RE:COLLECTION - Regathering Social Practice - A solo show by Ellie Shipman

About

RE:COLLECTION is an investigation of where social practice sits in contemporary art, where participatory artworks created by Ellie Shipman over the last 12 years are recollected, regathered and re-presented. In recollecting these artworks – often site specific commissions which have never been seen in a gallery space – the exhibition provides a space for these pieces to breathe, to come together and share a conversation for the first time.

From interactive sculptures such as The Decision Machine (2022), which will answer your questions with the crank of a handle; to How was the Birth? (2023) a quilted medical screen collecting one word birth experiences; to 100 Years of Housing (2022), co-designed archive boxes responding to and now housed in Bath’s housing archives, the artworks remain live and active, awaiting your responses.

“So often participatory works are not presented in gallery contexts, commissions are not given exhibition time and rich, engaging projects are not shared with wider audiences. RE:COLLECTION provides an opportunity to view works I have created in these contexts to come together, prompting wider questions on the position and role of participatory art in the art world, as well as reflecting on the legacy and significance of the works created at a local level.” 

Ellie Shipman, artist

This exhibition regathers artworks originally created for communities, commissioners and organisations including The University of Bristol and We the Curious; Knowle West Media Centre; Take A Part; Bath Record Office and Creativity Works amongst others. A bespoke publication of Ellie Shipman’s artworks will be launched alongside the exhibition as an archive of the process and works.

The show is curated by UWE MA Curating student Elita Robertson as part of her final project and placement at Bricks, building on her background in sociology and interest in the intersection of art and research, alternative documentation and communication methods and navigating social practice in the contemporary gallery space.

Listen to the Bricks podcast episode to hear more about Ellie’s approach to social practice.

RSVP for your free ticket to the opening night and find out more here.

KEY DATES:

Opening night: 6 – 9pm, Thurs 2nd Nov

Open daily: 10am – 4pm, Fri 3rd Nov – Sun 11th Nov

Lunch talks: 1pm daily from Weds 8th – Sat 11th Nov

Late opening: 6 – 9pm, Thurs 9th Nov

Exploring Social Practice: Talk and Q&A with Ellie Shipman and Elita Robertson – Sat 4th Nov, 11am – 12pm. Book your ticket for the talk here.