Open House is a long-term collaboration between Kettle’s Yard and our neighbouring communities in North Cambridge. Open House welcomes an Artist in Residence each year, selected by the community, to explore the local area, collaborate with local residents and create new artwork together.
For Adults
Open House
12 November 2019 – 2 February 2020
Open House Artists in Residence, Wright & Vandame, explored ideas of mental health, well-being, and space with our local community in North Cambridge. Inspired by the house and Jim Ede’s own experiences, the Research Space became an evolving display, documenting and reflecting Wright & Vandame’s progression through their residency.
The artists curated a selection of works of art from the Kettle’s Yard Reserve Collection exploring abstraction, nature, and wellbeing.
Wright & Vandame became interested in the origins of Kettle’s Yard following Jim Ede’s trauma experienced as a soldier on the Western Front during the First World War. Working site-specifically and collaboratively to transform and activate space, Wright & Vandame were also interested in the ‘living’ nature of Kettle’s Yard and how this theme can be used to inspire a social space to benefit community groups in North Cambridge.
After researching colour theory and composition, the artists selected artworks from the Reserve Collection which contrasted ideas of nature and abstraction. From the shores of Corsica to the harbour of St Ives, Wright & Vandame encouraged visitors to escape the winter blues and take a journey beyond the gallery into the unknown. Many of these artworks were made by lesser known, self-taught or naive artists ranging from Alfred Wallis and Bryan Pearce to the glorious post-war modernism of Helen Frankenthaler.
Over the duration of this display, Wright & Vandame lead a series of workshops to co-create a series of guided meditations in collaboration with community groups. One of these works of art will form the inspiration for a social space and installation in February 2020.
About Open House
About Wright & Vandame
Artist collective Wright & Vandame are the 2019/2020 Open House Artists in Residence for North Cambridge. Wright & Vandame will be working with communities in North Cambridge to creatively respond to the local area from now until March 2020.
Wright & Vandame’s work is often about creating social situations, through which participants have an active role in the outcome of the work – whether in an exercise class or sharing a meal.
