Nicola Smith creator of We Are Resident residency exchange programme for families will talk about the challenges and rewards of developing this project. Her talk will end with a short performance and reading of her commissioned written piece entitled A Woman’s Work is Never Done. As part of the We Are Resident exchange programme, Finnish artist Saara Sillanpää accompanied by partner and two young sons will be artists’ in residence at Islington Mill from 23 October – 4 November 2016. While British artist Helen Sargeant and her son have recently completed a two-week residency in Finland at the Takahuhti Art Centre, Tampere. Saara Sillanpää will talk about her artistic practice and the Tampere arts scene in Finland.
The programme will culminate in an exhibition titled We Are Resident at Islington Mill Gallery Space of work by resident artists’ Saara Sillanpää, Helen Sargeant, Nicola Smith and a selection of invited artist parents in the gallery space on the 30/10/16, 3-4pm. The exhibition will showcase the artists’ work produced during and beyond their residencies with the intention of starting a dialogue and explore connections between the works.
The talk starts at 6pm and then dinner will follow. Potluck means to bring a small dish to share.
Bio: Saara Sillanpää was born in 1977. Sillanpää completed her MA in Visual Culture at the Aalto University, School of Art & Design in 2013. Sillanpaa is a painter and has worked as an Art Teacher in Tampere schools for over 10 years. She has exhibited in Finland, Germany, France and her work is in Tampere City, Nokia and Visulahti public art collections.
Bio: Nicola Smith was born in London in 1975. Smith works predominantly in the medium of performance, and re-presents the documentation as art installations. Smith completed an MA in Fine Art at Liverpool John Moores University in 2010. She has performed and exhibited at Z-Arts, HOME, Ny Space, CFCCA, PAPER, Bluecoat, and Arnolfini. Smith has co-produced performances and co-curated exhibitions with Pool Arts and PAPER gallery. She has undertaken artist residencies in Finland, China and Berlin.
In 2016 Nicola was commissioned by AirSpace Gallery to write a contextual piece for the current exhibition Women’s Work at AirSpace Gallery and the Potteries Museum Art Gallery in Stoke, which includes her current research themes being a working mother and power structures within the arts.
We Are Resident is supported by a grant from Arts Council England in partnership with Islington Mill & The Artists’ Association.
Weekly Wednesday Potlucks
Islington Mill is open to the public (almost) every Wednesday for a rotating series of lectures, film nights, artist critiques & hands on workshops as an addition to our potluck tradition.
Doors are at 6:00pm for food in the 1st floor Common Room & event times will be as announced week to week.
All are welcome to attend either the potluck or the event, or both!
