Spike Island Open Studios from 29 April - 2 May 2016
Posted on: 26 Apr 2016Over the bank holiday weekend enjoy this free event as artists and creative tenants at Spike Island in Bristol open their doors to people of all ages to allow you to explore their working environment and see what they do. A former tea packing factory, Spike Island - situated on Cumberland Road and just a stone’s throw from the SS Great Britain - is now home to hundreds of artists, designers and creative businesses.
Michael Beutler, Family Workshop (2011) MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, courtesy MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst
Experience everything from family workshops, pop-up cinema, outdoor bingo-driven fitness activities (interesting!), disruptive public service announcements, stairwell installations of light and sound, and live molten rock casting. Artist Michael Beutler will hold a family workshop entitled Production Playground: you're invited to use and operate hand-built tools with the artist and fellow producers to make ‘tea bag bricks’ with an ‘inflating machine’, cut cardboard sheets with a ‘slicing train’, and help the artist bring his exhibition to completion.
Other highlights include Run Logan Run (Friday, Saturday and Sunday); a duo taking inspiration from the British Jazz Punk scene. They use extended breathing techniques to create music that is ‘both beautiful and beautiful’ combining a saxophone and drum kit. There’s something that sounds quite spectacular...a live lava pour! On Monday between 3-5pm in the Sculpture Yard watch artist Jo Lathwood manipulate molten rock into new sculptures. A collaboration with artist Solveig Settemsdal will see the work presented across both of their studio spaces over the weekend. The performance will mark a three month culmination of research into using volcanic rock as a sculptural material.
As you might have guessed, there’s so much more going on that it would be impossible to include everything in this article...Why not view the online version of the visitor guide for full info on all the great goings-on over the four days
Left: Ore and Ingot, photograph by Nic Caro. Right: Spike Island Open Studios (2015) Photograph by Alessandra Somani.
Speaking of Michael Beutler and his family workshop, his hugely impressive site-specific installation Pump House will continue in-situ throughout the event and runs until 19 June. The exhibition is a collaboration with Nottingham Contemporary, drawing upon the fact that the same architects who redeveloped Spike Island’s exhibition spaces in 2007 – namely Caruso St John – were also in charge of building Nottingham Contemporary from scratch soon after. Beutler has specifically conceived an exhibition in two chapters which physically and conceptually links the two art galleries. Find out more here.
Aside from all the great things going on you’ll also be able to sample some of Bristol’s very best street food from some fantastic traders. Hotdogs, donuts, artisan coffee and loads more will be available. Don’t forget Spike Island Cafe either! Get your hands on some great offerings like colourful salads and their BBQ pulled pork sandwiches.
Why not catch a ferry from the centre to the SS Great Britain to make your day a little different? It’s less than 5 minutes walk to Spike Island from the ferry stop. Number Sven Boats run regular round trips all day and at just £1.50 single and £2 return for adults it's cheaper than you'd think! - check out their timetable here.
For all the info on this event and all the other great things going on at Spike Island visit www.spikeisland.org.uk and check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Spike Island: 133 Cumberland Road, Bristol, BS1 6UX
Article by:
Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
