Plaster Clasped Hands (2016) by Shane Waltener

40 Objects for 40 Years

A simple green and white graphic image of three plaster artworks made by pouring plaster into the gap between two joined hands.

Trolley

For Craftspace’s 30th Anniversary, Shane Waltener designed a process where two people would sit, face to face, holding each other’s hands. Plaster was poured into their hands, and they talked until the plaster set. These objects are the product of that process.

They sat on the windowsill of our office and I (Smilla), who only joined Craftspace in 2023, had no idea what they were, but was intrigued by them. They look like seashells or some kind of landscape made small. For me, they capture the Craftspace ethos that the process is just as important, and is a core part of, the end result. Without the story, these objects are beautiful; with it, I think they’re magic.

Nominated by:

Smilla Kristensen, Administrative Assistant
Andrea Collier, Trustee

To celebrate Craftspace’s 40th Anniversary, we commissioned the artist Stewart Francis Easton to create an artwork which would explore the story of Craftspace through 40 objects. Stewart created a series of four beautiful graphic quilts.

A photograph of a plaster, ridged sculpture sitting on top of a metal surface.
A photograph of two people's cupped hands filled with plaster.
A photograph of people's hands. One person's cupped hand contains liquid plaster. Another person has both of their hands around the hand with plaster in it, preventing it from dipping.
A photograph of a plaster, ridged sculpture sitting on top of a metal surface.


Where Next

A simple blue and white graphic image of a West Midlands Adult Daysaver bus ticket.

Transport for West Midlands Daysaver Bus Ticket

Explore 40 Objects for 40 Years.

A simple purple and white graphic image of a bird in flight.

Swallow Brooch

Explore 40 Objects for 40 Years.

A simple blue and white graphic image of the Custard Factory building in Digbeth, Birmingham.

The Custard Factory

Explore 40 Objects for 40 Years.

A simple green and white graphic image of an artwork by Rachel Higgins, which is a perspex box containing a metal ant connected to two cranks which make it move.

Ant Automata (c.1998) – Rachel Higgins

Explore 40 Objects for 40 Years.



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