Formed in June 2020, the Cornwall and Devon Cluster Hub is part of a growing initiative by Design-Nation to foster links between its members within regions and localities, and one that has been very timely since the advent of lockdowns and the sense of isolation created by these. The group has a new exhibition opening in May 2021 called “Time Lapse: recording a moment in time”.
The Cornwall and Devon Cluster Hub comprises designer/makers of jewellery, ceramics, glass, sculptural silver, wearable art, film and textiles. Throughout 2020, despite restrictions on sales opportunities and exhibitions, they continued to work, united under the Covid-19 umbrella, responding to the restrictions which have been imposed on all our lives. The members have used their making to explore their shared experience of lockdown, boosting mood and developing resilience.
This time of reflection has given rise to a range of work in response to issues observed locally but which are of international concern, reflecting worldwide trends in more mindful and caring approaches to life and work. Issues the D&C group are looking at include:
- Plastic which washes up on our beaches, particularly the vast quantities of commercial fishing gear.
- The importance of native woodland and concerns about habitat destruction.
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species
- Reduced, repetitive lifestyles and the need for social interaction.
This thought and creativity has resulted in a colllective body of work which records what happened when time stopped, when Covid took hold, and how these artists responded… and then emerged into the public domain after a period of containment and introspection. Using this exhibition opportunity as a springboard, the artists have explored the benefits of creating art as a way of coping with living through a pandemic.
Artists exhibiting: Abigail Brown, Alison Brown, Bridget Macklin, Fiona Sperryn, Lynne Speake, Lucy Spink, Maria Andrews, Maxine Greer and Susan Kinley.
The exhibition will be on show at the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro from 17 May until 25 July 2021.
All images courtesy of the exhibiting artists.