Sue Blackwell: Remnants

A press release from the Brontë Parsonage Museum:

Su Blackwell: Remnants
21 August - 28 November 2010
Brontë Parsonage Museum

Artist Su Blackwell is returning to Yorkshire next week to open an exhibition of new work, Remnants, at the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, West Yorkshire. Sheffield-born Su Blackwell studied for her first degree at Bradford College of Art and Design before going on to complete an MA at the Royal College of Art in London in 2003. Su Blackwell will create a series of site-specific installations, inspired by the museum collections, for exhibition in the historic rooms of the Bronte Parsonage Museum. The exhibition opens on Saturday 21 August 2010 and has been funded by The Radcliffe Trust and Arts Council England as part of the Brontë Parsonage Museum’s contemporary arts programme.

Su Blackwell creates book-cut sculptures; intricate three-dimensional illustrations cut from the pages of books, and inspired by the stories inside. In this exhibition, Su will develop the scope and scale of her sculptures to create a series of site-specific installations responding to the Brontës and the Parsonage collections. The final works will be displayed amongst the Brontës’ own possessions in the period rooms of the museum.

Su Blackwell often works within the realm of folklore and fairytales, and Remnants will respond to Wuthering Heights as well as the themes of childhood, imagination and storytelling. The series of delicate interventions will suggest the Brontës’ imaginary worlds and hint at a spirit world still present.

“Su Blackwell’s work is exquisite and we are delighted to be working with her. Much of the museum’s collection is paper-based, and there are many connections between Su’s work and the Brontës, not least their use of paper as a precious material. Paper was an expensive resource in Victorian times, and the tiny books made by the Brontë children were created from scraps of wallpaper or discarded paper, and used in imaginative ways. The exhibition will explore these many connections through a programme of supporting events”. (Jenna Holmes, Arts Officer)

Su Blackwell was born in Sheffield and studied at Bradford College of Art and Design, before graduating with an MA from the Royal College of Art in 2003. Su’s work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions internationally, including The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh; Museum of Art and Design, New York; Hosfelt Gallery, San Francisco and Courtauld Institute of Art, London. Her work has appeared in numerous advertising campaigns including commissions for Volvo, Pilsner Urquell and Cartier Stores, Paris. She lives and works in London.

The exhibition runs until Sunday 28 November 2010 and is free on admission to the Bronte Parsonage Museum. The museum is open daily 10am until 5.30m from April to September, and 11am until 5pm October to March. For admission prices see www.bronte.info.

The artist herself has shared part of her experience on her blog:

I am intrigued by the mystery that surrounds the Brontë family, and by the Moors that surround their once family home. Wuthering Heights was one of the first books I read, and is still a favourite of mine. Not least because I have personal associations with it. I remember my nan giving me her copy of the book, when I was about ten years old. I drove from London to Haworth last week to begin my research in the Museum Library. There were many inspiring objects on display, but I am still in the early stages of my research, and am not sure which direction I am going to take yet. (15 March 2010)

It has come around so quickly! I’m just putting the finishing touches to the ‘works’, for what has been, and will be a most inspirational, and challenging project for me.
I will be there for the Opening Night, with guest speaker Kirstie Hamilton from Museums Sheffield, to welcome you to the Show. I hope to see you there. (10 August 2010)

Categories: Art-Exhibitions, Brontë Parsonage Museum