Baltic unveils autumn/winter 2024 programme
16 Sep 2024
Yoko Ono, Sycamore Gap prints, and Mani Kambo lead Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art autumn/winter programme.
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art has unveiled its autumn/winter programme, which features a major new exhibition by Newcastle-based artist Mani Kambo; a family-friendly exhibition of interactive sculptural objects by artists Lucy Cran and Bill Leslie; and a special presentation of Heartwood - an exhibition of five prints created from a disc of the felled Sycamore Gap tree.
To mark International Day of Peace on Saturday 21 September, an acclaimed work by artist Yoko Ono, first displayed at Baltic in 2008, will make a welcome return to the gallery. Ono’s IMAGINE PEACE banner will once again be installed on the exterior of Baltic to remind and encourage everyone that sees it to “think peace, spread peace and act peace”.
Highlights include:
IMAGINE PEACE
Saturday 21 September 2024
On International Day of Peace (Saturday 21 September), Baltic will offer activities that encourage everyone to reflect on conflict, peace and unity. This will include a chance to add messages and wishes for peace onto a trio of Peace Trees and take part in creative writing workshop. At 6pm visitors are asked to join a Moment of Peace, contemplative peaceful vigil with music until sunset. Yoko Ono’s IMAGINE PEACE artwork will be installed on the exterior of Baltic from 19 September until end of December 2024.
Leap then Look: Play Interact Explore
12 October 2024 – 27 April 2025
Developed by Leap Then Look artists, Lucy Cran and Bill Leslie, this exhibition explores play and collaboration, creating new relationships with art objects and materials. Featuring large, tactile sculptural objects and colorful assemblages, everything in the space is interactive. Leap Then Look’s work is underpinned by the philosophy that contemporary art practice should and can be made available to everyone.
Happy Mart
Saturday 12 October - March 2025
Baltic’s latest pop-up shop Happy Mart is a collaboration between textile artist Bianco Perry and ceramicist Alex Sickling. Located on Ground Floor opposite Baltic Shop, Happy Mart brings together a playful mix of gifts and handmade decorative pieces to buy and make your home a little happier. Their work, all of it available to purchase, is inspired by finding humour in the everyday, being out in nature, hugging the dog and eating a Greggs together.
New work will be added by both artists throughout the duration of the show.
Heartwood
23 October 2024 – 26 January 2025
This autumn visitors to Baltic will have the opportunity to view five bespoke tree prints created from a disc of the trunk of the felled Sycamore Gap tree. Commissioned by the National Trust and created by printmaker Shona Branigan, Heartwood shows every tree ring, groove and detail from the cross-section of the almost heart shaped trunk of the iconic tree.
Celebrating Franki Raffles: Panel Discussion
6 November 2024
Presented by Baltic x Northumbria University
A special evening event at Baltic will celebrate the life and work of photographer Franki Raffles, whose work is the subject of an expansive retrospective exhibition at Baltic.
Sarah Munro, Baltic Director, Dr. Alistair Scott, Associate Professor in the School of Arts and Creative Industries at Edinburgh Napier University, and Dr. Catherine Spencer, Senior Lecturer in the School of Art History at the University of St. Andrews will discuss Raffles’ remarkable work, career and legacy. Baltic will also launch a new publication on Raffles’ work, designed by Fraser Muggeridge Studio.
Maggies x Baltic: Walk on Fire
14 November 2024
Do something daring this autumn and raise funds for people with cancer. Maggie’s and Baltic have teamed up to provide new event experiences and monthly art therapy workshops for people with cancer. We are excited to confirm the second event in this collaboration is a Walk on Fire outside Baltic, overlooking Newcastle Gateshead’s iconic quayside.
Winter Warmer Saturday
30 November 2024
Hunt out the jumpers and embrace the winter season with a day packed full of activities, exhibitions, stories, shopping, gingerbread decorating and more. Get ready for Christmas with homeware, prints and gifts on sale in Baltic Shop, in the Happy Mart artist pop-up and Endless Love maker’s market of over 60 stalls on Level 1. Discover art on five floors including a special set of prints created from the trunk of the felled Sycamore Gap tree.
Winter Makers Market
30 November 2024
This November we’re teaming up with Endless Love Creative for a vibrant, fun and friendly winter makers market. With over 60 stalls showcasing independent design. Discover a curation of one-of-a-kind pieces and handcrafted treasures. The perfect opportunity to get some Christmas gift inspiration. Tickets can be pre-booked here or £2 entry on the door.
Mani Kambo
7 December 2024 – 2 June 2025
A new commission by Newcastle-based artist Mani Kambo.The solo exhibition explores the inner spirit by drawing on Kambo's own personal totemic symbols. Encompassing textiles, fabric dying and printmaking – all rooted in her family history within the caste system – Kambo’s work records movement, and documents performative actions; the hand that creates the action, fire that reveals, water which is the purifier, and eyes that perceive - all through the exploration of totemic objects and symbols.
Sarah Munro, Director of Baltic said:
“Baltic has always been rooted in the local area and committed to reflecting the North East’s diverse communities. We’re incredibly proud to be presenting local artist Mani Kambo’s first institutional exhibition; a collection of work influenced by the artist’s upbringing in a Sikh household filled with superstition, prayer, and religious ceremony.
“The theme of inclusivity and diversity will be at the heart of the events and activities as we underline our commitment to being a Gallery of Sanctuary by marking United Nation’s International Day of Peace on Saturday 21 September. With the kind permission and blessing of the artist, Yoko Ono’s famous IMAGINE PEACE artwork banner will once again adorn the building as communities across our region and the world reflect on building a culture of peace.”
Press Contacts
Emma Pybus
emma@emmapybus.com
Eve Ireland
evei@balticmill.com 01914404566
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