OPEN SPACES 800

Randall, JM; Birch, A

Abstract

International Artists Residency/Exhibition, Kunsthaus, Bocholt, Germany.

In September 2021, Jill Randall was invited to represent the UK and participate in the International Artists Programme,' OPEN SPACES 800', in the city of Bocholt, Germany, to celebrate the upcoming 800th Anniversary of the city's founding.
The project, “Impressions of Bocholt’’ was undertaken in conjunction with artist Alan Birch.

Jill Randall and Alan Birch created an Artists Studio forming an art installation in the gallery, as well as a working space set up both for the artists to create new work during the 10 days, but also involve members of the public and schools in the Individual creation of prints responding to the buildings of the city of Bocholt, their own personal Bocholt, with their “impressions”;- a play both on their personal responses and on the use of printmaking.
At this time of European division and nationalism, this project reinforced the very important international friendship and European links between the 2 twin towns of Bocholt and Rossendale.

Over the 10 days, the work produced by both artists and project participants gradually filled a large wall of the Kunsthaus with fresh and exciting images in print of the buildings and special places of the city produced by its citizens and the artists.
It reinforced the ideas of home and refuge, responding to key themes set by the commissioners, reappraising the familiar , and recreating the city of Bocholt through print on an ambitious scale.
Techniques used were etchings and drypoint prints created using a portable etching press.
Workshop participants were introduced to printmaking techniques such as etching on metallic card, producing their prints from start to finish in the temporary studio. These were then added to a growing wall of prints to be displayed on the Kunsthaus wall.

How the Proposal connected with OPEN SPACES 800 themes:-

The theme would be “Rediscovering Bocholt’ - after the changes of Lockdown, after Brexit, after the city as refuge for many different peoples and cultures.

It also addressed themes of :-

People/Heimat/Artists,
History/Past/Today/Tomorrow
Homeland/World/Migration/Community.

The work produced focussed on the concept of :-

STADT = home town (Heimat) and place of refuge
CITY = Past, Today, Tomorrow
STADT = centre and surroundings.

Citation

Randall, J., & Birch, A. OPEN SPACES 800. [Catalogue]. 17 September 2021 - 27 September 2021. (Unpublished)

• Exhibition Performance Type: Exhibition
• Start Date: Sep 17, 2021
• End Date: Sep 27, 2021
• Deposit Date: Aug 25, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9783000712418
• Related Public URLs: https://openspaces800.de/en/
• Additional Information: Number of Pieces : 210; Funders : State of North State of North Rhine-Westphalia under the programme "Heimat- Werkstatt".;Stadt Bocholt; Projects : OPEN SPACES 800