: Contemporary Perspectives on Art, Craft and Industry, 1660-1860

Two-day conference with keynote speakers Dr Greg Sullivan and Dr Rebecca Wade, 27–28 July 2021.

 

The indeterminate position of sculpture within the arts is a malleable concept which continues to challenge researchers. Categorisations such as art, craft, or industry contrive barriers, separating works from one another and disavowing the cross-fertilisations between sculptors, makers and artisans involved in the formal practices and aesthetics of art production.

This conference will refocus attention on how links have been consistently made between media and making processes to categorise and subsequently value sculpture. The conference is organised by Sammi Scott and Charlotte Davis (University of York), Caitlin Scott (University of Sheffield), and Hannah Kaspar (University of Leeds) in collaboration with the Henry Moore Institute. With keynote speakers Dr Greg Sullivan (University of York/ St Paul’s Cathedral) and Dr Rebecca Wade (independent).

This conference was recorded and is available to watch on request, please email us at research@henry-moore.org if you are interested.