Abstract or Description: |
A new series of works for public exhibition, ‘What do I need to do to make it OK?’ was an investigation into damage and repair, disease and medicine, and the healing and restoration of landscapes, bodies, minds and objects through stitch and other media. Other exhibiting artists were Dorothy Caldwell (Canada), Saidhbhín Gibson (Ireland), Karina Thompson and Celia Pym. The exhibition opened at the Pump House Gallery, Battersea Park, London, 26 August 2015 where it ran to 1 November 2015. It included a study day for a group of RCA Textiles students (MA/PGR) during the exhibition. The exhibition toured the UK until November 2017, touring to the following locations: Crafts Study Centre (UCA, Farnham), Devon Guild of Craftsmen (Bovey Tracey, Devon), R-Space (Lisburn, Northern Ireland), Forty Hall (Enfield, London), The Spring Knitting & Stitching Show (Olympia, London), The National Centre for Art & Design (Sleaford, Lincolnshire) and Rugby Art Gallery & Museum. See https://lizcooper.org/what-do-i-need-to-do-to-make-it-ok/tour-schedule-for-make-it-ok/ An accompanying conference, Damage & Repair, was held at the Crafts Study Centre (UCA, Farnham) 2 March 2016, where Robins presented the keynote. See http://www.csc.uca.ac.uk/ An In-Conversation between Robins, artist Karina Thompson and curator, Liz Cooper was held at Devon Guild of Craftsmen 23 April 2016. A further In-Conversation between Robins, artist Celia Pym and curator, Liz Cooper was held at The Knitting & Stitching Show, Olympia, London, 4 March 2017. Additionally, there was a panel discussion at the conclusion of the exhibition tour led by Nikki Grange of Rugby Art Gallery & Museum between Robins, artists Celia Pym, Karina Thompson, Saidhbhín Gibson, Michaela McMillan and curator, Liz Cooper, 4 November 2017. The exhibition received the following press coverage: Textiles of recovery and repair (review of What do I need to do to make it OK?), Jessica Hemmings, Crafts, no. 257 November/December 2015 p.64-65, Exhibition Profile, Anne Williams, The Quilter, issue 145 winter 2015 p.42, Exhibition Review, Liz Hoggard, Embroidery, January/February 2016 p.55, Exhibition Review, Katy Bevan, Selvedge, issue 68 January/February 2016 p.92-93, Exhibition Review, Jenny Crawford, The Journal of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers, issue 258 Summer 2016 p.38, Exhibition Preview, Eleanor Flegg, Irish Arts Review, vol. 33 issue 2 Summer 2016, Threads of Time, Liz Cooper, Embroidery, July/August 2016 p.48, Making it OK (review of What do I need to do to make it OK?), Ian Wilson, Surface Design Journal, Fall 2016. The exhibition was curated by Liz Cooper. It was supported by a grant from Arts Council England and touring partners. It was developed in partnership with the International Textile Research Centre of the University for the Creative Arts, with R&D support from Arts Council England. |