By ‘We are commoners’ exhibition launches on Friday
A new exhibition through Lincs Inspire shows how shared processes, skills and values associated with creative making contribute to thriving commons neighbourhoods.
“The commons means: Things we share/ Places we share/ Systems we share/ Ideas we share/ Culture we share” Peter Barnes, On the Commons co-founder.
The Craftspace national touring exhibition, launching this May at the Hub, Sleaford, highlights ‘acts of commoning’.
These actions are shaping the way communities work together to share commonly owned assets and resources.
“These artists provide a powerful commentary on what society stands to gain from acting to protect and reclaim our global commons.”
Featuring both UK based and international artists, the exhibition reflects a commons-based shift in thinking, it will investigate how creativity, making and materials can highlight how acts of ‘commoning’ are creating thriving communities.
Exhibition themes range from work influenced by historical land based commons.
“Collectively made textiles from the Embroidered Digital Commons, coordinated by Ele Carpenter, considers the internet as a shared resource, whilst Lise Bjørne Linnert and Gelawesh Waledkhani investigate ideas of mobile commons with undocumented migrants in Norway.
“Sharing resources and ideas, including food production are explored by Rachael Colley and Jacky Oliver.
“Deirdre Nelson maps local acts of commoning around the streets where she lives in Glasgow.”
“Shane Waltener is making scaffold structures from locally sourced willow, bramble and handmade nettle and flax twine..
“I am creating a performance installation as ‘a symbolic act of repair’, one that prompts us to rethink our connections between land and materials, making a connection between the urban and the rural, learning from nature and landscape and in doing so, rewrite narratives and imaginaries relating to all of the above.” Shane Waltener
“Claudia Rodríguez and Ana Joaquina Ramírez collaborated, supported, and supervised by Rosina Santana Castellón, to bring different communities together with a focus on the polluted Santiago River affecting cities and agriculture, in Guadalajara, Mexico.”
The polluted water had caused cases of cancer in poor neighbourhoods next to it. This had caused division and suspicion in the community.
We are Commoners launches at Hub Sleaford with a Private View on Fri 6 May, 6-8pm following a tour throughout the UK. The exhibition is free to visit.
