Fine Art graduate chosen to help create striking new artwork

01 September 2016

A Teesside University graduate is one of five emerging regional artists to be selected for a unique project to create stunning new art installations for an annual festival.

Kirsry Childs (image by Jason Hynes).

Kirsty Childs, who studied Fine Art at Teesside, will work with other new and established artists to temporarily transform an historic stable block that is part of the Festival of Thrift site.

The Festival of Thrift, which takes place at Kirkleatham Museum on 17 and 18 September, is a popular, family-focussed event which focusses on living sustainably in style. It offers a programme of over 140 activities, including the unique art project, ‘STABLE’, to be located in Kirkleatham estate’s renovated 18th century Grade Two listed stable block.

The project has been devised and is managed by arts organisation, Navigator North, which initiates, facilitates and promotes opportunities for visual artists to help further their creative practice. It includes a bursary and mentoring by internationally renowned installation artist, Steve Messam and members of the Festival team.

Works from the five selected emerging artists will include a walk-through woven installation, a series of 80 cast sandcastle sculptures, an equestrian themed shadow sculpture, a film installation responding to horse racing and a light and sound responsive suspended ceramic and glass installation.

Art and creativity underpin so much of what makes life enjoyable and meaningful so we are delighted to be able to celebrate that with the STABLE project

Stella Hall

Kirsty specialises in film and sculpture and describes herself as an artist who aims to question how we consider the world around us by drawing attention to areas of the built environment which goes unnoticed by others. Her work is an artistic response to ideas around social control.

Stella Hall, Festival of Thrift Director, said: 'The Festival is all about inspiring people to live a happy, fulfilled life that doesn’t cost the earth and creativity is a wonderful way of achieving that and prompting people to think differently.

'Art and creativity underpin so much of what makes life enjoyable and meaningful so we are delighted to be able to celebrate that with the STABLE project and both support developing artists and champion an amazing artist like Steve at the same time.'