Art Sheffield 2010: Ruth Ewan in conversation with Marion Walls

About

Following a period of research supported by Yorkshire Artspace's artist in residence programme, Ruth Ewan developed a new work entitled Moderately Wrathful, consisting of series of 6 prints distributed from all six venues taking part in Art Sheffield 2010 — Life: A User's Manual. The different prints depict text and images, cross referencing polemic extracts from Tressell's novel with his lesser known drawings of aircrafts and hot air balloons. During her research Ewan discovered a pamphlet published by Sheffield's Holberry Society in which a man called Sam Holmes describes how, at the age of 14, upon becoming a builder's apprentice, he was presented with a copy of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell. Holmes refers to the giving of this particular novel as a common gesture towards new apprentices, not only as welcoming gift but also a handbook of sorts. Ewan will give an introduction to her practice and will talk about the ideas behind her work for Art Sheffield 2010 with Marion Walls, author of the book ‘Revisiting Robert Tressell's Mugsborough' (Cambria Press, 2008). Walls is currently working on a completely new biography of Tressell, due to be published in 2011. She teaches at the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies at the University of Essex. Places are free but limited, so booking is advisable - phone 0114 2782655 or email learning@museums-sheffield.org.uk ON THE SAME DAY: Saturday Tour with Victoria Lucas (starts at 2pm at the Millennium Gallery) Throughout Art Sheffield 2010 — Life: A User's Manual there will be Saturday Tours led by Sheffield based artists. Tours last approximately an hour and a half, and offer a unique and personal insight into the ideas behind the work and this citywide event as a whole. This week Victoria Lucas will be taking you to various venues and talking about various pieces, including Ruth Ewan's work at the Site and other venues, and finishing back at the Millennium Gallery in time for Ruth Ewan's talk.