After many months of lockdown we have finally resumed our bi-montly workshops at the Oriental Museum in Durham. The first was entitled 'Junk Journals', and yes that means making journals out of junk: junk mail, ribbon, catalogues, scrap paper, lace, photographs, doilies, just about anything you can get your hands on. Although numbers were restricted we had fun, chatting and just being creative. What the journals will be used for is anyone's guess, but the participants now have a good idea what to do with all of that junk that comes through the door.

After many months of not being able to meet, our Elements exhibition was finally opened on 31st July 2021. The work presented by the artists was varied and included textiles, painting, printmaking, ceramics and glass. The subject matter was as varied as the artistic methods employed in the creation of the works. The opening was accompanied by a wonderful fourpiece band whose music was appreciated by visitors to the exhibition and to the museum alike and was a wonderful opportunity for the artists to come together to share their thoughts and work, and despite having worked in isolation appreciate the cohesiveness of the exhibition.

The concept behind the exhibition lies within the industrial tradition of the North East and how this has informed our ideas and influenced our artistic interpretation of how that industry has affected our region, not just now, but in the past, and how it continues to affect the future of the region, not only in its landscape, but in innovation, research and job opportunities.

The exhibition runs until the 1st October 2021.