Soapworks, a venue set in the old Gardiners of Bristol building, in Old Market, has become the newest art space in town.
In the midst of this catastrophic year for our cultural landscape, being able to spend the afternoon there was a complete breath of fresh air.
60 Bristol artists have created visual arts, performance, talks and events, for a month-long programme gathered by Centre of Gravity, including Jo Lathwood, BEEF, Andrew Mania and Annabel Other, as well as emerging artists from Caraboo Projects, Rising Arts Agency and Latch.
The project is a collaboration between the Centre of Gravity arts collective and First Base, owner of the Soapworks site in the former home of Gardiner Haskins.
The team behind Centre of Gravity comprises curator Paula Orrell, artists Tim Knowles and Mariele Neudecker, and producers and art workers John O’Connor and Rosie Bowery.
They all have responded uniquely to the context, history and architecture of the building.
In a press release, a few weeks ago, curator Paula Orrell explained the thinking behind their project:
"It is an incredible opportunity to be able to use the former Gardiner Haskins warehouse, now known as The Soapworks. We hope whether it’s physically or digitally, everyone across Bristol and beyond can experience great contemporary art that is being made in this city right now and see this fantastic building in all its glory."
Here is a little tour, in pictures:
The place in itself is a former factory of gigantic dimension so the whole show runs on 5 different levels, in many rooms and around a old staircases - a space so immense it reminded me of some of Berlin's art gallery and an experience I had in Paris, at Théâtre du Châtelet / Théâtre de la Ville with the indescribable project known as DAU...
Yes, there is a giant 'Brizopoly' as well, in the last top room, but you'll have to compete with children to get near it!
You can also buy special soap, enveloped in artworks, as a souvenir...
-
More on the artists here: Centre of Gravity
The exhibition is running from 3 October to the 1st of November.
-
Soapworks, Bristol, BS2 0FQ
Access via Old Bread Street
NO BOOKING REQUIRED
Wednesdays & Thursdays: 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Fridays: 2:00pm - 7:00pm
Saturdays: 12:00pm - 7:00pm
Sundays: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
-
About the building:
Situated between Straight Street, New Thomas Street and Broad Plain, the immense warehouse was built in 1865 by William Bruce Gingell and is known to be an example of the Bristol Byzantine style, a variety of Byzantine Revival architecture that was popular in the city from about 1850 to 1880 (many buildings in the style have been destroyed or demolished, but notable surviving examples include the Colston Hall, the Granary on Welsh Back, the Carriage Works on Stokes Croft, several buildings around Victoria Street, warehouses around the harbour including the Arnolfini, Clarks Wood Company warehouse & the St Vincent's Works in Silverthorne Lane and the Wool Hall in St Thomas Street).
Originally, the Gardiners warehouse was part of Christopher Thomas and Brothers' soap works and in 1958 became home to what is now known as Gardiner Haskins of Gardiner Sons & Co Ltd, an independent homeware retailer established in 1893. In 1966, English Heritage designated is as a grade II listed building.
In 2018 Gardiner Haskins announced its intention to vacate Gardiners warehouse and move to a new showroom opposite the building. Since then, plans have been going on to transform the place into an art centre of incredible dimensions.
No comments:
Post a Comment