A collaboration between TSM and Vessel at York St John University, the symposium
Talking Sculpture: Dialects of Making presented a distinctly community-driven and collaborative practice in order to extend the overdue conversation offered by the current exhibition in Vessel of the same name. In refusing historical practices which have denied women artists space, this community building is integral to the ongoing feminist repositioning of abstract sculpture.
Keynote Speaker: Prof Griselda Pollock, art historian, writer, Emeritus Professor, University of Leeds.
Panel 1: The Matter of Materials
Introduction – Jack Morton
Speaker – Dr Victoria Sharples, artist, curator & academic
Chair – Becky Gee, curator
Artists Alexandra Harley (TSM), Katrina Cowling
Panel 2: Translating Making
Introduction – Emilia Manship
Speaker – Dr Julia McKinlay artist & academic
Chair – Sam Metz artist
Artists Sheila Vollmer (TSM), Hannah Honeywill
Panel 3: Contextualising Practice
Introduction – Adrian Westgarth
Speaker – Natalie Rudd curator and academic
Chair – Sarah Roberts artist and curator
Artists Gillian Brent (TSM), Dr Charlotte Cullen
Hosted at York St John University, the symposium coincided with the closing event for the exhibition Talking Sculpture: Dialects of Making at Vessel Gallery. This group exhibition included TSM members Gillian Brent MRSS, Alexandra Harley MRSS, and Sheila Vollmer MRSS, alongside sculptors Katrina Cowling, Hannah Honeywill MRSS, and Dr Charlotte Cullen MRSS.
This symposium was made possible with support from the Henry Moore Foundation and York St John University.