My Bluecoat
In this week's Newsletter we're excited to share with you our exclusive video interview with artist Jonathan Baldock!

Baldock's new exhibition Facecrime opened in our gallery on Thu 12 Mar, just before we temporarily closed the building. Filmed on the night of the launch, enjoy footage from the exhibition and hear Baldock discuss the influences and inspirations behind his playful and surreal exhibition of ceramics.

Delve into highlights from our archive of ceramics at Bluecoat and enjoy Brigitte Jurack's film about her experience making ceramic pieces with people living with dementia. You can also join in the fun and make your own egg box faces, inspired by Baldock's ceramic masks in his exhibition. 
 

Artist Interview
Jonathan Baldock: Facecrime
In early March we launched Facecrime, an exhibition by artist Jonathan Baldock. Facecrime features a surreal landscape of ceramic towers and masks adorned with human features. Baldock’s towers can be heard laughing, whistling, sighing and groaning as if trying to communicate to us without words.

In our latest video interview, Baldock introduces the exhibition in his own words and explains the influences behind the show, from ancient clay tablets to the modern day emoji.

Watch the video here. 

Learn more about Facecrime here.
 

Ceramics at Bluecoat through the years
Jonathan Baldock’s exhibition at Bluecoat makes inventive and playful use of clay, a medium often associated with craft. This breaking down of the distinctions between crafts and fine art disciplines is increasingly common in contemporary art. We have trawled our archive at Bluecoat to select images reflecting this crossover. 
 
Watch our short film to explore ceramics at Bluecoat. Featuring the work of Marc Camille Chaimowicz, Julia Carter Preston, Duncan Grant, Bashir Makhoul, Lindsey Mendick and many more.

Read our blog to find out more. 

Explore deeper into Bluecoat's heritage here.
 

Where the Arts Belong
Working with clay in dementia care
In 2019, Bluecoat launched Where the Arts Belong, a programme supporting artists to collaborate with people living with dementia and their carers. Much of the project activity is taking place in community care villages run by our partner organisation Belong. 

One of the artists in residence is sculptor Brigitte Jurack, who took her ceramic practice into Belong Crewe last year. Brigitte worked with people with dementia, bringing the rich sensory aspects of working with clay into their lives.

Watch this insightful film, made for the Korean International Ceramics Biennial, which captures Brigitte's approach and experience. We hope you will enjoy it.
 

Family Activity: Egg Box Faces
Inspired by the clay masks in Jonathan Baldock's Facecrime exhibition, make your own face sculptures using egg boxes! 

Watch our 'How To' video here.

Download the worksheet here.

Share your creations with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 
 
As a charity, we rely on the income generated by our cafe, bistro and events programme. While our building remains closed in line with guidance from Public Health England, we're losing a huge portion of our income. 
 
Do you regularly visit Bluecoat for a coffee or lunch? We would be so grateful if you could consider donating what you might have spent. Your support will help us to reopen as soon as possible after the restrictions are lifted. 
We need your help now more than ever. 
Thank you for your support
 
Did someone pass this email onto you? Click here to sign up for free now.
 
Follow us on social media
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Website
 
Bluecoat is funded by:

Facecrime is commissioned by Camden Arts Centre with Tramway. The work was developed through the Freelands Lomax Ceramics Fellowship and is funded by the Freelands Foundation. The 2020 installation at Bluecoat is supported by the Henry Moore Foundation.
Bluecoat is supported by:
 
Image credits: Jonathan Baldock, Facecrime, Bluecoat exhibition view, 2020; Julia Carter Preston in her pottery studio at Bluecoat, 1950s.
 
Copyright © 2020 Bluecoat, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.