2-6pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and at other times by appointment
Free admission

All four artists are sensitive to the atmosphere of a site or place. Although they do not all seek to address issues of site specificity directly, the environment of Fermynwoods nevertheless provides the perfect context for this exhibition.

It is a very particular place, calm yet complex: having both public and private spaces, of home, gallery and studio.
The contrasts of rural setting and landscaped garden, a Victorian water tower and light contemporary interior spaces are what makes it more interesting than a ‘white cube’ gallery. While the notion of Quiet Sound gives impetus to an idea of art as a source of the contemplative, the location of Fermynwoods provides a physical and atmospheric framework that the artists can respond to, while expressing their individual concerns.

Claire Barber is showing an existing body of work. Her sculptural pieces and photographs document her exploration of a quiet and neglected district of Nara, in Kyoto prefecture, Japan, to which she was drawn to make artistic interventions, both within the architectural context of the place and using found materials on her return to the UK.

Karen Downing, Chiaki Kurumizawa, and Leigh Toro were invited to make new work in response to the inside or outside spaces of Fermynwoods.

In an installation of creamy white porcelain circular vessels, Karen Downing’s repeated forms evoke the incremental changes of time and motion, similar to tidal markings on sand and, in the context of the exhibition, waves of sound.

Chiaki Kurumizawa uses the unlikely materials of clingfilm and water to create ‘water balls’ that collectively transform spaces, conceiving extraordinary and magical environments.

Leigh Toro interprets both site, exhibition idea and materials used by fellow artist Karen Downing through the recording, manipulation and presentation of sound.


Workshops associated to this exhibition:

Sunday 6 August at the Private View
Introduction to the exhibition by the curator, Kate Stoddart
3pm
Free

Workshops and talks associated with 'Quiet Sound'

Sunday 20 August
Crystal Radio Workshop
Come and make your own radio! Great fun and you can take it home.
2 workshops: 10am- 12pm and 2pm 4pm
For 7 year olds up wards (parents welcome too!)
Maximum eight children per workshop (with parent(s) if they want to join in)
£10 per child
Bring packed lunch
Venue: the gallery

Saturday 9 September
Making and Raku Day
A day in which to learn how to hand make clay vessels and Raku fire them. Raku is the ancient Japanese Art of rapid glaze firing. Unlike conventional firing techniques, ceramic objects are pulled from the kiln of up to 1,000 degrees centigrade, glazed and placed in a combustible material (ie sawdust) before being plunged into water to freeze the beautiful surface designs and colours. Immediate and fascinating – you will be hooked!
Adult course –maximum 8 people
£55 (lunch included)
10am-5pm
Venue: the gallery

Sunday 24 September
Family Raku (see details above about the process) and picnic day
Great fun for all the famly. You can bring your own biscuit fired pots, but there will be many provided.
£15 per person (7years & above) includes picnic
10am- 4pm
Venue: the gallery

For bookings and further information,
Rosalind Stoddart, Fermynwoods Contemporary Art,
The Water Tower, Brigstock, Kettering, NN14 3JA.
Tel: 00 44 (0) 1536 373469
Email: gallery@fermynwoods.co.uk www.fermynwoods.co.uk



Private View photographs:
Special thanks to:
Ella and Olivia Davies for the photography and video work at the private view.