Freeman College adds more metal to ‘Galvanize’ festival
A stunning exhibition of modern metal work is set to is underway at a new contemporary gallery in the heart of Sheffield.The exhibition, entitled Fusion (December 8-15), is part of this year's Galvanize Sheffield Festival, and will be held at the Freeman College ‘Academy of Makers' gallery in the Butcher Works, Arundel Street.
Thanks to major funding from Objective One and the Heritage Lottery Fund, Freeman College, one of the partners of the Galvanize Festival, has converted the 6,000 square feet ground floor of the historic Butcher Works into craft workshops, a café and contemporary gallery.
The site, called the ‘Academy of Makers', will provide managed workshops for crafts people and designers working in a range of metals and provide work placement opportunities for Freeman College students.
The exhibition will feature a striking hand-forged silver vase, called ‘M-Fire 4', by award-winning Japanese silversmith Hiroshi Suzuki.
Hiroshi exhibits pieces across the globe and in 2005 was shortlisted for the Jerwood Applied Arts Prize for excellence and innovation in metal by the Crafts Council.
Aonghus Gordon, founder of RMET, was bowled over by both the artist and the vase and purchased it for the Freeman College with the Galvanize festival in mind.
Freeman College students have made a short film about Hiroshi and the vase at the artist's workspace in the Harley Gallery, Worksop, which will accompany the vase at the exhibition.
Sandra Thomas, Freeman College film tutor, said: "Everyone is very pleased with the film and the students who contributed to it. Students asked questions, filmed and devised an atmospheric soundtrack, all of which resulted in a very impressive and artistic production."
Released on behalf of Freeman College, by HR Media Ltd, The Workstation, 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield S1 2BX. For further information, contact Jill Theobald on 0114 221 0359 or email jill@hrmedia.org.uk or Martin Webb on 0114 296 5508 or email martinw@hrmedia.org.uk
