Site Festival 2021 : 18th-26th September 2021
Over 160 artists exhibited and performed in exhibitions and events in Stroud.
Greer Pester, a Scottish visual and social artist, was artist in residence at SVA and ran free kids workshops on 18th-19th Sept. Her colourful palette embodies the exotic, taking enrichment from many years living and working in Mexico. For the following weekend, The Women’s Art Activation System invited the public to contribute artworks to ‘The Bureau for the Validation of Art’ in the John St Gallery.
At Woodchester Mansion, ‘Floating Flaws, Abandoned tools and unrealised dreams’, an exhibition by Paul Grellier and Jo Nathan, responded to this unique and time lost place, explored through sculpture, painting, sound and moving image. Sheppard Fidler + Stapleford presented an immersive site specific installation of sculpture, sound and video works for ‘leave / stay / arrive’ at Three Storeys in Nailsworth. ‘Mega Mega’, at the Goods Shed, marked the beginning of a fresh look at the relationships between fashion, textiles and contemporary art practice, exploring the innovative explorations of artists pushing the boundaries of this medium that is rooted in Stroud via its textile heritage.
Watch these films documenting Site Festival 2021
Festival Programme 2021
A night of Film, Fashion Performance and the CLUB inspired by sculpture, fashion, textiles and experimental performance.
As part of the SVA Open Studios and Invoking Absence Exhibition (Hallidays Mill Gallery), artists Anna Simson and Mair Hughes will host workshops; ‘Floating river tributes' with mixed media such as willow, flax string & pine resin, and ‘Votive & Figurine Offerings’ with local Chalford clay.
In this second weekend 102 artists open their studio doors again in 37 locations. Pick up an Open Studios directory from various locations in the Stroud area and find it online, to discover the studios along the 6 routes.
Zed MacDonald hosts an interactive community art experience, with pieces from youth graffiti workshops alongside live painting and chances to get involved in spontaneous art exercises - all welcome!
At The Bureau for the Validation of Art, the Officials offer artists the opportunity to submit their work for Validation. The Bureau are yet to find anything that isn’t Art, and in this Public Exhibition you are invited to submit work to the show. The Officials will be in attendance to assess the works on display, asking “But Is It Art??”
We are delighted to open our studio doors and invite you to a relaxed afternoon of portrait drawing from life at Raw Umber Studios in Stroud as part of the Site Festival 2021.
The GPC (Gloucestershire Printmaking Cooperative) is a fabulous, Stroud based, printmaking facility that facilitates imagemakers in the 5 Valleys and beyond. We have planned a diverse exhibition for Site Open Studios 2021 to be displayed throughout the studios and gallery consisting of original prints that embrace different themes, scale and processes.
As part of Site Festival 2021 Studio 18 opens its doors for a special collaborative event on the 18th September, alongside a new exhibition. Come listen to some diverse words and music, and enjoy this energy. Headlining with poetry and works presented by artists commissioned by Stroud Against Racism, and Jag P's Global Beats with Love Music Hate Racism.
As part of the SVA Open Studios and Invoking Absence Exhibition (Hallidays Mill Gallery), artists Anna Simson and Mair Hughes will host workshops; ‘Floating river tributes' with mixed media such as willow, flax string & pine resin, and ‘Votive & Figurine Offerings’ with local Chalford clay.
At Woodchester Mansion Paul Grellier and Jo Nathan respond to this unique and time lost place, explored through sculpture, painting, sound and moving image. 18th September -17th October.
In this first weekend 102 artists open their studio doors in 37 locations in the Stroud Valleys. Pick up an Open Studios directory from various locations in the Stroud area and find it online, to discover the studios along the 6 routes.
This show at Studio 18 celebrates the coming-together of voices, with poetry from esteemed Ronnie McGrath and Patricia Camp, paintings by Rizpah Amadasun, Mali McGrath and Junk Baby (Ismiah Martin and Rochelle Johns), and make-up artistry from Halima Malek (photographed by Tammy Lynn); all launched with a powerful poetry event at Studio 18.
An exhibition of paintings and prints by Lucy Inder, Susie Walker and Teresa Poole. An exhibition bringing together three backgrounds and alternative methods of wandering - the physical and the imaginary.
Mega Mega is a residency of collaborating artists marking the beginning of a fresh look at the relationships between fashion, textiles and contemporary art practice.
Resident artists’ work will be on show for the Open Studios weekends, including Caitlin Buckley, Albie Lucas and Marcus Morgan.
The Open Studios 2021 Taster Exhibition at Stroud Brewery offers visitors a great opportunity to see one piece of work by each of the Open Studio artists so you can plan your studio visits over the two weekends.
For this residency Greer will be focusing on developing some large tissue paper and gel cutouts - building window based surprises and layers in an interaction between inside and outside spaces, playing with the effects of light, glass and colour.
‘leave / stay / arrive’ is an art exhibition and programme of public events from Sheppard Fidler + Stapleford set in an historic building in Nailsworth. The public is invited to shift their focus from the newly refurbished building and experience the space through an immersive site specific installation of sculpture, sound and video works. Plus Artist Talk on Sunday 26th September 3-4pm.
This multi-media exhibition considers the genius loci and the matterings of place as agents, the absent-present beings whose narratives remain in steadfast flux. Artists that have been invited to join this exhibition work include: Fiona Finnegan, Chantal Powell, Morag Colquhoun, Anna Simson, Mair Hughes, Monica Sjöö, Patricia Brien (curator). Poetry: JLM Morton.