Grayson Perry: A Potted Biography - Events and Activities Programme

‘A Potted Biography’ is currently showing in Da Gadderie exhibiting two ceramic vases by Turner Prize winning artist Grayson Perry. The vases are autobiographical in nature and the main theme of the exhibition is life stories. The motifs on the two vases tell the story of the artist’s character, and what shaped him as a person. The other part of the exhibition is entitled ‘My Potted Biography’ and reveals how everyday objects belonging to local people can tell stories about their owner – sometimes funny, sometimes inspiring, and sometimes sad.

This weekend there will be a family day on Saturday 23^rd November at the Museum and Archives with free drop-in crafts for children where they can try their hand at making and decorating a small clay pot to take home. There will also be a ‘show and tell’ event for all the family where you can bring in an object that is important to you and share the story behind it. For adults (16+) there will be a Creative Writing workshop where you can create a piece of writing or poetry about an object that means something special to you. There will also be gallery talks about the artist and the exhibition on Saturday 23^rd November, Wednesday 11^th December and Wednesday 8^th January.

Shetland Museum and Archives have also teamed up with ceramic artist Sharon McGeady of The Pottery in North Roe to offer a two-day ceramic pot and decoration workshop. You will be guided through the basic techniques of making and decorating a ceramic pot during the two-part workshop at the Lochend Public Hall North Roe.

Yvonne Reynolds is the Lifelong Learning Coordinator for the Shetland Amenity Trust who run the Museum and Archives, she said, “We are really excited to be offering these events and activities as part of the Exhibition programme. It is a really inspiring show to be working on and we have been overwhelmed by the response so far. It is great to be offering people the chance to connect with both the stories behind the art and the artist as well as the technical skills that go into these incredible ceramics.”

Find out more and book on the Shetland Museum and Archives website at https://www.shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk/events or call on 01595 695057.

The two Grayson Perry vases are on loan from Tate and key loans and activities have been made possible through The Ferryman Project: Sharing Works of Art which is supported by National Lottery Players through the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the John Ellerman Foundation and Art Fund.