Pier Arts Centre Gallery Programmes Trainee curates new exhibition
A new exhibition curated by Lauren Henning, Gallery Programmes trainee, opened recently at the Pier Arts Centre. The display is the result of Lauren’s personal project undertaken as part of her year-long traineeship programme based at the Centre. The research, curation and installation of the display are the culmination of the many and varied skills and experiences she has acquired over the past year.
‘A Total Experience’ Modernist Landscapes from the Pier Arts Centre Collection includes paintings and sculpture by artists including Peter Lanyon, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Barbara Hepworth and Bet Low and highlights a range of approaches to landscape.
Lauren Henning commented “Landscape is a key feature of the Pier Arts Centre collection, and so was the clear choice in a subject to explore. I am interested in how abstraction allows the depiction of a complex and interesting landscape leading to a better understanding of human experience.”
Originally from Holm, Lauren went to school in Orkney and has Master’s degrees in Art History (Aberdeen University, 2010) and Museum Studies (Glasgow University, 2014). She has been working at the Pier Arts Centre since June 2015 as Gallery Programmes Trainee: Exhibitions, Education and Digital, a post funded by Creative Scotland and Orkney Islands Council Culture Fund.
Carol Dunbar, Education Officer at the Pier Arts Centre commented “We are delighted once again to be hosting a Creative Scotland traineeship. For this exhibition, Lauren chose to utilise her previous experience and her passion for art history to study aspects of the Pier Arts Centre collection and research British abstraction of the mid-twentieth century, an area that she was less familiar with.”
While based at the Centre, Lauren has worked on a number of projects – including assisting with the major installation of the Damien Hirst exhibition last summer and working closely with staff in developing her curatorial skills. She has worked with a wide range of the gallery’s audiences, assisting with family-based and schools workshops as well as giving regular exhibition tours to the wider public. The Traineeship has allowed her to gain insight into the work that takes place behind the scenes, including museum policies and procedures and collection management systems.
Stephen Palmer, Head of Place, Partnerships and Communities at Creative Scotland said “We have been able to support a number of Traineeships across Scotland that have offered excellent work experience and brought new ideas into the participating organisations. Lauren’s experience at Pier Arts Centre, working with such a beautiful collection as well as its temporary exhibition programme, should set her on course for an exciting future within galleries.”
Lauren continued “My traineeship has given me invaluable experience of working in a gallery environment and I have learnt so much from each member of staff. Very few galleries could have provided such a well-rounded experience as well the opportunity to work with a world-class collection.”
‘A Total Experience’ Modernist Landscapes from the Pier Arts Centre Collection is on display until 9 April 2016. Starting on Saturday 12 March, Lauren will be leading Collection tours every Saturday at 3pm. Admission is free and no booking is required.
The Pier Arts Centre is open Tuesday-Saturday 10.30am – 5.00pm. Admission is free.
The Pier Arts Centre
Victoria Street, Stromness
Orkney
KW16 3AA
Photo: Trainee Lauren Henning leading a discussion about the Pier Arts Centre Collection