[T]ime Mirror by Di Mainstone is the latest commission to open for Lakes Ignite. It is one of six, contemporary pieces of art, which include performance, sculpture and an inflatable installation, at various locations across the Lake District in response to the Lake District becoming a World Heritage site.
Time Mirror is an interactive sculpture, made from steel, with a polished reflective interior that will allow audiences of all ages to experience and capture the stunning Lake District surroundings in an experimental and abstract way.
Located in the grounds of Blackwell, Time Mirror is painted ‘Blackwell Blue’.
Di Mainstone said: “At art college I was fascinated by the artist Yves Klein and his use of the colour blue. I instantly loved the array of blues used in the decor at Blackwell House and was particularly drawn to the very handsome peacock frieze – which inspired me to paint Time Mirror “Blackwell Blue” a vibrant blue that I hope will jump out of the landscape and pique the curiosity of visitors as they explore the house and gardens”
The house and installation overlook Lake Windermere and Coniston Fells.
Di added: “Participants will be at the centre of this abstract transient landscape, and will be able to create their own unique experience, which can be captured using their own mobile phone or camera.
“When reading and thinking about the 500 million years of geological activity that made the landscape of the Lake District – I kept thinking about time. I have called the piece Time Mirror because I would like it to act as a sort of visual time-machine, shifting and reconfiguring this ancient landscape that took so long to come into being – in the blink of an eye.
“I want visitors to use the Time Mirror to capture their moment in time in a dream like way, through abstracted elements of colour, texture, landscape and portrait.”
Di Mainstone’s works combine sculpture, dance, architecture and technology to create installations that relate to the human body and invite people to be curious, be playful and get involved.
Gordon Watson, Chief Executive Lakeland Arts, said: “Artist Di Mainstone is an incredible talent. We are thrilled that Blackwell is a venue for such an exciting Lakes Ignite installation.
“We hope visitors enjoy interacting with Time Mirror outside and also come inside to view more world class contemporary art with our new exhibition Form over Function: Ceramic Art at Blackwell.”
Challenging the notion that ceramics are primarily functional Form over Function: Ceramic Art at Blackwell explores how artists create art out of craft. Ranging from a playful hippo sculpture to an optical illusion box, works are themed into Animals, Clay as a canvas, Sculpture and Community.
Through loans from the Centre of Ceramic Art at York Art Gallery, private collections and Blackwell’s own collection the exhibition explores William Morris’ saying Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.
Form over Function includes pieces by Hans Coper, Alison Britton, Gordon Baldwin, Ewen Henderson, Rosemary Wren and Lucie Rie.
Gordon Watson, Chief Executive Lakeland Arts, said: “Ceramics are enjoying a massive renaissance at present. Form over Function brings together an outstanding collection from the very best contemporary ceramic artists.
“Sculptural forms, painted surfaces and narrative works by some of the greatest masters of clay from the Twentieth and Twenty-First centuries will be on show. The quality and craftsmanship will excite visitors.
“This exhibition is about making art out of craft. Ranging from a playful hippo sculpture to an optical illusion box, works are themed into animals, clay as canvas, sculpture and community.
“At the same time we are thrilled Blackwell is a venue for Lakes Ignite’s Time Mirror. Artist Di Mainstone is an incredible talent. We can’t think of a better place for this work than the lawn at Blackwell – with its views over Windermere and Coniston fells.”
Through loans from Centre of Ceramic Art at York Art Gallery, our own and private collections, Form over Function explores William Morris’ saying: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
Traditionally clay has been used to make functional things which support us in our daily lives. But over the centuries there’s been an increasing emphasis on decoration, transforming once functional designs into beautiful objects for the home.
Museums and galleries have developed large collections ranging from Chinese export ware to early designs by Josiah Wedgwood, using them as a basis for Decorative Arts collections.
Clay has transcended the function of either being ‘useful’ or ‘beautiful’ to becoming a medium of choice for artists.
While visitors view the very best modern and contemporary ceramic art inside the house, prepare to be amazed by a stunning art installation outside.
Di Mainstone’s Time Mirror is an interactive sculpture, made from polished steel, that reflects Blackwell’s dramatic Lake District surroundings. The piece allows audiences of all ages to experience and capture the cultural landscape in an experimental and abstract way.
Time Mirror is ‘Blackwell Blue’ inspired by the colour blue of the peacock frieze and tiles inside Blackwell as well as the artist Yves Klein. The work will remain at Blackwell until September. Time mirror is the fifth of six installations to open and you can find out more at www.lakesculture.co.uk follow @LakesCulture
Form over Function runs from May 18 until September 9.
