Manchester Write Up

Manchester Art Gallery:

1) My first impression of the Galleries was disappointment due to the old, period designs and artwork first visible  However the tall ceilings and space with multiple pathways around the gallery made it interesting and full of natural light. 

2) Art such as post modern, Victorian, period, interactive and modern art was on display. 

3) A difficulty I cam across was navigating around the Gallery itself. I wanted to visit the 'Glass Galleries' which is the newer extension of the gallery but found it rather difficult to locate.

4&5) Information about the pieces of art on display was clearly displayed on plaques under or near to the art. At the entrance leaflets were available which provided further information.

6) The interactive exhibition was large and full of light with bold colours and a positive vibe. The pieces had lots of space around them allowing more than one to interact/spectate.  

7) Desks and stations were used within the interactive department with seating so the audience could involve themselves and be creative. The room was in no logical order but just took advantage of the space instead. 

Manchester Craft Design Gallery:

1) The gallery as a whole was relaxed including numerous workshops on the two levels. The top level of the workshop was more like a balcony going round the perimeter of the gallery which provided masses of natural light to come pouring in from the windows. Each workshop provided a different style and form of art, with the ability to both browse and buy, and talk to the artist. A cafe and toilets were also available.  

2) Lily Greenwood creates artwork that involves collage mainly including butterflies, trees and nature. The studio was mostly displaying completed artwork however a small bench provided a working area for the artist. Whilst we were in the studio Lily was cutting out previously printed butterflies and arranging them on a painted canvas. On the walls of the studio were her completed canvases and on display units were paperweights and t-shirts she had created.  

3) The work in the workshop included techniques such as painting, photography, printing and collage.

4) The feedback I would give to the Gallery is to create a blog with pages for each workshop including photographs and information along with artist and visitors comments. This is a good method of reaching a larger audience and it can be viewed by anyone, anywhere. 

Bauhaus Movement

Overview:
Bauhaus was a school in Germany that combined the arts of crafts and Fine arts. The school was famous for its approach to design and how it was taught. The school was founded by Walter Gropius whom was an architect. Bauhaus became the most influential aspect of modernist architecture and modern design, including: art, graphics design, architecture, industrial design, typography and interior design. The school opened in 1919 and closed in 1933 due to the Nazi regime. 

Characteristics and Styles: Goods were well designed but mass produced in order to become economically stable as a country again. Gropius believed that designers and craftsmen should be educated together in a workshop-based program in order for them to see them selves as equals and produce work at the best standard in a result of this. Bauhaus created a great structure where there was no distinction between monumental and decorative art. The work from this movement excelled modernism.

3 Key Pieces: 

The Wassily Chair Marcel Breuer, 1925
Spiral Theme Naum Gabo 1941
Joost Schmidt Bauhaus Exhibition Poster

3 Key People:Marcel Breuer: A Hungarian designer born from a Jewish family. He specialised in architecture and furniture design and his interest was in simple forms and modular construction. One of his best known projects is the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. 

Naum Gabo: A Jewish, Russian sculpture interested in construction. He began studying medicine and natural sciences however transferred to a engineering school where he became interested in abstract art. When the world war broke out he took refuge in ST Ives Cornwall where he developed modernism in ST Ives. Gabos art is best described as a exploration of space. 

Joost Schmidt: A teacher/master at the Bauhaus, he was a typographer and graphic designer best known for his poster for the Bauhaus exhibition. 

World at the Time:The first world war broke out resulting in the closure of the Bauhaus. Many artists recognised in the movement fled to England and America due to having Jewish backgrounds. When Germany lost the war the country fell into an economic downfall and mass production of good quality goods by artists from the bauhaus movement helped build the economy again.  

Art Nouveau

Overview:Art Nouveau was one of the first 20th Century modern style. Inspiration came from the natural world and what was seen around them rather than looking back to history. The style was first showcased in Paris and then in London receiving mixed feedback. People either hated it or loved it. Two distinctive looks are apparent within the style: curvy lines and florals.    

Characteristics and Styles:Similar to the Arts and Craft movement they believed in good quality goods and fine craftsman ship and disagreed with mass production. The Art Nouveau was highly characterised by a number of aspects:- elongated, curvy lines,
- stylised flowers, leaves, roots, buds and seed pods
- the female form, long flowing hair- exotic woods, marquetry, iridescent glass, silver and semi-precious stones

3 Key Pieces:

Charles Rennie Mackintosh Rose and Tear Drop Fabric 1923

Emile Galle Gilt-decorated Glass Vase 1895



Louis Comfort Tiffany Garden Landscape & Fountain 1905

3 Key People:
Charles Rennie Mackintosh: Main representative of Art Nouveau in the UK and was a Scottish Architect, furniture and jewellery designer. He was a huge influenced on European design. His first major building was the Glasgow Herald Building in 1899. After completing several successful building designs he became a partner in Honeyman and Keppie. When economic hardships hit Mackintosh took to Suffolk where he created many floral watercolours.   

Emille Galle: Galle was the son of a furniture manufacturer He specialised in ceramics, glass and furniture designer. His career took off when he received praise from the Paris Exhibition of 1878. Galle reached international fame with his naturalism and floral style. 

Louis Comfort Tiffany: American artist and designer whom specialised in: lighting, tiles, glass and ceramics. He started out as a painter nut became interested in glass making which is what he is best known for. Tiffany began making a name for himself in interior design and was even commissioned by the president to redo the East Room, Blue Room, Red Room, State Dining Room and Entrance Hall  in the White House he added mantelpieces, stained galls and decorative patterns.

World at the Time:1859 The Origin of the Species is written by Charles Darwin, 1865 War and Peace is written by Tolstoy, 1867 Disraeli is prime minister, 1899 aspirin is first marketed, 1901 Marconi transmits first radio signals across the Atlantic.

   

Arts and Crafts Movement

Overview:The Art and Crafts Movement was a reaction against society in the late 1800's. The members of the movement wanted to regain well made hand crafted goods in replacement of mass produced, machine made goods. In order to do this they enforced the medieval system of trade and unions in order to establish their own companies to sell their goods. Regrettably these methods had the reverse effect and apart from the wealthy no one could afford their products and designs. Methods were not the only aspect from the past they put into practice, Medieval Art was a huge influence on the members. 

Style and Characteristics:The members of the movement were heavily influenced by Gothic Medieval styles, literature and the Orient. These medieval and Japanese art styles were combined to create ornamental and intricate patterns with elements of the natural world, through the use of symbols such as: hearts, rabbits, birds and forests. All the work was hand crafted with natural materials creating simple forms. Common materials were copper and pewter.    

3 Key Pieces: 

Wall cabinet, Elena Polenova, Russia, 1880-1890.

William Morris. Bird woven textile design, 1878.

1894, John William Waterhouse

3 Key People:
William Morris: set up own company with fellow artists called: Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co in 1861, Which later became just: Morris & Co. The company produced everything from furniture and textiles to wallpaper and jewellery.

Richard Norman Shaw: Scottish Architect whom was known for his country houses and commercial buildings. His work was characterised by open planning with staircases running up the side of the entrance hall, which became familiar in mass produced housing.  

William de Morgan:
He was a life long friend of William Morris and specialised in pottery and tile designing. He designed tiles, stained glass and furniture for Morris & Co. He experimented with innovative glazes and firing techniques. 

World at the Time:During this movement people were moving from the countryside into the major cities in order to work, due to the fact there was an industrial revolution  Mass production of goods was also in practice with new printing process being created. Key dates were:

1861 Great Expectations is written by Charles Dickens, 1863 first underground railway opens in London, 1867 Karl Marx writes Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, 1874 major Impressionist art exhibition with works by Monet, Degas, Renoir, 1885 Thomas Edison invents the light bulb.