Page 20 - Real Rochdale Issue 15 Autumn 2022
P. 20

“Mischief” at Touchstones this                                                                                                                                                              certain groups hidden or even
                                                                                                                                                                                                      completely erased from
          Autumn                                                                                                                                                                                      historic narratives due to
                                                                                                                                                                                                      discrimination and prejudice.

                                                                                                                                                                                                      “Whilst it’s important that our
                                                                                                                                                                                                      staff contribute to the
                                                                                                                                                                                                      process, we can only
                                                                                                                                                                                                      genuinely reinterpret our
          American queer feminist artist, Liz                                                                                                                                                         collections through
          Collins, is bringing her first European                                                                                                                                                     collaboration with local

          exhibition to Touchstones Rochdale.                                                                                                                                                         LGBTQ+ identifying people,
                                                                                                                                                                                                      who have ownership over
                                                                                                                                                                                                      their culture and heritage in
          Starting on 1 October 2022 and running until                                                                                               Epaulet by Liz Collins                           order to bring these stories,
          8 January 2023, Mischief will take over all four                                                                                                                                            perspectives and
          gallery spaces, exploring the boundaries                                                                              experience for me and it’s         Twenty pieces of work, chosen      interpretations to light.”
          between art and design through textiles and                                                                           something I’m really enjoying.”    by Collins and Bryan-Wilson,
          fibre.                                                                                                                                                   will be shown alongside some       Mischief is at Touchstones from
                                                                                                                                This one-of-a-kind exhibit will    significant pieces from the        Saturday 1 October 2022 –
          Liz Collins is a Brooklyn based accomplished                                                                          include works curated from         Rochdale borough                   Sunday 8 January 2023.
          artist, having exhibited in numerous key                          Veins.Darkness by Liz Collins                       the Juan Yarur Torres              collections, The Walker Art
          galleries across the US. Alongside exhibiting                                                                         Collection – Fundación AMA         Gallery, Bolton Museum & Art
          contemporary installations, Liz has also taught      The Mischief exhibition, created in                              in Chile, a leading arts           Gallery, and Whitworth Art
          in many prestigious US art schools as well as        collaboration with guest curator Dr Julia                        organisation which manages,        Gallery, all presented through
          serving as a mentor in the Queer Art                 Bryan-Wilson, will see immersive installations                   researches and develops            a queer lens.
          Fellowship Program.                                  transforming spaces with intricately hand-                       collections of modern and
                                                               stitched wall pieces to industrially                             contemporary art by Chilean        Helen Beckett, Curatorial
                                                                                                                                                                   + Collections Engagement
                                                                                                                                and South American
                                                               manufactured sculptural works. Collins is a                      artists, many of which include     Coordinator at Touchstones,
                                                               master of transforming everyday life                             a queer aesthetic. The             added: “It is really important
                                                               inspirations into bold, explosive patterns and                   Fundación AMA also provides        that the collections and
                                                               colours creating a fun, mischievous aesthetic.
                                                                                                                                scholarships and support for       exhibitions at Touchstones
                                                                                                                                emerging artists to undertake      reflect the diversity of the
                                                               Complementing the Mischief exhibition will                       international residencies,         borough’s population and we
                                                               be “Queer, People, Places and Things”, an extra                  championing the diversity of       are all too aware that the
                                                               special exhibit co-curated by a group of                         Chilean culture and art on the     ‘traditional’ approach to
                                                               LGBTQ+ Rochdale locals, providing a platform                     world stage.                       collecting has often left
                                                               for the voices of queer artists.                                                                                                                   Liz Collins


                                                               Chase Waterman, part of the group involved in                    Touchstones Rochdale offers a wide variety of        There are interactive exhibits, films, audio
                                                               the special exhibit, said: “Taking part in the Liz               exhibitions in the Heritage Gallery and the Art      and objects from the borough’s collection
                                                               Collins project so far has been a great                          Gallery’s four gallery spaces including those        on display.
                                                               experience, and my first queer artistic                          from the local community, selections from the
                                                               experience of this kind. It’s been inspiring to                  borough’s impressive art collection and work         Touchstones opening times
                                                               look at so much art throughout history from                      by contemporary artists.                             Wednesday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm
                                                               queer artists and creators, to learn about their                                                                      Sunday: 10am - 4pm
                                                               lives and to feel connected to them in such a                    As well as the changing exhibitions spaces,
                                                               personal way.                                                    there is also a permanent museum which aims          Touchstones Rochdale, The Esplanade

                                                                                                                                to tell a potted history of Rochdale.                Rochdale, OL16 1AQ
                                                               “Weaving my own ideas and personal                                                                                    Tel: 01706 924492
                                                               experiences into the exhibition and                              The museum is ideally suited to visitors with an
                       Zagreb Mountain by Liz Collins          collaborating with other LGBTQ artists is a new                  interest in the history of Rochdale or families.     Admission is FREE.
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