kettle’s yard and friends’ news | autumn 2012

Over 500 people came to take part in our Olympic events during July. We began our celebrations when the Olympic Torch ran past Kettle’s Yard at 7am on Sunday 8 July. Hundreds watched from the street and St Peter’s churchyard as the Torch emerged from its punt along the river Cam, on its way out of town, up Castle Street. We welcomed the crowds into the gallery, to enjoy the last day of our ‘Alfred Wallis: ships and boats’ show. 300 visitors poured in to enjoy coffee, croissants and the paintings.

On the 27 July, to celebrate the opening of the Olympic Games, we took part in Martin Creed’s ‘Work No. 1197: All the bells in a country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes’.

Ringing the bells

Olympic celebrations come to Kettle’s Yard

The BBC sent tv cameras and a radio crew to capture the event from Kettle’s Yard, the churchyard of St Peter’s Church next door and St Giles across the road. 200 people joined us in St Peter’s churchyard to ring anything they could find: bicycle bells, bracelets, mobile ring tones and hand bells. This event would not have been possible without the help and cooperation of the Churches Conservation Trust. It was a fantastic event and everyone had big smiles on their faces while ringing and shaking. We’d like to say a big thank you to all our volunteers who helped out with these events, and those who came out to celebrate with us. We had so much fun that we’re sure to do more events like these in the future!

All sorts of bells rung by nearly 200 people this morning, a glorious start to the day! Liz Hughes, London 2012

ConservationAs usual Kettle’s Yard is actively lending works from the collection to institutions across the world. One upcoming exhibition closer to home, Cedric Morris and Christopher Wood: A Forgotten Friendship, will be on show at Norwich Castle Museum 20 October – 31 December 2012, and will include Christopher Wood’s Self Portrait, usually on display in the Kettle’s Yard house. To ensure that this important work can make the journey to Norwich safely, we asked our painting conservator Sally Woodcock to examine it in order to assess its condition and attend to any issues. Hopefully you will have noticed the Wood portrait appearing brighter after Sally performed a full surface clean of the painting, after strengthening the corners of the stretched canvas and slightly improving its tension.

Our furniture will also be undergoing a makeover in the coming months thanks to furniture conservator Paul Waldmann, who is working his way around the wooden pieces in the extension, cleaning them, feeding them with oil and taking measures to halt any wear that may have occurred naturally over time.

Our rugs aren’t missing out either – a specialist from Istanbul returned one recently, having taken it away to work on over the previous twelve months. He uses vintage yarn and traditional techniques to protect the deep colours in each rug, helping to rejuvenate them, allowing them to remain on display and under the feet of visitors at Kettle’s Yard for the years to come.

This successful exhibition displayed nearly forty paintings by Alfred Wallis, many from our reserve collection and rarely on public view. The show focused on Wallis’ love of ships and boats: from brigantines and sailing boats to lug boats and motor vessels, often battling with an unpredictable sea. The exhibition celebrated Wallis’ exceptional natural talent.The response to the exhibition was wonderful with Richard Cork writing in the Financial Times;

The Artist in Focus displays will continue with Winifred Nicholson (September 2012) and Christopher Wood (Summer 2013).

If you missed the Wallis show there will be other opportunities to see these paintings in a touring exhibition across the East region in the coming year. We are also publishing a new Alfred Wallis book that will be available soon. Please keep an eye on our website (www.kettlesyard.co.uk) for touring and publication dates.

Alfred Wallis:enjoyed by over12,000 visitors

‘Today, Wallis is justly prized for his vigorous, highly simplified and robustly original vision, and Kettle’s Yard has mounted an illuminating survey of his work.’

Space MakersThere is much more to the site development project at Kettle’s Yard than just bricks and mortar. We are delivering Space Makers, a major two-year project that partners Kettle’s Yard with a class of pupils from both St Mary’s Primary School, St Neots, and Comberton Village College to explore architecture and the built environment. Artists Jo Chapman and Raksha Patel (working with St Mary’s and Comberton respectively) lead the pupils through a range of ideas and practical activities, introducing them to the architecture of Kettle’s Yard and the local area. The pupils are also looking at how buildings are made, responding to the ‘real world’ example of the site development project. Shape East is the fourth partner in the project. They arranged guest contributors to provide an insight into careers. So far, pupils have met architects, a structural engineer, archaeologists and an acoustics specialist. Our ambitions are for the pupils’ eyes to be opened to the impact of the built environment on our daily lives and for the pupils to feel a strong connection with Kettle’s Yard. Both teachers have already noticed positive changes in their classes, with pupils expressing an interest in careers in architecture and the arts. The following quote from a pupil at St Mary’s captures some of the energy that the participants are bringing to the project:

‘My favourite place in Kettle’s Yard is the cottage first floor sitting room. When I stand in the middle and look around I see artwork everywhere. Some recognisable, some not. Some new, some old. And some that you wouldn’t realise is art. There’s a cupboard full of beautiful ceramics and two grey armchairs where I imagine Helen and Jim would have sat… This place really makes me think about real art.’

We are grateful to The Heritage Lottery Fund for their support of the Space Makers project. To learn more about Space Makers, please visit the Kettle’s Yard online blog and the Shape East website: www.shape-east.org.uk/projects.html To find out more about our education programme, check out the Going Behind the Scenes booklet www.issuu.com/kettlesyard/docs/education_gbts

Brancusi Education Fund: Inspiring new generations to a love of art and architecture.

The Kettle’s Yard Travel Fund was created through the generous vision of Jim Ede. In 1957, soon after his arrival in Cambridge, Jim sold his Brancusi sculpture, ‘The Golden Fish’. Brancusi had been one of the most important artists in Jim’s life and visits to his Paris studio in the 1920s and ’30s were immensely influential in his artistic formation. The ‘Fish’ was the first Brancusi sculpture to be brought to this country but, in typical fashion, Jim parted with one of his dearest possessions to help others.

Jim donated the proceeds from the sale to the University of Cambridge to set up a fund enabling its Architecture students to travel to the United States to enhance their education. Over the years, the Fund’s regulations broadened to allow travel elsewhere, to admit History of Art students to the scheme, and to support foreign students wishing to travel in this country. Since Jim’s original gift, more than 650 students have benefited from the Kettle’s Yard Travel Fund.

Inspired by Jim’s vision, we ran an appeal to all recipients of the Kettle’s Yard Travel Fund to ask if they were willing to contribute to the new Brancusi Education Fund. The new fund will help Kettle’s Yard to employ freelance artist teachers, to buy materials and create resource packs, and most importantly develop and expand a programme, which is already hugely admired.

This appeal was supported by a wonderful group of volunteers, including Rolfe Kentish and Clodagh Barker, and has generated over £10,000.

If you would like to donate or learn more about the Brancusi Education Fund please contact Kathryn Westmore: kathryn@kettlesyard.cam.ac.uktelephone 01223 748100

Comberton Village College pupils creating a large mural. The pupils incorporated forms inspired by sculptures they had made earlier from construction materials.

Meet the Director

Andrew Nairne took over from Michael Harrison as Director last November. On behalf of the Friends, Martin Thompson talked to him about his plans for the future of Kettle’s Yard

You began your career here in the mid 80s, how has Kettle’s Yard changed?AN: I am pleased to say that, in essence, it hasn’t really changed at all, although the gallery has been extended. Its reputation is as strong as ever. One difference is that in those days, there were only three staff. As Assistant Curator, I was involved in everything, helping look after the house, putting up exhibitions and driving the van. What excites you most about Kettle’s Yard?AN: The obvious answer is Jim Ede’s collection – the mix of natural objects, the placing of the furniture and of course, the exceptional works of art. I also find it exciting being part of the University. We will be using the resource of the extraordinary people within it to help drive the activities and programmes. I also hope we can find the money to revive the concept of Kettle’s Yard Artist Fellows attached to colleges and departments. Supported by Arts Council England we are developing exciting collaborative programmes with the other seven University Museums. Who, in your view, is Kettle’s Yard for?AN: I am passionate about increasing the opportunities for more people in Cambridge to take advantage of this remarkable place, whether or not they are connected to the University. In creating Kettle’s Yard, Jim Ede was essentially saying we can all shape our own environments. Our job is to encourage the widest possible range of people to engage not only with the art and Jim’s interiors but also with the music and education programmes. We are planning some clever uses of new digital technology that will really deepen the experience of the place’s history, the story of the artists and the background to our exhibitions. Watch this space!Your arrival coincided with the start of the building project to create a new education wing. What have been your priorities for the first year?AN: We have various technical challenges over the progress of the rebuilding. I have to steer the project forward but also take a long term view as to Kettle’s Yard’s needs. The education wing will be a tremendous asset but our galleries also need attention. We are looking at other funding opportunities to support our ambitions in this area.

We also want to strengthen our links with our neighbouring cultural institutions, the Folk Museum and St Peter’s Church.As our attendances keep going up we really have to think about

how we are going to cater for the demand. Do you feel Jim Ede’s hand on your shoulder? AN: The five words that guide me in shaping the future of Kettle’s Yard are ambition, innovation, excellence, internationalism and access. These are words that I associate with Jim. I constantly ask myself, are we really applying those principles across everything we do, or can we do better? The excellent music programme could be more integrated into our other programmes for example. I keep in mind the bigger story when reviewing everything that Kettle’s Yard does and then reflect on how a further capital development might help that.The big question is – will we get a café? AN: Yes, there will definitely be a café! Good coffee and somewhere to relax is essential. The construction phase will inevitably affect your programme of events and activities. How are you going to run your exhibition programme in a far more restricted space?AN: We coped magnificently with 300 people dropping into the gallery for coffee and croissants while the Olympic flame passed Kettle’s Yard and the Alfred Wallis show has been one of our most successful exhibitions in the past five years in terms of visitor numbers. It proves you can organise good exhibitions in small spaces. While we are going through the rebuilding, we plan to mix historic displays of the stars of the collection with exciting contemporary artists. We will be taking a closer look at other artists in the collection following the success of the Alfred Wallis. Christopher Wood will be featured next year.How will access to the house and collection be affected by the building works? AN: The house should remain largely open. However, fixing the leaking roof will mean a temporary closure of the extension. The cottages should remain open throughout.Friends and others who love Kettle’s Yard clearly need to exercise patience while these changes are underway. Do you have a target completion date in mind?interview continued …

Andrew Nairne. photo: Richard Patterson, Cambridge Newspapers

AN: Thanks to the dedicated work of Kettle’s Yard’s staff and University Estate Management, we will have a clear schedule soon. We are really grateful for all our supporters’ patience during this time. We promise it will be worth the wait. What has struck you about the Friends of Kettle’s Yard and the role they play?AN : Having run several arts institutions, I can truthfully say I have never come across such an active and supportive group of Friends. The hard work and the commitment, the passion of the committees over the years, and the support they engender amongst the members is truly remarkable. It’s brilliant that the Friends provide a good level of much-needed income to support our activities. Yet as important as that is the network of word-of-mouth connections which has brought us some wonderful publicity on the national stage. It gives our work a real boost to have Friends closely involved in events and what we are trying to achieve. It means we have the support of a powerful family looking after Kettle’s Yard’s interests.Do you have specific plans to keep the Friends and other

Elaborate Robert Adam ceilings like pastel iced wedding cakes, glistening architectural plants in the Himalayan garden, red kites soaring gracefully over the Capability Brown landscape and Jacob Epstein’s huge 1930’s ‘Adam’ in the opulent hall – a blatant depiction of primal energy and sexuality. Elsewhere, Gaudier Brzeska’s ‘ugly’ drawing of his wife, Sophie, staring down over Lord Harewood’s desk, John Piper’s works hanging nearby and a beautiful collection of Fabergé’s tiny owls. This was Harewood House near Leeds, the first of five cultural calls during three days of expert guidance. At Leeds Art Gallery with its fine collection of British 20th century art, we were met by its enthusiastic curator Sarah Brown, formerly of Kettle’s Yard. The Fiona Rae exhibition brought mixed responses – kitsch pandas; star and glitter inserted into abstract paintings; hard-edges dissolving into splashes and dribbles of riotous colours. And a glimpse of the café with its magnificent Victorian tiling but no time for coffee. Onwards to the new award-winning Hepworth Museum in Wakefield where the full-size prototype of the 6m high ‘Winged Figure’ (created for John Lewis in Oxford Street) loomed towards the rushing River Calder. Its monumentality was striking. Perhaps it helped inspire Gormley’s ‘Angel of the North?’ The chance to see the unique collection of Hepworth’s surviving maquettes/prototypes in plaster and aluminium

supporters enthused and involved during this period of inevitable disruption? AN: I am excited about the long term vision but also recognise the unpredictability of a building programme. As it is the heart of Kettle’s Yard, we want to keep the house open as much as possible and maintain our events and activities. We will continue to run talks, special viewings and receptions for the Friends.Coming up soon, we hope many Friends will join us for the first Castle Hill Open Day on 22nd September. Details are available on our website: www.kettlesyard.co.uk/openday The Friends are ambassadors for Kettle’s Yard. What is the message you would like them to give out about what’s happening here?AN: I would ask them to make sure that they, their families and friends keep coming. It’s important to get across just how much is still going on. There may be hoardings up but we are still offering a rich programme of events and exhibitions. The key message is that Kettle’s Yard is very much open for business and needs your continued support.

Exploring a rich seam of art Reflections on The Friends trip to Yorkshire

from her studio, supported by photographs of her at work, was especially fascinating. Richard Long has made two new works for the Hepworth Gallery: ‘Waterfall’ painted with white clay directly on a black wall. More dribbles and splashes on a gigantic scale. Was this a response to the raging weir outside? After the exhibition, ‘Waterfall’ will be sanded down, the wall returned to white. The other Long, a prototype sculpture in grass outside the gallery, was nearly mown away by the Council. Both his works are transitory in every sense.

The Hockney Gallery at Salts Mill, in the model industrial village of Saltaire, near Bradford was a real sensory experience. Twelve vases of lilies perfumed the air whilst Gorecki’s ’Symphony of Sorrowful Songs’ played in the background. Lilies and music are always there in remembrance of Jonathan Silver, the Gallery’s creator, who died young. Hockney’s work delighted, especially his ‘home-made’ prints from the 1980’s and a pencil drawing of lightning.

On the last afternoon, a chance to explore the rolling landscape of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park with over 60 sculptures in the open air. Works by Moore, Caro, Hepworth sit solidly within the parkland setting whilst sheep grazed peacefully. And to coincide with Long’s exhibition at The Hepworth we discovered his ‘Red Slate Line’ by the water in the newly restored historic woodland. The red slate, not as flaky as our Welsh slate, was shipped from Vermont. A 2km walk via the lake took us to the Longside Gallery and Anish Kapoor’s ‘Flashback’ exhibition. His use of positive and negative space, reflection and absorption, was fascinating. The sensual sculptures call out to be touched and stroked, but sadly not allowed. The finale was the exhibition of Joan Miro’s whimsical sculptures, paintings and prints. A phantasmagorical world inhabited by strange monsters. It was all such fun.

These were three extremely enjoyable days exploring the region’s cornucopian creativity. A great hotel by the Leeds canal too. Many thanks go to Martin Thompson for organising another great Friends trip.

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Kettle’s Yard is grateful to the following who have recently supported our programme: The Friends of Kettle’s Yard, Arts Council England, The Higher Education Funding Council, The Heritage Lottery Fund, Cambridge City Council, The Isaac Newton Trust, The PRS for Music Foundation, The Holst Foundation, The RVW Trust, The Faculty of Music, Dr Shirley Ellis, and many individual donors. This newsletter is made possible by a donation from the Friends of Kettle’s Yard.

TO REQUEST THE NEWSLETTER IN AN ALTERNATIVE FORMAT PLEASE CALL 01223 748100

Christmas shoppingThis year’s Christmas card (pictured) is Winifred Nicholson’s ‘Cyclamen and Primula’, 1923. The cards, along with a great selection of gifts for Christmas, will be available in the shop in the Gallery.

Many of these items, including gift membership of the Friends of Kettle’s Yard can also be bought online on the estore, see: www.kettlesyard.co.uk/shop

Late night view and shopping eveningWednesday 7 November, 5.30-8pm

A late night opening of the Winifred Nicholson exhibition and the shop. An opportunity to buy a range of cards, gifts and art books with some special discounts available on the night.

In May this year we were delighted to receive confirmation that our application to Arts Council England for their Catalyst programme was successful. The grant which will total £207k over 3 years will support the implementation of a new fundraising strategy that will increase Kettle’s Yard’s annual income for the benefit of our creative programme.

The history of fundraising at Kettle’s Yard goes back to Jim’s extraordinary philanthropic donation of his house and collection to the University of Cambridge. This donation was the beginning of over 50 years of generous support from: individuals, trusts, corporate supporters and the Friends of Kettle’s Yard, which have enabled us to grow into an internationally renowned museum and gallery.

In addition to the vital core funding provided by the University, Arts Council England and Cambridge City Council, the Catalyst programme will help us to strengthen the diversity of our income, and build resilience and sustainability in the medium to long term. Ensuring that Kettle’s Yard can continue to provide an exceptional creative experience to all visitors.

The first year of the programme will focus on enhancing the infrastructure to support fundraising, including new marketing materials and a new Development Assistant post. In the following two years each time we recieve a donation from a individual towards our programme, the donation will be matched by support from Catalyst, doubling the benefit to Kettle’s Yard.

Our aim is to continue to encourage a wide range of visitors to appreciate all Kettle’s Yard has to offer. We hope that our fundraising plans will create an even greater community of supporters around Kettle’s Yard to allow us to achieve this goal.

If you would like further information on the Catalyst programme or would like to donate to Kettle’s Yard please contact: Kathryn Westmore: kathryn@kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk telephone 01223 748100

www.kettlesyardonline.co.ukRead our blog!

Our new blog is a place to find out about behind the scenes stories, to join conversations and comment on our activities www.kettlesyardonline.co.uk

Catalyst funding success