40 Objects for 40 Years
Praxinoscope (2016) – Melanie Tomlinson & Maker-Centric participants
AHRC research project, Utopia
The Praxinoscope was made by participants of the Maker-Centric project, aged over 50, working with Birmingham artist Melanie Tomlinson. Using Soho House Museum as a base, the group explored Mathew Boulton’s legacy as a stimulus for reflecting on the famous historical text ‘Utopia’. The praxinoscope (an early form of animation device) illustrates dystopic realities on one side and their vision of a future society in urban Handsworth on the other.
This object represents around 10 years of research partnerships with Higher Education. Particularly working with Dr Fiona Hackney on the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Connecting Communities programme. We developed expertise in using arts as a tool for research. investigating the value of craft in community life and co-creation as a methodology for involving communities in research.
Nominated by:
Deirdre F, Director.
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.
