Sun 11 February, 10.30am – 3.30pm
Create a collaborative installation with artist Liaqat Rasul, enjoy traditional wood turning demonstrations from Greenwood Days, discover the ‘power of wool’ in workshops with bio-inspired textile artist and winner of the Young Innovators Award 2022/23 Nicci James, and discover Victorian photographic techniques with artist Jo Gane. There will be something for everyone with drop-in activities including giant weaving and much more.
Mobile Dreamscapes (Artist-led activity) | Drop in 10:30am-12:30pm & 1-3:30pm
Family-friendly
Create a collaborative installation using recycled and found materials with collage & textile artist Liaqat Rasul. You will be given props that chime, odd shapes to suspend from a washing line, and materials to mould, fold and squash!
Liaqat is a self-described ‘low tech and spontaneous’ artist and a maker obsessed with all kinds of ephemera; from travel tickets and invoices to the softness and texture of folded, cut, and scrunched bits of old paper. He is the creator of ‘Wish’ a mobile collage in the History in the Making exhibition.
All ages welcome
The Giant Weaving Recycling Challenge | Drop in 10:30am-3:30pm
Family-friendly
Can you weave your way to create a giant artwork or sculpture using an old bicycle wheel, chair and ribbon? Experiment and play with found objects and materials, guided by our learning team.
Traditional Pole Lathe Wood Turning Demonstration (Artist-led demonstration)| Drop in 10:30am-1pm & 1:30-3:30pm
Join Peter Wood, a green woodcarver from Greenwood Days, as he demonstrates how to turn wood on a traditional pole lathe. Peter travels the country demonstrating his craft and at this demo, there will be the opportunity to discover how the lathe works by having a go yourself.
The Power of Wool* (Artist-led workshop) | 10:30 – 11:10am, 11:30am – 12:10pm, 12:30 – 1:10pm , 1:40 – 2:20pm, 2:40 – 3:20pm, 3:40 – 4:20pm
*This is a 30 min led activity; limited spaces are available. Book in with the artist on the day.
Discover the process of Wet Felting with winner of the Young Innovators Award 2022/23 and bio-inspired textile artist Nicci James. In this mini, tactile workshop, you will make your own colourful abstract landscape, explore how ‘felting’ happens and experience the change in wool from single fibre to constructed textile. Nicci sees the power of wool to reduce the need for synthetics in Fashion.
Performative Photography Lectures (Artist-led talk) | 11am & 2pm
Join photographic artist and educator Jo Gane for a performance lecture exploring Victorian photographic processes which inspired the ‘Liquid Silver’ exhibition at Compton Verney*. Jo will discuss techniques inspired by the archive of Victorian chemistry lecturer and photographic pioneer George Shaw (1818 – 1904) and take you on a journey exploring the fluid potential of silver as a material and the rich heritage of manufacturing in Birmingham which inspired her.
*Commissioned by Compton Verney and Coventry Biennial in partnership with Warwickshire Libraries
Recommended for ages 14+
History in the Making Touch Tours | 12pm, 1pm &2:45pm
Family-friendly
*Limited spaces are available. Ensure prompt arrival at the meeting point.
Join us to learn about some of the most exciting and innovative makers working today with our Learning Manager and curator of the Future Materials Gallery. Learn how artists are shifting between craft, design and science to offer solutions to one of the central challenges of our times – how we can continue our love for beautiful objects whilst ensuring we truly minimise our impact on the planet. These special tours are family friendly and include a tactile object handling session, explore how a ‘living’ vase feels and how a textile made from roots can weave itself.
Free with a valid day ticket or membership