THE “slow cooking” philosophy is spreading to craft makers in an exhibition with the message that the traditional processes behind their contemporary art cannot be hurried.

Make It Slow is making a leisurely journey across a network of small-scale venues in the East Riding, North Yorkshire and East Lancashire, stopping this month at Pocklington Arts Centre.

Exhibition curator Grace Whowell has brought together Aimee Betts, Fenella Elms, Lizzie Farey, Chris Keenan, Misun Won and Sharon Adams: six craftsmen who embrace the values of the Slow Movement through their use of intricate techniques, sustainable materials and their connection with traditional skills.

Aimee is a mixed-media embroidery designer with an ambition to bring the tradition of embroidery to the forefront of contemporary design practice, while ceramic artist Fenella constructs her wall hangings painstakingly from hundreds of individually made porcelain beads.

Lizzie uses traditional basketry techniques to create sculptural forms from willow, birch, heather, bog myrtle and other locally grown woods. Chris, who trained under Edmund de Waal, makes bowls, cups, jars and vases in porcelain with a simple palette.

Misun’s intricate handcrafted silver jewellery is inspired by Korean patchwork techniques and Sharon’s functionless utensils are influenced by the kind of mysterious objects found in museum collections.

“This exhibition highlights how ‘slow’ processes – thinking, researching, experimenting – are vital to all makers and their practice,” says curator Grace. “It also highlights broader issues, such as sustainability and consumerism.

“The works featured are an ‘antidote’ to quickly made, mass-produced objects and help us to re-connect with the very human act of making things with our hands.

“Each object within this inspiring show has its own story to tell and will encourage us to think about how we can apply ‘slow’ to our hectic modern lives.”

Make It Slow is the first in the Art Unpacked series of touring exhibitions created by North Yorkshire organisation Chrysalis Art.

It runs at Pocklington Arts Centre until April 5 before moving on to The Folly, Settle, from April 15 to June 29, No 6 Studio Gallery, Pateley Bridge, from July 9 to August 6, and The Courthouse, Thirsk, from August 9 to September 6.

At the last, it will slip across the Pennine border, slowly of course, to Accrington Library.

 

•EAST Riding artist Corinne Young will hold a Make It Slow linen paper workshop at Pocklington Arts Centre on Saturday, April 5 from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

This informal and friendly morning of making will draw inspiration from Make It Slow and the history of growing and processing flax in and around Pocklington.

Corinne will guide participants through the process of making small pieces of paper using linen fibre and incorporating objects such as leaves, petals and threads.

She also will show how to employ ready-made pieces to create small items such as flowers or brooches.

“Come for the whole session or drop in for part of it,” says Corinne.

“It’s suitable for all ages, it’s free and no booking is needed. “Just turn up.”