Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case - Coppice

28 November - 7 February

Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case - Coppice

Examining the work on contemporary artists and makers who reveal, through their diverse, innovative and experimental approaches, the intrinsic beauty of wood.

Malcolm Martin and Gaynor Dowling draw bounding contours and shallow relief, inspired by land and sea, into oak and lime using basic hand tools. Tension between form and surface is accentuated by the fall of light across undulating surfaces and sensual forms.

Inspired by her training in geography and basketry, Dail Behennah's work is large in scale and abstract in nature. A pre-occupation with geometric forms, coupled with the effects of light and shadow, have resulted in hanging installations and meticulously constructed vessel-based forms.

Wycliffe Stutchbury's compositions reveal wood's unfashioned beauty, durability and vulnerability while respecting and emphasising its origin. Found, fallen, forgotten and liberated timber is altered to create new narratives.

Craft case
Wearable sculpture, fashioned from layered and compressed wood, by award-winning designer-maker Anthony Roussel is featured alongside Sarah Thirlwell's vibrant, tactile and intriguing turned vessel-forms with recycled inclusions.

Gallery activities and events
Free family workshop - Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case
Saturday, 30 January - 1-3.30pm
Led by artist Sarah Thirlwell. Taking inspiration from the exhibition Coppice, participants will explore line, shape, colour and texture. The event is free but spaces are limited, so please phone 01634 338319 to book your place. 16s and under must be accompanied by an adult.