Exhibitions
Welcome to the exhibitions page. Here you will find information about previous exhibitions that have been held at Manchester Craft and Design Centre in addition to information about our forthcoming exhibitions.
Current Exhibition
FourFront
24th November 2012 - 9th March 2013
Craft practice is steaming ahead, with makers increasingly utilising a range of new technology and mechanical processes to make their work.Craftspeople are 3D printing objects of head-scratching form, machine-cutting intricate detail from almost any material and producing work in the thousands with industrial machines. The FourFront exhibition showcases work from makers who are pulling craft firmly into the 21stcentury.
Manchester Craft and Design Centre have joined forces with Craft Scotland, with work frommetalworkerKirsty Eaglesfield, glassmakerRachel Elliott, and textile and paper artistsEliza KesumaandMhari McMullan.
Archive of Exhibitions
Crafting History
14th July - 10th November 2012
Crafting Historyshowcases creative responses to the history of Manchester Craft & Design Centre. ArtistCarys Davieshas produced a ceramic installation, uncovering the tales and memories of MCDC, donated during theCollecting Historyproject by visitors, artists and friends. 26 resident makers from the Centre have also donated work to the exhibition, which respond to historical facts or stories from MCDC's past.
Collecting History
28th April - 30th June 2012
We want to collect all of your tales, memories and facts about Manchester Craft & Design Centre as a creative venue and, if you remember, as a fish and poultry market.
Anti Sculptures by Laura Jane Blake
3rd March - 21st April 2012
Laura Jane Blake brings form to life, via the construction and animation of textile sculptures. She takes moments of movement from natural and industrial landscape and repeatedly brings them to the viewers attention, aiming to make usacutely aware of the fantastic in our daily environments.
On The Wire: Re-silicone by Lucy Fergus
10th January - 3rd March 2012
Lucy Fergus has adorned our humble Wire with hundreds of orange silicone ovals. The Re-silicone installation is made from multiple garlands, each made up of recycled hairbrush silicone ovals. Lucy has looped and hung individual garlands on-site, responding to the space here at Manchester Craft and Design Centre.
Manchester's Fitters
26th November 2011 - 25th Feb 2012
November saw the launch of our new fashion-forward exhibition, 'Manchester's Fitters'.Manchester has long been home of original brands and innovative design, and Manchester's Fitters will showcase a small but beautifully formed overview of the city's finest fashion creatives.
Made For Manchester: Craft Objects of Exchange
17 September 12 November 2011
As part of Asia Triennial Manchester, Made For Manchester will show work from British and Indian makers who haveexplored, united and utilised each others creative worlds.Manchester Craft & Design Centre will showcase the craft outcomes from a series ofcultural exchanges, completed by makers from the North West of England andAhmedabad, India.
The Walking Dead: drawings in plastic by Clare Knox-Bentham
14 May - 27 August 2011
Clare Knox-Bentham is fascinated with the Mexican tradition of celebrating the dead. Each large-scale plastic drawing she creates celebrates someones life.
Wood For The Trees
March-June 2011
TheWood For The Treessculpture by Charlie Whinney, suspended in the entrance area, has had homes all across the UK. It will be calling Manchester Craft and Design Centre home until June.
I'm Electric, You're Electric
12 February 2011 - 30 April 2011
Richard William Wheater questions contemporary perceptions of neon glass by introducing us to its past, as an industrial material, and demonstrating its possibilities as a modern creative medium.
Past Present Perfect (From Sat 27 November)
27 November 2010 - 29 January 2011
New contemporary work by Mancunian makers, inspired by tradition. Exhibitors record, comment on and push perceptions of heritage in ceramics, wood, textiles, plastics and found objects. Launches Saturday 27 November, 2 - 4pm. More info here.
Threadbare: Drawings in thread by Debbie Smyth
3 July 2010 - 13 November 2010
EXTENDED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND!
Debbie Smyth, a textile artist from Cheltenham, creates playful yet sophisticated contemporary artworks by stretching a network of threads between accurately plotted pins.
SPUN: Lighting by Jenny Bland
13 February 2010 - 19 June 2010
Jenny Bland is the 4th winner of our MMU Graduate Exhibition Award. Her beautiful handcrafted pendant lighting shades spun from fine threads are an innovation in textiles.
Distinction
14 November 2009 - 27 January 2010
A stunning collection of distinctive monochromatic ceramics, glass and textiles, to be shown on our ground floor his winter alongside our vibrant selection of resident makers.
WOOD
15 August 2009 - 31 October 2009
- a show which embraces the diversity of this staple material. Wood may be a medium primarily associated with furniture, but we have assembled a selection of makers all using wood in very different ways which exemplify its versatility and sustainability.
We are also delighted to be working with Wesley Barrell, who are displaying part of the exhibition in their Deansgate store until the end of September.
Click here for more information on the exhibition.
Eve Bennett - Head Full of Magic
16 May 2009 - 1 August 2009
Eve is the third winner of our annual MMU Graduate Exhibition Award. Her delicate, beautifully glazed ceramics tell very personal stories, sometimes poignant, often humorous.
UK Craft Mafias
20 March 2009 - 2 May 2009
This spring, as part of the UK:DIY project, we are hosting an exhibition of work currently being produced by members of the UK Craft Mafias. Click here to find out more.
In a separate project responding to the exhibition, independent artists ArtYarn have created a yarn wrapping round the 1st Floor bannister of the Centre, which will grow during the course of the exhibition and we'd like you to help!
Horror Vacui - Fear of the Void
23 January 2009 - 7 March 2009
As the only UK venue in this international touring exhibition, we are delighted to be showing Germany's Forum fur Schmuck und Design's (Forum for Jewellery and Design) 9th annual Members Exhibition. 85 jewellers from 13 countries have responded to the concept of 'Horror Vacui - Fear of the Void' in their own way, making this an eclectic display of exciting jewellery pieces.
Feast
17 October 2008 - 10 January 2009
Celebrating the simple pleasures of eating and drinking from our favourite bowls and cups - FEAST presents a fantastic display of original domestic tableware including cups, saucers, plates, bowls, teapots, jugs and platters; items to bring a smile to the face, use everyday or to save for special occasions. The work on show is just perfect for festive gifts or even treats for oneself to beat those winter blues!
Yard Birds
Friday 11 July 2008 - Saturday 4 October 2008
Hot Town! Summer in the City! Hard day at the office? Cant wait to get home for the weekend, kick off your socks and shoes and sit in the rays of the evening sunshine with a cool drink? Yard Birds is an outdoors-inspired exhibition which displays products which can be used in your outside space, as well as botanical-based jewellery and widlife-themed household accessories.
Beth Essex
11 April 2008 - 28 June 2008
Beth Essex is our 2nd Graduate Exhibition prizewinner chosen from Manchester Metropolitan University's degree shows in 2007. She will present her unique collection of jewellery made from textiles, porcelain and metal.
Yofi - Israeli Ceramics & Jewellery
25 January 2008 - 29 March 2008
A touring exhibition from flow gallery in Notting Hill, London showcasing ceramics and jewellery from Israeli artists.
Silver - 25 Year Anniversary 1982 - 2007
12 October 2007 - 12 January 2008
Manchester Craft and Design Centre is 25 years old this year! We will be hosting a Silver exhibition and an anniversary event here at the Craft Centre to mark this huge acheivement
Paper
27 July 2007 - 30 September 2007
Paper shows fabulous works by the very best of paper makers and designers from across the UK. The wide range of work on view shows just how versatile paper can be as a material.
Ars Ornata Europeana Student Competition
30 June 2007 - 21 July 2007
A group exhibition showing the results of the student competition held as part of the 11th Ars Ornata Europeana Conference 5 -8 July 2007.
A Coastal Archive
April 6 2007 - June 23 2007
Leanne Bramall, winner of our first MMU Graduate Award for a Solo Show, presents her collection of sculptural work, inspired by found objects from the Isle of Man coastline.
RAW
January 26 2007 - March 31 2007
A mixed media, group exhibition of five selected makers, whose work has a rough, free-hand quality. Exhibition includes work by: Laura McAfferty, Cathy Miles, Hanne Mannheimer, Bethan Lloyd Worthington and Beth Hughes.
Single Shot - Glass Gun
January 13 - 27 2007
Glass Gun, a film installation by Julie Hill, shows a figure of a gun, formed out of glass and suspended in space, exploding into myriad shards, light shimmering through tumbling fragments. Julie Hill's clever collapsing of cause and effect is a vivid reminder of the fragility of things and of our underlying propensity for violence. This work is being displayed in Manchester Craft and Design Centre's Cafe Aromat for just a fortnight, so don't miss this exciting opportunity to see its only showing in Manchester.
The Creature Show
Must end January 13 2007
The Creature Show looks at modern day soft toys and textile works with quirky but endearing personalities. The show includes work by eight makers whose hand-made designs are changing the face of soft toys and contemporary Crafts. Sketch books and design plans are on show alongside the creatures themselves, explaining more about how these quirky characters were created. There is also an area where you can make your own sock monkey or design your own creature.
Contemporary Scottish Jewellery
Until September 30 2006
Last chance to see this beautiful display, bringing together a selection of the finest contemporary Jewellers currently working in Scotland, some of whom are at the very beginning of their careers and others who are internationally recognised as being at the top of their profession.
Manchester's Faces
April 12th 2006- April 23rd 2006
An exhibition of photographs inspired by the Oxfam, Amnesty International and IANSA "Million Faces" Control Arms Campaign.
Sitting Room
Until July 15 2006
Manchester Craft and Design Centre is hosting an exciting and unusual exhibition dedicated to the art of sitting and reading.
Life Scars
February 4 2006 - April 8 2006.
Rachel Clowes has had a very busy time since her last visit to Manchester Craft and Design Centre as a contributing artist. That was back in Summer 2003...
Domestic, Wild, Pet or Vermin...
September 2 2005 - October 15 2005
The provocative work of Rebecca McEvoy explores the relationship between man and animals, between the living and the dead, between beauty and disgust. She has produced a collection that intrigues, fascinates and revolts.
Branching Out
October 29 2004 - January 14 2005
More than 300 individually made pieces of work, shown for the first time in the North West....