Bilston Enamels: Talk and Q&A
Artsfest / Artsfest 2021 / Bilston Enamels: Talk and Q&A
An event hosted by Wolverhampton Art Gallery and The University of Wolverhampton exploring the past, present and future of Bilston enamels.
An event hosted by Wolverhampton Art Gallery and The University of Wolverhampton exploring the past, present and future of Bilston enamels.
Join artist and graphic designer Sharonjit Kaur Sutton, artist and producer Iris Bertz and renowned craftsman and eighteenth-century enamel researcher John Grayson for a special online event exploring the history of enamel making in the Bilston area and contemporary approaches to enamel design in relation to the Bilston Art Project.
Sharonjit Kaur Sutton and Iris Bertz have been working together on an artwork for the Bilston Art Project, commissioned by the University of Wolverhampton. Both are graduates from the School of Art - almost 20 years apart - and share a love of creating together. Sharonjit and Iris work on numerous arts projects through Bertz Associates, but this commission was a real opportunity to explore their own voice.
From this fun collaboration were born several pieces that borrow from Bilston’s historic enamel industry, combining the ornate designs scenes found on many Bilston enamels from the Georgian period (c. 1750 – 1830) with irreverent knitted cats! The collage pieces incorporate images of Bilston enamels from Wolverhampton Art Gallery’s collection – one of the largest collections of Bilston enamels in the world.
Sharonjit and Iris will discuss their collaboration and explore the possible future of Bilston enamels with John Grayson.
About the Bilston Art Project
Earlier this year the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Art issued a call out for 10 artists and/or designers to submit proposals for new public artworks to be displayed in Bilston. The artists/designers were required to be Art and Design graduates from the School of Art.
Each artist will have an external showcase of their art/design/media imagery in a prominent town centre location in Bilston, as well as the opportunity to deliver an online public art workshop with local schools, groups and residents in Bilston.
Glass / Fine Art
Artsfest 2021
January 2021 Recordings:
February 2021 Recordings:
April 2021 Recordings:
- Yam Cams: Photography in the Black Country
- Blown Away Winner Elliot Walker Demonstrates Hot Glass at the University of Wolverhampton
- HoPIN Webinar: Illustrated Print for Industry and Commerce
- All the Writing Selves We Have to Be - A Discussion on Writing Careers
- Masters in Conversation - Stephen Snoddy
May 2021 Recordings:
- Intellectual Property Series: Inspiration or Imitation? Copyright & Moral Rights in Artistic Works
- HoPIN Webinar: The Rise of Photographic Illustration 1839-80
- Your Future - Fashion and Textile Careers
- Revisiting a Tonic for the Nation: Introduction to the Festival of Britain
- Lyric Writing Master Class with Xidus Pain
- World IBD Day: When Art and Medicine Meet
- Paul Cox - His Illustrated Life and Career
- The Wrenna by R.M. Francis - Book Launch
- Intellectual Property Series: Intellectual Property and Photography - Creators, Owners and Licences
June 2021 Recordings:
- Intellectual Property Series: What’s in a Name: Trade Marks and Brands – Workshop
- British Art Show 9 and Socially Engaged Art
- In Conversation - Dr Louise Fenton and Artist Paul Cox
- Intellectual Property Series: Fashion, Textiles and Intellectual Property: Patchworks, Quilts or Veils?
- Intellectual Property Series: Intellectual Property and the Music Industry: Mapping the Maze
- Bilston Enamels: Talk and Q ∓ A
August 2021 Recordings:
September 2021 Recordings:
October 2021 Recordings:
- Trans and Non-Binary Representation in Musical Theatre with Andi Lee Carter
- Creative Futures - Lynsey Harris Designer Maker
- East Asian Representation in the Broadway Musical Allegiance
- Creative Futures: Jason Fernandes, 3D Designer ∓ 3D Design Lecturer
- Cultural Appropriation in Film, Music and Fashion Creative Industries
November 2021 Recordings:
- Black Representation in Musical Theatre
- Creative Futures: David Longworth Exploring Careers at the BBC
- South Asian Representation in Musical Theatre
- Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man at Seventy
- Creative Futures: VOiD Applications Web Design
- The Top Secret Poetry Notebook of Willis the Poet
- HoPIN Webinar: Illustrating Industry
- Creative Futures: Naomi Jacques Glass Artist
- Family Planning - The Lived Experience Through Art - Panel Discussion
December 2021 Recordings:
- Creative Futures: Nick Cohen Creative Director, Writer and Maker
- Why Bother? The Art of Disability: Practice Does Not Make the Perfect (Disrupting Bodies)
- How a Manchester Gallery Supports Disabled and Neurodivergent Artists
- Simon Briercliffe in Conversation with Professor Keith Gildart
- Creative Futures: Eighty3 Design, Web Design and Branding
- Poetry on Prescription: Creative Writing & Wellbeing
- The Art of Disability History: A personal view through NDACA (the national disability arts collection and archive)
- It’s An Artists Life: Talk with Artist Tanya Raabe
We are embracing Black History Month beyond the confines of a single month. Our intention is for Black History Month to transcend seasonality and 'tokenism’ so that the original initiative itself is eventually no longer required.