University to help relaunch exhibition

The ‘Sensing Sculpture’ exhibition, to be officially reopened at Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Wednesday, 1 May 2013, has been created with assistance from University students and alumni led by sculptor and MA Fine Art course leader Benedict Carpenter.

The majority of the works in the exhibition feature audio interpretation panels consisting of recorded discussions about the sculptures between Benedict, Honorary Fellow of the University of Wolverhampton Ron Dutton and two current Fine Art students.

As part of the redisplay, the gallery explores the contrast between traditional and modern approaches to sculpture. Several of the items on display made from traditional materials such as wood, stone and bronze come from the Art Gallery’s collection and have never been on public display before.

The exhibition also looks at Wolverhampton as a city with an outstanding reputation for teaching and producing sculpture. Many of the works on display are by celebrated sculptors who have studied, taught or worked in the city.

Sculptors in the display with a connection to the University, or its predecessor institutions, also include Robert Jackson Emerson, Glynn Williams and John Paddison.

Benedict Carpenter, from University’s School of Art and Design, said: “It is fascinating to see so many connections between the sculptures in this new permanent display and the staff and students, past and present, of the Fine Art Department at the University of Wolverhampton.

“Above all else, this gallery demonstrates the on-going strength of sculpture within the School of Art and Design. It was a terrific opportunity for the students involved in the audio interpretations to gain a privileged glimpse into how a gallery runs, to see the care and planning that goes into mounting a display such as this; and it really is great to have work commissioned from recent masters’ graduates of the school.”

Carol Thompson, Curator at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, added: “We’re very excited about opening the doors to the new ‘Sensing Sculpture’ exhibition which has been created to make this skilled art form both accessible and appealing for as many people as possible. We’ve focused on maximising interactivity and we encourage visitors to touch everything in the gallery.”

For more information regarding the exhibition, please contact Charli Hill, Cultural Promotions Officer at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery, at charli.hill@wolverhampton.gov.uk or on 01902 552040.

ENDS

For more information please contact Patrick Campbell in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322448

Date Issued: Friday, 26 April 2013