Drawing on Spike Island’s current Engagement commission Place Portrait, exhibiting artists Anna Haydock-Wilson, Caitlin Dawkes and Holly Humphries will lead a workshop inviting participants to create small sculptures in the form of miniature wooden shipping pallets.

In the spirit of their collaboration, participants will work together to make their pallet sculptures using techniques including weaving, painting, stencilling, writing and three-dimensional collage.

The workshop aims to explore ideas of Spike Island as a neighbourhood, referencing its changing industrial history and environmental factors. You will be encouraged to think about your pallet sculptures as life rafts, contemplating which resources are most important to us.

Materials will be provided. Attendees are invited to bring matchbox sized items collected from their local area. This workshop is open to all ages and abilities.

I AM MAKING ART

These regular activity sessions are led by artists and visual practitioners. Visitors of all ages and abilities can try out new techniques and approaches to making art, from drawing and painting to collage, sculpture and animation. All materials are provided.

Anna Haydock-Wilson 

Anna Haydock-Wilson connects people through participatory activities to encourage discussion and action around shifting societal status quos. Her activities have engaged people from diverse communities across London and in the South West. Collaborative initiatives include Little Fish Films, Art under the Flyover, Peaceful Portway, Art within the Cracks and acts of (in)visible repair. Haydock-Wilson studied fine art and independent filmmaking in London, and recent exhibitions include Inhabited Spaces (2019), Centre of Gravity (2020) and Make Gallery Exeter (2021).

Caitlin Dawkes

Caitlin Dawkes is an artist who is interested in exploring the (dis)comforting effect of art objects through tactile sculpture. Dawkes uses soft materials to create exaggeratingly tactile objects that aim to challenge traditional interactions with art through haptic engagement. Dawkes studied Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, UAL (2022) and recent exhibitions include Raid R X Horse Hospital, Horse Hospital (2022) and We Don’t Have All The Answers, The Station (2022).

Holly Humphries

Holly Humphries is a Bristol-based artist who works with the themes of consumption and desire. Hinting at ‘you are what you eat’, Humphries’ work analyses the parallels of our literal, visceral, sensual selves, to food, packaging, and advertising. Working across painting, installation and sculpture, she tempts physical and tangible sensations. She is part of East Bristol Contemporary and has exhibited at The Station (2022), St Anne’s House (2023) and The Arts Mansion (2023).