‘Mind - be here, present / be here now’

Kingshill House proudly presented an exhibition co-curated by Stroud based artist Athene Greig and Georgie White Winter titled ‘Mind - be here, present / be here now’ which was open to the public from Saturday 26th February until Saturday 16th April 2022.
This exhibition was a response to an Open Call where everyone was encouraged to enter and all styles were considered. The focus of all the works running through the exhibition was the importance of the Mind in a creative practice and the challenges of being present.

After several years of a world pandemic, Kingshill House wanted to see where creative minds had taken their practice. Questioning if the act of creation is a form of escapism, a little breathing space to relax, to get outside of one's head and pursue a mindful experience. This exhibition explored how important it is to ‘be here, present/be here now’ and find space for creativity, whilst exploring escapism through art and craft. The wide selection of works exhibited crossed themes of creating in the present mind along with a sense of mindfulness; being intensely aware of what one is sensing and feeling in the moment.

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For many of the artists in this exhibition creating work had become a habit that distracted them from the confines of their mind, but we wanted to know if it was more than that. Understanding that Mindfulness and Escapism are seen as opposites and equals at the same time, the method of creating work can be a mantra or even an entrapment. We proudly showed art and craft works that varied in scale and medium including handicrafts, outsider art, painting, tapestry, ceramics, works on paper, embroidery, sculpture, photography, video and installation works.

The artists featured in this show were; Alina Dolgin, Alyson Matthews, Andi Brown, Anna Suwalowska, Annelies Egli, Åse Vikse, Ayça Ceylan, Berna Pullen, Cameron Scott, Caroline Gregory, Carrie Foulkes, Damaris Athene, Emily Lazerwitz, Emily Ma, Emily Vanns, Felicity Swan, Georgina Towler, Hannah Turner-Duffin, Helen Sargeant, Inês Miguel Oliveira, Jo Ball, Jo Lovelock, Julie Hicks, Kadie Salmon, Karolis Andriulis, Katie Heller Saltoun, Liam Dickson, Lindsay Viner, Lisa Lavery, Lisa Price, Louise Bradley, Maria Barbu, Martha Kelsey, Mhairi Treharne, Michelle Gallagher, Miroslava Vecerova, Mi-Young Choi, Nessie, Nicky Hodge, Sylvia Causer & Andrea Freeman, Rachel Toon, Ruth Batham, Ryan Sarah Murphy, Sammy Millwood, Skyler Yixian Liu, Sophie Simpson, Suzanne Golden, Tim Edgar, Tim Neath, Una d'Aragona, Varosha Cornford, Vicky Falconer

Kingshill House is passionate to champion and share art, craft, health and wellbeing with the community. We believe that art and craft is for everyone, and Kingshill House is a safe space where anyone can come, be creative, enjoy themselves, relax and take their minds off things. We specialise in delivering workshops, courses, drop-in classes and exhibitions which inspire and educate people on contemporary, traditional and folk crafts.
​A fun and creative activity sheet was produced to coincide with this exhibition which was available at the House to complete whilst viewing the exhibition and free to take home. Kingshill House proudly donated 10% of sales during the exhibition period to Young Gloucestershire (YG).

Young Gloucestershire (YG) is a countywide youth-work charity that supports vulnerable and marginalised young people (aged 11-25) who face complex challenges in their lives.

Kingshill House, Kingshill Lane, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 4BZ
www.kingshillhouse.org.uk - 01453 549133

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Young Gloucestershire (YG) is a countywide charity that supports disadvantaged young people who are facing challenges in their lives.

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