the simpsons: an arts & crafts family...sep 17, 2018 · explores the simpson family’s...
TRANSCRIPT
Lakeland Arts Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal
Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry, Kendal
Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House, Bowness-on-Windermere
Windermere Jetty Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories, Bowness-on-Windermere
Lakeland Arts is a company limited by guarantee which is registered in England and Wales with company number 8162578.
Registered office Abbot Hall, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 5AL. Lakeland Arts is also a registered charity, registration number 1153001.
Correspondence Address Blackwell The Arts & Crafts House
Bowness-On-Windermere
Cumbria, LA23 3JT
T: 015394 46139
www.lakelandarts.org.uk
PRESS RELEASE 17 September 2018
The Simpsons: An Arts & Crafts Family Cumbrian crafts family in limelight as part of Blackwell exhibition One of the masters of the Arts & Crafts movement is in focus as part of a brand-new exhibition.
The Simpsons: An Arts & Crafts Family runs from 21 September 2018 to 6 January 2019 at Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House.
The exhibition looks at one of the most creative family enterprises in both Cumbrian and Arts & Crafts history. It explores the Simpson family’s craftsmanship throughout Blackwell and presents work by Arthur Simpson, one of the master craftsmen of the movement.
Although Blackwell has staged exhibitions of Arthur’s work before, this is the first exhibition of work by the Simpsons family as a whole. It places them in the context of the Arts & Crafts Movement in the Lake District.
The Simpsons: An Arts & Crafts Family offers the chance for visitors to see rarely displayed items from the Lakeland Arts collection including textiles, embroidery, leatherwork, furniture, wood carving, original drawings and designs.
It also features a selection of loans from Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery as well as several unseen pieces from private collections. Highlights include personal items made by the family members for each other and a design for a carving at Blackwell.
PRESS CALL: Friday 21 September, 12 noon at Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House. Interview our exhibition curator Chelsea Eves and see furniture and other items created by this remarkable Cumbrian family. Also see three ceramic pieces by Grayson Perry. More details [email protected] / 07706166787.
Arthur Simpson was born in Cumbria in 1857. He showed an early flair for wood-carving, working in London before returning to establish his famous Handicrafts workshop in Kendal and showroom in Windermere.
The superb workmanship of his furniture, with clean simple lines, found a ready market locally. Much of the woodwork in Blackwell was created by the hands of Arthur Simpson.
But although well-known in Cumbria, Arthur was somewhat overlooked in the wider story of the Arts & Crafts Movement.
As well as being a master craftsman, Arthur was an astute businessman and had an eye on the future. He was able to pass on his skills to his children, encouraging them to have an artistic outlook. They, in turn, became a creative force.
Jane Simpson, despite a lack of prior experience, found herself to be a natural at embroidery. Wanting to be actively involved in the business she produced startling embroideries, leatherwork and needlepoint bedspreads inspired by the natural world around her. Daughter Hilda also produced embroidery, creating delicate lace-work, and both sons became apprentices under their father’s guidance.
Chelsea Eves, exhibition curator said: “Arthur Simpson was one of the best carvers of his day. The workmanship put in to his furniture was truly outstanding. There is so much passion in his work.
“It’s remarkable that each of the family of five were hugely talented in their own right. And under the stewardship of Simpson they worked collaboratively.
“But while they had notoriety in Cumbria, The Simpsons were overlooked elsewhere, and little is written about them in the annals of Arts & Crafts history.
“This exhibition will focus on the family’s creative work but also look at who they were. We are keen to tell their stories for the first time.”
Lakeland Arts Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal
Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry, Kendal
Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House, Bowness-on-Windermere
Windermere Jetty Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories, Bowness-on-Windermere
Lakeland Arts is a company limited by guarantee which is registered in England and Wales with company number 8162578.
Registered office Abbot Hall, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 5AL. Lakeland Arts is also a registered charity, registration number 1153001.
Correspondence Address Blackwell The Arts & Crafts House
Bowness-On-Windermere
Cumbria, LA23 3JT
T: 015394 46139
www.lakelandarts.org.uk
Running alongside this exhibition will be Grayson Perry Ceramics: In-Focus (21 September 2018 to 6 January 2019) which features three spotlight loans. Included are Melanie (2014) on loan from York Museums Trust (York Art Gallery), Mad Kid’s Bedroom Wall Pot (1996) on loan from the Crafts Council, and Christening Pot (1998), on loan from a private collection.
More details about the exhibition at www.blackwell.org.uk
Ends
Notes to editors:
For further information contact Dickie Felton [email protected] or [email protected]
Image downloads: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n7bacj4vm7vdy6e/AABA7FQJAImcOUc-_OsoOSa1a?dl=0
Lakeland Arts:
Lakeland Arts has a portfolio of galleries and museums in the Lake District. It opened Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal, in 1962 and since then has built up an outstanding collection and a strong reputation for showing exhibitions of national and international artists of the highest quality.
Abbot Hall also houses the Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry in the former coach house and stables. The gallery and surrounding estate will undergo a major £7.1m redevelopment planned to start in 2020.
Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House in Bowness-on-Windermere is architect MH Baillie Scott's greatest house and retains most of its original decorative features. It is a perfect setting for exhibitions of historical and contemporary craft.
Lakeland Arts is nearing completion of Windermere Jetty Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories. Designed by Carmody Groarke architects, this will be a new world-class museum in a stunning setting on Windermere and will display an internationally important collection of boats which are all associated with lake Windermere.
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is the major funder for the Museum. HLF grants are made possible by National Lottery players. The project is also supported by Regional Growth Fund and Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):
New General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) came into effect in May 2018. We want to ensure that your data is handled correctly. One of the main requirements is to make sure we have your consent to receiving certain types of communication – and I would be grateful if you could confirm that you are happy to receive communications from Lakeland Arts about programmes and events by emailing [email protected].