Join us for a special panel discussion with Dr Adele Patrick and Deirdre Nelson as part of ‘If only we had the space’, an exhibition of contemporary craft responding to modern and contemporary politics of housing, property rights and access to ‘space’.
The phrase ‘If only we had the space’ implies making do with what you have and how you can inhabit the space within the existing walls around you. Although taken from the 1970s, it feels particularly connected to our contemporary conditions today, with another housing crisis exacerbating the wealth gap between renters, landlords, property and land owners, and an economy in recession.
We’ll hear more about Adele’s decades-long activism and experience in housing projects, including Take Root, a pioneering women’s timber frame, self build housing project. Despite developing skills in self-building honed at the Centre for Alternative Technology and Monimail Permaculture Association, being supported by Segal Method architect Mary Kelly and gaining funding and land from Molendinar Housing Association the group’s aims to self build were ultimately dashed by misogynistic councillors and excoriating tabloid press coverage that proclaimed “loony lesbians plan man-free zone”.
Known for her ability to translate social commentary into textiles, Deirdre will talk about her work featured in the exhibition. ‘Surplus’ is a bright red knitted money box depicting a new-build house. It was created in response to Irish ghost estates that exist as a result of the 2008 property crash. In 2023, it was reported that 75 ghost estates still haunt Ireland, either unoccupied or in varying states of disrepair or dereliction.
Following the panel, attendees are warmly invited to join a reception in The Den space at Platform, celebrating the opening of the exhibition.
Dr. Adele Patrick has been developing innovative cultural projects rooted in equalities and in academic research and community learning and teaching for over 30 years. She co-founded Glasgow Women’s Library (GWL) in 1991 and is currently a Co-Director. She has had a key leadership role in GWL which has grown from a grassroots project into a Recognised Collection of National Significance the sole accredited museum dedicated to women’s history in the UK.
Trained as a designer at Glasgow School of Art (where she subsequently taught Gender, Art and Culture) Adele has worked collaboratively with writers, visual artists, filmmakers and performers throughout her career. Adele has been active in a range of equalities and culture focussed initiatives including women's self build and other ethical and environmental housing initiatives including, currently Raising the Roof. She publishes widely in academic, professional and popular journals and publications and regularly speaks at national and international conferences.
For over a decade, until 1999, Adele was involved in two women’s housing projects; first, Four Walls, a women’s housing development in Glasgow’s West End and from 1993, Take Root, a pioneering women’s timber frame, self build housing project. Despite developing skills in self-building honed at the Centre for Alternative Technology and Monimail Permaculture Association, being supported by Segal Method architect Mary Kelly and gaining funding and land from Molendinar Housing Association the group’s aims to self build were ultimately dashed by misogynistic councillors and excoriating tabloid press coverage that proclaimed “loony lesbians plan man-free zone”.
Deirdre Nelson is an artist and designer maker creating textiles which explore humour, place and social history. She partners traditional techniques with contemporary processes such as digital print in creating work not only to be exhibited but on artist residencies, and within education and community projects. Resulting works crossover art, design and craft. Deirdre enables the communities she works with to explore social and environmental issues through making. She also works to commission for arts and healthcare organisations and through collaborating with creatives such as designers, musicians and writers allows her to creative and produce diverse projects. She is currently a visiting lecturer in the Innovation School at Glasgow School of Art.
‘If only we had the space’ is curated by Rachel Ashenden, Soizig Carey, Jemima Dansey-Wright and Murray Morrant.
The exhibition will run from 17 to 26 October 2024 (Wednesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm) for more details, see exhibition page here
Delivered in association with Craft Scotland, as part of COMPASS: Emerging Curator Programme, and Katy West, Programme Lead.
Graphic design by Lucy Watkins.
Moving image courtesy of National Library of Scotland.
Supported by Platform, Inches Carr Craft Bursaries and Creative Scotland.
