Popular Events in February, 2024(April Updated)

Ragnar Kjartansson’s beloved video installation The Visitors (2012) is back at SFMOMA. In this mesmerizing hour-long work projected across nine screens, viewers are transported once again to the serene setting of Rokeby in upstate New York as the Icelandic artist and his musician friends perform together in various rooms of this historic mansion.

In seguito al progetto del 2021 di Alice Pedroletti tenutosi a Berlino e sostenuto dall’Italian Council 9, ATRII ritorna a Milano con un progetto biennale condotto da Gianni Moretti. L'artista e docente ha lavorato con il Liceo Scientifico Luigi Cremona e con i ragazzi delle classi 4H e 4I per un percorso PCTO. Anche in questa occasione il progetto è stato sviluppato in dialogo con la Cittadella degli Archivi, dove dal 2016 ha sede ATRII Archivio Aperto. Il progetto richiama le tematiche di ricerca del Collettivo milanese che lavora in modo trasversale e multidisciplinare: atrii come luoghi per la diffusione dell’arte, come luoghi di passaggio di cui riappropriarsi, come punti di incontro e scambio tra abitanti. Una ricerca che si ispira a due pilastri dell’arte e dell’architettura italiana: Ugo La Pietra, con cui ATRII è spesso entrato in dialogo, e il Gruppo A12, ospiti del Collettivo dal 2015. Herbaria nasce da una prima fase teorica insieme agli studenti, svoltasi in DAD che ha riguardato riflessioni e confronti su temi come: la memoria collettiva, l'arte pubblica e il monumento contemporaneo, l’archivio come strumento di conservazione, ricerca e lavoro. Ne sono scaturite alcune considerazioni emotive e personali che hanno guidato le due classi verso una seconda fase di lavoro incentrata su un esercizio di disegno: agli studenti è stato chiesto di riflettere sul periodo della prima quarantena da COVID-19, dirigendo la propria attenzione verso lo spazio che ha caratterizzato quel momento. Tra le osservazioni fatte dai ragazzi e dalle ragazze delle due classi una in particolare ha attirato l’attenzione di Moretti: una studentessa ha sottolineato il dolore nel rivivere quel momento, il desiderio di superarlo e andare oltre, dimenticandolo. In linea con la propria ricerca, che l’ha già portato a realizzare diverse opere di arte pubblica proprio sul concetto di memoria e ricordo, Moretti ha quindi proposto agli studenti di riflettere sul concetto di cura, immaginando lo spazio dell’atrio come un gabinetto scientifico fine ‘500 in cui archiviare in modo permanente le proprie emozioni traslate in disegni. Ne è risultato un erbario dipinto su carta da lucido utilizzando la tecnica del monotipo. Le tavole che lo compongono verranno installate come vetrofania permanente proprio nell’atrio del Liceo L.Cremona. L’Opera, la terza permanente per l’Associazione ATRII, sarà inaugurata venerdì 2 dicembre 2022 alle ore 14.00 nell’atrio del Liceo Scientifico L.Cremona (Viale Marche 71-73, Milano) alla presenza dei Docenti responsabili Prof.ssa Claudia Andreani (5H), Prof.ssa Paola Balotta (5I), Prof. Pietro Franchi, Prof.ssa Anna Palumbo, della Dirigente Scolastica Dott.ssa Anna Lamberti, l’artista Gianni Moretti, il Direttore della Cittadella degli Archivi Francesco Martelli e Alice Pedroletti ed Eugenio Martino Nesi, fondatori dell’Associazione ATRII. L’incontro è aperto al pubblico. L’Opera sarà in seguito visitabile nei giorni e negli orari di apertura del Liceo L.Cremona, chiedendo permesso agli operatori scolastici o su appuntamento contattando direttamente l’Associazione e Collettivo ATRII.

LOGOS _____ ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ ΛΟΓΟΣ (en arxh ein o LOGOS) Κατὰ Ιωάννην 1.1 What once stood for the reason, the initial cause, is now comically reduced to corporate trademarks - shiny brand names of vulgar affordable or fetishized banality.In a futile effort to subvert, reroute and reinstitute LOGOS to his former essence, we install images of beauty, poetry and personal value in the rural wilderness, where the corporeal pillars of goddess Hestia still stand unnoticed and only the lost now wander. _____ 7 artworks installed in various exterior locations in and around the city of Preveza, Greece. Marking the winter solstice. Set to remain on display for an unspecified period of time, exposed to the (un)favorable touch of natural and human intervention. Produced & curated by Θ Η Ε Λ Α

The Berlinische Galerie has devoted over 1000 square metres to presenting its collection. Waiting to be discovered among the roughly 250 works on show are paintings, prints, photographs, architecture and archive materials rarely or never displayed before. Walking around this exhibition is like time travel and takes visitors through Berlin in 17 chapters: the Kaiser’s era, the Weimar Republic, the Nazi dictatorship, the new beginnings after 1945, Cold War in the divided city, and the counter-cultures and unconventional lifestyles that evolved in East and West under the shadow of the Wall. In East Berlin, an alternative art community developed from the late 1970s. In West Berlin from the late 1970s, aggressive art by the “Neue Wilden” placed the divided city back in the international limelight.

The Berlinische Galerie has devoted over 1000 square metres to presenting its collection. Waiting to be discovered among the roughly 250 works on show are paintings, prints, photographs, architecture and archive materials rarely or never displayed before.Walking around this exhibition is like time travel and takes visitors through Berlin in 17 chapters: the Kaiser’s era, the Weimar Republic, the Nazi dictatorship, the new beginnings after 1945, Cold War in the divided city, and the counter-cultures and unconventional lifestyles that evolved in East and West under the shadow of the Wall. In East Berlin, an alternative art community developed from the late 1970s. In West Berlin from the late 1970s, aggressive art by the “Neue Wilden” placed the divided city back in the international limelight.

Newark, NJ – March 9, 2023 — Mayor Ras J. Baraka was joined by First Lady Tammy Murphy, State Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, and numerous other dignitaries today to unveil a new monument honoring Harriet Tubman and pay homage to the city’s role in the Underground Railroad along with the Black liberation movement’s rich history in the area. The ceremony also observed Harriet Tubman Day, which is tomorrow. The monument stands in Harriet Tubman Square, at the intersection of Washington and Broad Streets, in downtown Newark.

A small drama theater that performs all year round on Daehak-no. It tells a comedy story about the encounter between four men and women in the 1990s and 2000s. Performance time: Monday to Friday: 14:30\16:45\19:00 Saturday: 12:00\20:20 Sunday: 12:45\19:00

A small drama theater that performs all year round on Daehak-no. It tells a comedy story about the encounter between four men and women in the 1990s and 2000s. Performance time: Monday to Friday: 14:30\16:45\19:00 Saturday: 12:00\20:20 Sunday: 12:45\19:00

The central work in the exhibition is the series Birkenau (2014), consisting of four large-format, abstract paintings. Birkenau is the result of Richter’s long and in-depth engagement with the Holocaust and the possibilities of representing it. The works are based on four photographs taken in the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, which the artist transposed to four canvases before gradually painting over them. With each layer of paint, the depiction of the photographic original disappeared a little more, until it eventually became invisible. The work also includes a large four-part mirror, which is positioned opposite the four Birkenau canvases, creating another level of reflection. Alongside the Birkenau series, other loaned works from various phases of Richter’s career will be exhibited, among them Squatters’ House (1989), 6 Standing Panes (2002), and 4,900 Colours (2007). There is also another large group of works from Richter’s striking series of overpainted photographs.

The central work in the exhibition is the series Birkenau (2014), consisting of four large-format, abstract paintings. Birkenau is the result of Richter’s long and in-depth engagement with the Holocaust and the possibilities of representing it. The works are based on four photographs taken in the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, which the artist transposed to four canvases before gradually painting over them. With each layer of paint, the depiction of the photographic original disappeared a little more, until it eventually became invisible. The work also includes a large four-part mirror, which is positioned opposite the four Birkenau canvases, creating another level of reflection. Alongside the Birkenau series, other loaned works from various phases of Richter’s career will be exhibited, among them Squatters’ House (1989), 6 Standing Panes (2002), and 4,900 Colours (2007). There is also another large group of works from Richter’s striking series of overpainted photographs.

This exhibition offers a new, revealing look at the world-class Portland Collection of art. The museum will be filled to the brim with fascinating art and objects, a giant cabinet of curiosities. There will be silver and tapestry, paintings and jewels; art that has come home after a long loan to a prestigious national gallery, and stunning star items that visitors know and love – such as Michelangelo’s ‘Madonna of Silence’ or the pearl earring worn by Charles I at his execution. A highlight of the display is a Picture Gallery, stacked with Tudor and Jacobean portraits – many of which have never been seen publicly before.

Embark on a Jawsome Adventure with Live Sharks, Ancient Behemoths, and Fascinating Shark Facts We’re gonna need a bigger exhibit hall. Debuting on a floor all to itself is Sharks! The Meg, The Monsters & The Myths. We’re making your dreams come true and bringing you up close and personal with live sharks for a hands-on experience that will be – dare we say – jawsome. You’ll get a chance to touch a shark and discover what makes these creatures unique – from bait balls to bioluminescence. Further immerse yourself in the world of sharks as every order of shark known to mankind is represented within the exhibition, including a life-size model of the ancient behemoth, the Megalodon. And don’t forget to pick up a few Megalodon teeth of your own in the island shop. Don’t miss out on the frenzy and purchase your tickets today!

世序自然藝術館位於中國昆明市，坐落於山水潤城雅苑16棟2單元701。該展覽將於2023年6月3日至2025年6月30日期間舉行，為期兩年。世序自然藝術館展示了大自然的神奇和美麗，讓觀眾可以在繁忙的都市中放鬆身心，感受大自然的靈氣。展覽將展出各種自然主題的藝術作品，從山水風景到動植物，無不展現自然萬物的生機。門票價格分為不同等級，最低為30元，最高為170元，觀眾可以根據個人喜好選擇適合的門票。世序自然藝術館將為您帶來一場與眾不同的藝術之旅，讓您在欣賞藝術的同時，也重新瞭解和感受自然之美。趕快預定門票，開啟這段獨特的藝術之旅吧。

LAS Art Foundation is pleased to present Pollinator Pathmaker, a living artwork and participatory project conceived by artist Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg. This impactful initiative in interspecies art uses algorithmic technology to generate planting schemes for gardens, computed to support the greatest diversity of pollinating insects possible. It signals a shift toward the post-anthropocentric thinking necessary to face the current climate and biodiversity crises, and toward the non-human aesthetics and experimental formats that pave the way. Ambitious and future-minded, it is exemplary of how art can act as a driver for change, and offer new perspectives on our shared planet. Growing in the forecourt of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, the LAS- commissioned garden will be the first edition outside of the UK. LAS has committed to amplifying Pollinator Pathmaker’s impact by undertaking an extensive public campaign, which calls upon local communities, hobby gardeners and activists to get involved in pollinator protection by planting their own version of the artwork – what the artist refers to as DIY Editions – via Ginsberg’s free online tool: www.pollinator.art. Responding to the alarming decline in pollinator populations in recent decades, Ginsberg has worked with horticulturalists, pollinator experts and an AI scientist to devise an algorithmic tool that designs bespoke gardens for pollinating insects. Supported by the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, the LAS Edition will be customised for Continental Europe, and will feature more than 7,000 plants of 80 different varieties, planted over a 722-square-metre plot.

LAS Art Foundation is pleased to present Pollinator Pathmaker, a living artwork and participatory project conceived by artist Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg. This impactful initiative in interspecies art uses algorithmic technology to generate planting schemes for gardens, computed to support the greatest diversity of pollinating insects possible. It signals a shift toward the post-anthropocentric thinking necessary to face the current climate and biodiversity crises, and toward the non-human aesthetics and experimental formats that pave the way. Ambitious and future-minded, it is exemplary of how art can act as a driver for change, and offer new perspectives on our shared planet. Growing in the forecourt of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, the LAS- commissioned garden will be the first edition outside of the UK. LAS has committed to amplifying Pollinator Pathmaker’s impact by undertaking an extensive public campaign, which calls upon local communities, hobby gardeners and activists to get involved in pollinator protection by planting their own version of the artwork – what the artist refers to as DIY Editions – via Ginsberg’s free online tool: www.pollinator.art. Responding to the alarming decline in pollinator populations in recent decades, Ginsberg has worked with horticulturalists, pollinator experts and an AI scientist to devise an algorithmic tool that designs bespoke gardens for pollinating insects. Supported by the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, the LAS Edition will be customised for Continental Europe, and will feature more than 7,000 plants of 80 different varieties, planted over a 722-square-metre plot.

LAS Art Foundation is pleased to present Pollinator Pathmaker, a living artwork and participatory project conceived by artist Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg. This impactful initiative in interspecies art uses algorithmic technology to generate planting schemes for gardens, computed to support the greatest diversity of pollinating insects possible. It signals a shift toward the post-anthropocentric thinking necessary to face the current climate and biodiversity crises, and toward the non-human aesthetics and experimental formats that pave the way. Ambitious and future-minded, it is exemplary of how art can act as a driver for change, and offer new perspectives on our shared planet. Growing in the forecourt of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, the LAS- commissioned garden will be the first edition outside of the UK. LAS has committed to amplifying Pollinator Pathmaker’s impact by undertaking an extensive public campaign, which calls upon local communities, hobby gardeners and activists to get involved in pollinator protection by planting their own version of the artwork – what the artist refers to as DIY Editions – via Ginsberg’s free online tool: www.pollinator.art. Responding to the alarming decline in pollinator populations in recent decades, Ginsberg has worked with horticulturalists, pollinator experts and an AI scientist to devise an algorithmic tool that designs bespoke gardens for pollinating insects. Supported by the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, the LAS Edition will be customised for Continental Europe, and will feature more than 7,000 plants of 80 different varieties, planted over a 722-square-metre plot.

New York is one of the most filmed cities on earth. Generations of moviegoers have seen New York depicted and distorted, celebrated and denigrated, idealized and mocked, built up and demolished over and over again on the big screen. Over the past 100 years, legions of filmmakers have drawn attention to New Yorkers’ joys and struggles, shaping our ideas of what the city is—or could become. You Are Here draws on this rich archive of movies set in New York, combining thousands of cinematic moments across 16 screens. Sources include Hollywood blockbusters, independent films, documentaries, and experimental works. By juxtaposing these multiple visions, the dazzling montages of You Are Here make connections and contrasts that allow movies to comment on each other across time and space. Together, they shed new light on the varied New Yorks of our collective imagination. Sometimes New York stars in these movies; sometimes, a studio set or even another city stands in. In the introductory room, Scenes from the City explores the city as a film set, showing how movies have been captured on location throughout the five boroughs. From there, we invite you to enter the immersive central space, where you can explore a narrative tapestry woven from hundreds of films—one impressionistic storyline that strives to represent the multifaceted realities of our countless New York stories.

New York is one of the most filmed cities on earth. Generations of moviegoers have seen New York depicted and distorted, celebrated and denigrated, idealized and mocked, built up and demolished over and over again on the big screen. Over the past 100 years, legions of filmmakers have drawn attention to New Yorkers’ joys and struggles, shaping our ideas of what the city is—or could become. You Are Here draws on this rich archive of movies set in New York, combining thousands of cinematic moments across 16 screens. Sources include Hollywood blockbusters, independent films, documentaries, and experimental works. By juxtaposing these multiple visions, the dazzling montages of You Are Here make connections and contrasts that allow movies to comment on each other across time and space. Together, they shed new light on the varied New Yorks of our collective imagination. Sometimes New York stars in these movies; sometimes, a studio set or even another city stands in. In the introductory room, Scenes from the City explores the city as a film set, showing how movies have been captured on location throughout the five boroughs. From there, we invite you to enter the immersive central space, where you can explore a narrative tapestry woven from hundreds of films—one impressionistic storyline that strives to represent the multifaceted realities of our countless New York stories.

What new stories can familiar works of art tell? This exhibition showcases longstanding favorites from The New York Historical's permanent collection alongside recent Museum acquisitions and selected loans. Pointed juxtapositions raise questions, create unexpected resonances, and shift established meanings.Martin Wong’s Canal Street (1992) and Oscar yi Hou’s Far Eastsiders, aka: Cowgirl Mama A.B & Son Wukong (2021) establish a longstanding lineage for queer Asian diasporic artists in New York City. And the juxtaposition of Thomas Cole’s five-painting series The Course of Empire (ca. 1834–1836) with Contact 2,021 (2021) by contemporary Shinnecock artist Courtney M. Leonard exposes the racial and gender politics of the Hudson River School landscape tradition. The groupings aim to center long-marginalized experiences and prompt a rethinking of both American art and the way museums tell history. Curated by Wendy Nālani E. Ikemoto, senior curator of American art.

What new stories can familiar works of art tell? This exhibition showcases longstanding favorites from The New York Historical's permanent collection alongside recent Museum acquisitions and selected loans. Pointed juxtapositions raise questions, create unexpected resonances, and shift established meanings.Martin Wong’s Canal Street (1992) and Oscar yi Hou’s Far Eastsiders, aka: Cowgirl Mama A.B & Son Wukong (2021) establish a longstanding lineage for queer Asian diasporic artists in New York City. And the juxtaposition of Thomas Cole’s five-painting series The Course of Empire (ca. 1834–1836) with Contact 2,021 (2021) by contemporary Shinnecock artist Courtney M. Leonard exposes the racial and gender politics of the Hudson River School landscape tradition. The groupings aim to center long-marginalized experiences and prompt a rethinking of both American art and the way museums tell history. Curated by Wendy Nālani E. Ikemoto, senior curator of American art.

explores the rise of Futurism in contemporary Indigenous art as a means of enduring colonial trauma, creating alternative futures, and advocating for Indigenous technologies in a more inclusive present and sustainable future. Over fifty artworks are on display, some interspersed throughout the museum, creating unexpected encounters and dialogues between contemporary Indigenous creations and historic Autry works. Artists such as Andy Everson, Ryan Singer, and Neil Ambrose Smith wittily upend pop-culture icons by Indigenizing sci-fi characters and storylines; Wendy Red Star places Indigenous people in surreal spacescapes wearing fantastical regalia; Virgil Ortiz brings his own space odyssey, to life in a new, site-specific installation. By intermingling science fiction, self-determination, and Indigenous technologies across a diverse array of Native cultures, envisions sovereign futures while countering historical myths and the ongoing impact of colonization, including environmental degradation and toxic stereotypes.

A Traveler’s Guide to Mettlach: Villeroy and Boch showcases everyday life in the 1800s Mettlach, Germany. Scenes of everyday life in Mettlach have been documented and celebrated by Villeroy and Boch, a ceramic production company founded in 1836 when Jean François Boch and Nicolas Villeroy merged their ceramic businesses into what is now known as Villeroy and Boch. The workers of the Mettlach factory came from diverse backgrounds, including art studios, archives, and museums. The varied backgrounds of the factory workers contributed to the artistic achievements of the Villeroy and Boch company. The Mettlach collection reflects German cultural experiences, societal interpretations, and mythology. This exhibition shows scenes of love and relationships as well as larger themes of fantasy, offering an all-encompassing snapshot of the myriad facets of human life within Mettlach. A Traveler’s Guide to Mettlach, on view in the Robert and Colette Wilson Gallery through June 2025, presents concepts of life, laughter, relationships, and the day-to-day existence of the German people.

A Traveler’s Guide to Mettlach: Villeroy and Boch showcases everyday life in the 1800s Mettlach, Germany. Scenes of everyday life in Mettlach have been documented and celebrated by Villeroy and Boch, a ceramic production company founded in 1836 when Jean François Boch and Nicolas Villeroy merged their ceramic businesses into what is now known as Villeroy and Boch. The workers of the Mettlach factory came from diverse backgrounds, including art studios, archives, and museums. The varied backgrounds of the factory workers contributed to the artistic achievements of the Villeroy and Boch company. The Mettlach collection reflects German cultural experiences, societal interpretations, and mythology. This exhibition shows scenes of love and relationships as well as larger themes of fantasy, offering an all-encompassing snapshot of the myriad facets of human life within Mettlach. A Traveler’s Guide to Mettlach, on view in the Robert and Colette Wilson Gallery through June 2025, presents concepts of life, laughter, relationships, and the day-to-day existence of the German people.

A Traveler’s Guide to Mettlach: Villeroy and Boch showcases everyday life in the 1800s Mettlach, Germany. Scenes of everyday life in Mettlach have been documented and celebrated by Villeroy and Boch, a ceramic production company founded in 1836 when Jean François Boch and Nicolas Villeroy merged their ceramic businesses into what is now known as Villeroy and Boch. The workers of the Mettlach factory came from diverse backgrounds, including art studios, archives, and museums. The varied backgrounds of the factory workers contributed to the artistic achievements of the Villeroy and Boch company. The Mettlach collection reflects German cultural experiences, societal interpretations, and mythology. This exhibition shows scenes of love and relationships as well as larger themes of fantasy, offering an all-encompassing snapshot of the myriad facets of human life within Mettlach. A Traveler’s Guide to Mettlach, on view in the Robert and Colette Wilson Gallery through June 2025, presents concepts of life, laughter, relationships, and the day-to-day existence of the German people.

光影秘境大探險是一場融合藝術與科技的展覽，將於惠州市盛大開幕。該展覽將在惠州未來光影藝術館舉行，位於廣東省惠州市惠陽區淡水人民四路天安裏3F。活動將於2023年9月21日至2123年9月21日期間舉行，為期一個月。參觀者將有機會沉浸在充滿奇幻色彩的藝術世界中，感受來自光影的魔幻魅力。票價設定從49.9元至89.9元不等，讓更多人有機會欣賞這場匯聚藝術與創新的展覽。光影秘境大探險給予您探索未知、感受奇幻的絕佳機會，定能為您的生活增添一絲驚喜與樂趣。立即預定門票，開啟您的光影之旅！

The artwork is displayed on powder-coated steel gates, designed by Whittle and made at Glasgow Sculpture Studios. It was unveiled on 5 October 2023 at the Queen’s House in Greenwich. Feeling Blue has been developed in response to RMG’s large and varied collections, as well as the history and cultural significance of Greenwich. The 160 x 155 cm tapestry is filled with richly evocative textures, symbolic shapes, and tropical colours. It was woven by hand over a period of six months by Naomi Robertson and Elaine Wilson at Dovecot Studios. They used a variety of techniques, yarns, and over 150 colour mixes to add variety and depth to the surface of the tapestry. Dominating the tapestry is the phrase ‘feeling blue’ which stands out from a background of blues and greens, the combination of different shades resembling water in motion. Blue is immediately associated with oceans and seas but there are also more emotive connotations which Whittle chose to explore. The colour blue, and in particular the term ‘feeling blue’, is used to describe sadness or depression. While the exact origin of the term is uncertain it has been suggested that it comes from the tradition of ships flying blue flags and officers bearing a painted blue band when a captain or officer died. For others, blue symbolises tranquillity. In the Queen’s House the colour blue is used throughout for decoration, notably the balustrade of the Tulip Stairs. Drawing on her research of the British naval uniform, Whittle also reflects on the legacies of British colonialism. From the mid-eighteenth-century, the Royal Navy introduced a uniform for officers made from a deep blue fabric. The colour was achieved using a dye from the indigo plant that was native to India. Until the end of the eighteenth century the indigo plant was grown, harvested and processed by enslaved people on North American plantations. Indentured labourers in India and modern-day Bangladesh also produced indigo for the East India Company. Today, Navy blue endures as a colour of authority from police to military officers, though the history of the colour and connection to colonialism is little known. Whittle continues her exploration of maritime worlds by the inclusion of coloured ropes – reminiscent of those used on ships. For Whittle, rope is a symbol of both hope and oppression. Ropes are associated with bondage, imprisonment and even execution but are equally symbolic of lifelines for people in distress. Whittle’s ongoing engagement with the climate crisis is found in the decorative coral that frames the tapestry. The delicate pastel pinks and vibrant yellows evoke the beauty of tropical oceans and are a reminder of the importance of reefs. Decorative cultured freshwater pearl beads have also been stitched onto the tapestry. As well as representing an oceanic realm, Whittle connects Feeling Blue with two sixteenth-century paintings the Armada Portrait and Sir Francis Drake which will be displayed alongside the tapestry. In both portraits, pearls are used as a symbol of wealth, some of which was derived from colonial trade and exploitation. The tapestry is hung on a set of blue ‘gates’, which are an important component of Whittle’s work. Whittle sees the ‘gates’ as reminiscent of fencing, suggesting containment and control. Placed within the gallery space the gates no longer act as a barrier. Instead, Whittle uses the gates to expand rather than restrict as visitors are free to walk around them and view the tapestry from both sides. The decorative fretwork on the panels evokes the architecture of the Queen’s House, in particular the Tulip Stairs. Alberta Whittle, said: “The commission has been a wonderful opportunity to think deeply about maritime histories and consider the powers in place that decide how these histories are portrayed. This new tapestry is a chance to explore these ideas of power alongside the rhythms of the ocean and its vulnerability under climate colonialism. The commission has also provided me with the opportunity to continue to work with Naomi Robertson and Elaine Wilson at Dovecot Studios and the rest of the fantastic weaving team.” Celia Joicey, Director of Dovecot Studios, said: "This commission represents the contemporary significance of tapestry as a collective medium. Started in the midst of the 2021 lockdown, it is testimony to a group of people responding creatively and collaboratively to the Museum collections. Feeling Blue embodies the passion, focus and skill of Dovecot’s weavers, Alberta Whittle’s endlessly interesting ideas and the care and enterprise of the commissioning team." Katherine Gazzard, Curator of Art, Royal Museums Greenwich, said: “At Royal Museums Greenwich, we are committed to working with contemporary artists whose practice engages with our historic sites and collections, as well as with the present challenges facing our communities and our planet. The opportunity to commission a contemporary tapestry from Alberta Whittle and Dovecot Studios spoke powerfully to this ethos. The finished tapestry will go on public display in the Queen’s House, our flagship art gallery. When the Queen’s House was built in the early 17th century, it was at the cutting edge of art and design. Commissions like Feeling Blue help us to honour that legacy, ensuring that, four centuries after the building’s completion, the Queen’s House continues to showcase artistic innovations and new perspectives.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feeling Blue Alberta Whittle Tapestry by Dovecot Studios 2023, cotton, linen, synthetic yarn, cultured freshwater pearl beads Tapestry woven for Dovecot by Naomi Robertson, Master Weaver, and Elaine Wilson Displayed on powder coated steel gates made by Glasgow Sculpture Studios Purchased with assistance from the Contemporary Art Society

The artwork is displayed on powder-coated steel gates, designed by Whittle and made at Glasgow Sculpture Studios. It was unveiled on 5 October 2023 at the Queen’s House in Greenwich. Feeling Blue has been developed in response to RMG’s large and varied collections, as well as the history and cultural significance of Greenwich. The 160 x 155 cm tapestry is filled with richly evocative textures, symbolic shapes, and tropical colours. It was woven by hand over a period of six months by Naomi Robertson and Elaine Wilson at Dovecot Studios. They used a variety of techniques, yarns, and over 150 colour mixes to add variety and depth to the surface of the tapestry. Dominating the tapestry is the phrase ‘feeling blue’ which stands out from a background of blues and greens, the combination of different shades resembling water in motion. Blue is immediately associated with oceans and seas but there are also more emotive connotations which Whittle chose to explore. The colour blue, and in particular the term ‘feeling blue’, is used to describe sadness or depression. While the exact origin of the term is uncertain it has been suggested that it comes from the tradition of ships flying blue flags and officers bearing a painted blue band when a captain or officer died. For others, blue symbolises tranquillity. In the Queen’s House the colour blue is used throughout for decoration, notably the balustrade of the Tulip Stairs. Drawing on her research of the British naval uniform, Whittle also reflects on the legacies of British colonialism. From the mid-eighteenth-century, the Royal Navy introduced a uniform for officers made from a deep blue fabric. The colour was achieved using a dye from the indigo plant that was native to India. Until the end of the eighteenth century the indigo plant was grown, harvested and processed by enslaved people on North American plantations. Indentured labourers in India and modern-day Bangladesh also produced indigo for the East India Company. Today, Navy blue endures as a colour of authority from police to military officers, though the history of the colour and connection to colonialism is little known. Whittle continues her exploration of maritime worlds by the inclusion of coloured ropes – reminiscent of those used on ships. For Whittle, rope is a symbol of both hope and oppression. Ropes are associated with bondage, imprisonment and even execution but are equally symbolic of lifelines for people in distress. Whittle’s ongoing engagement with the climate crisis is found in the decorative coral that frames the tapestry. The delicate pastel pinks and vibrant yellows evoke the beauty of tropical oceans and are a reminder of the importance of reefs. Decorative cultured freshwater pearl beads have also been stitched onto the tapestry. As well as representing an oceanic realm, Whittle connects Feeling Blue with two sixteenth-century paintings the Armada Portrait and Sir Francis Drake which will be displayed alongside the tapestry. In both portraits, pearls are used as a symbol of wealth, some of which was derived from colonial trade and exploitation. The tapestry is hung on a set of blue ‘gates’, which are an important component of Whittle’s work. Whittle sees the ‘gates’ as reminiscent of fencing, suggesting containment and control. Placed within the gallery space the gates no longer act as a barrier. Instead, Whittle uses the gates to expand rather than restrict as visitors are free to walk around them and view the tapestry from both sides. The decorative fretwork on the panels evokes the architecture of the Queen’s House, in particular the Tulip Stairs. Alberta Whittle, said: “The commission has been a wonderful opportunity to think deeply about maritime histories and consider the powers in place that decide how these histories are portrayed. This new tapestry is a chance to explore these ideas of power alongside the rhythms of the ocean and its vulnerability under climate colonialism. The commission has also provided me with the opportunity to continue to work with Naomi Robertson and Elaine Wilson at Dovecot Studios and the rest of the fantastic weaving team.” Celia Joicey, Director of Dovecot Studios, said: "This commission represents the contemporary significance of tapestry as a collective medium. Started in the midst of the 2021 lockdown, it is testimony to a group of people responding creatively and collaboratively to the Museum collections. Feeling Blue embodies the passion, focus and skill of Dovecot’s weavers, Alberta Whittle’s endlessly interesting ideas and the care and enterprise of the commissioning team." Katherine Gazzard, Curator of Art, Royal Museums Greenwich, said: “At Royal Museums Greenwich, we are committed to working with contemporary artists whose practice engages with our historic sites and collections, as well as with the present challenges facing our communities and our planet. The opportunity to commission a contemporary tapestry from Alberta Whittle and Dovecot Studios spoke powerfully to this ethos. The finished tapestry will go on public display in the Queen’s House, our flagship art gallery. When the Queen’s House was built in the early 17th century, it was at the cutting edge of art and design. Commissions like Feeling Blue help us to honour that legacy, ensuring that, four centuries after the building’s completion, the Queen’s House continues to showcase artistic innovations and new perspectives.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feeling Blue Alberta Whittle Tapestry by Dovecot Studios 2023, cotton, linen, synthetic yarn, cultured freshwater pearl beads Tapestry woven for Dovecot by Naomi Robertson, Master Weaver, and Elaine Wilson Displayed on powder coated steel gates made by Glasgow Sculpture Studios Purchased with assistance from the Contemporary Art Society

Explore your connection to the natural environment through art making in Ngā Pakiaka: Like the Roots of a Tree. Be inspired by the whenua (land) and all its living creatures in fun, family-friendly activities that encourage you to feel with your fingers, play with your imagination, connect with each other and be a proud, creative kaitiaki (guardian) of our planet. Explore your connection to the land and all its living creatures through art making in Ngā Pakiaka: Like the Roots of a Tree. Be inspired by the land