Totems for Troubling Times at Plymouth Art Weekender

<p>Led by Room to Manoeuvre (Claire Gladstone, Shelley Hodgson and Tina Kutter) the exhibition marks the culmination of the collective’s residency in Grow’s ground-floor project space.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The show brings together “genuine fake relics”, shrines, tokens, sculpture and assemblage to explore how objects acquire meaning and value, and how belief and behaviour can be packaged and traded.</p> <p dir="ltr">Humour and participation run through the project, with several collaborative works inviting visitors to become part of the exchange. Bring £1 for The Talisman Terminal and a found item for St Anthony of Padua, in exchange for the wisdom to find something you are missing. Maybe.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/people/claire-gladstone"></a></p> <p><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/people/claire-gladstone">Claire Gladstone</a>, Studio Coordinator for the university’s Fine Print Studio, completed <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/ma-fine-art">MA Fine Art</a> at Arts University Plymouth with Distinction. Fellow collective member <a href="https://www.tinakutter.art/about">Tina Kutter</a> is an Art University Plymouth graduate of <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-painting-drawing-printmaking">BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing &amp; Printmaking</a> and also completed MA Fine Art with Distinction.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other staff exhibitors include <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/people/sarah-king">Sarah King</a>, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for BA (Hons) Fine Art, and <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/people/paul-hillon">Paul Hillon</a>, Technical Tutor and a graduate of both BA (Hons) Fine Art and MA Fine Art. Paul created <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/arts-university-plymouth-unveils-new-public-sculpture-by-multidisciplinary-artist-paul-hillon"><em>Presence in Absence</em></a>, the public steel sculpture unveiled at the university’s city-centre campus in 2022.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/people/ethan-pen">Ethan Pennell</a>, Counsellor and Student Well-being Advisor, and <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/people/jason-hirons">Jason Hirons</a>, MA Subject Tutor and Co-Course Leader for Postgraduate Studies, also contribute. Ethan’s <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/costume-students-bring-dartmoor-folklore-to-life"><em>Dartmoor Folklore Map</em></a> previously inspired a collaboration with Costume Production students, who brought his illustrations of legendary Dartmoor women and witches to life through costume and storytelling.</p> <p dir="ltr">Postgraduate alumni include Georgina Grant, a Master of Fine Art (MFA) graduate, and <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/ma-graduate-show-2026-artists-to-watch">Layla Lyons</a>, an MA Fine Art graduate and founder of Hyphae House, an artist-led exhibition and project space in Plymouth.</p> <p dir="ltr">Current <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-craft-material-practices">BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices</a> student Guy Fowler also exhibits, alongside other invited artists.<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Entry is free. The exhibition takes place at <strong>Grow Plymouth, 14 Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AQ</strong>.</p><ul><li><p dir="ltr"><strong>Friday 16 October, from 5:30pm:</strong> Ritual Celebration, with a bar and DJ.</p></li><li><p dir="ltr"><strong>Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, 11am–4pm:</strong> <em>Totems for Troubling Times</em> exhibition.</p></li></ul> <p dir="ltr">Grow’s working artist studios will also be open from <strong>11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday</strong>, offering opportunities to meet the artists, explore their studios and see work in progress.</p> <p dir="ltr">The ground-floor exhibition space is accessible at street level. The upstairs artist studios are accessed by stairs only.</p> <p dir="ltr">Read <a href="https://grow-plymouth.squarespace.com/blog/total-for-troubling-times-room-to-manouvre-plymouth-art-weekender">Grow Plymouth’s exhibition details</a> and explore the <a href="https://plymouthartweekender.com/whats-on/">Plymouth Art Weekender programme</a>.<br /></p>