Laura Eldret: From and To
An evolving exhibition about creativity and freedom by artist Laura Eldret created in collaboration with the communities of Bridport and West Dorset.
From and To is both an exhibition about creative freedoms and a place for creative freedoms to be explored together, including an extensive events programme (see below). At the centre of the exhibition is Laura Eldret’s large-scale curtain installation snaking across the gallery. Newly commissioned for the exhibition, the curtain features imagery informed by ideas of freedoms and creativity that emerged through conversations and making with communities in West Dorset.
Visitors and residents are invited to take part in a range of ways, including the Honestly honesty shop, and by contributing to the evolving gallery wall display of ‘creative freedoms’.
From and To refers to the idea of having ‘freedom from’ and ‘freedom to’ as distinct forms of freedom. This exhibition contemplates creativity as something that is for everyone to engage in, as a vital source of freedom. When thinking of creativity as a freedom – and relating this to the freedoms fought for in the past and today – creativity more clearly become an essential need and right for everyone.
Scroll down for details of all exhibition events and details of how you can take part and contribute.
Credit: Jayne Jackson
Take Part
Share your own work as part of the exhibition
To contribute to the ‘creative freedoms’ display simply hand in your submission at the gallery – from drawings to song lyrics, rock climbing routes to hazel hurdles. Full details here.
Honestly honesty shop
The Honestly honesty shop is open to anyone to use as a platform to sell (to gallery visitors) their creative wares with freedom from mainstream formats of commerce. Full details here.
Use the gallery for your own events
The exhibition is also being offered as a space for free use by the community as a site for creativity from busking to pickle-making sessions, band practice to meet-ups. Full details here.
Events
An accompanying programme of free events for From and To takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the exhibition. See details below and updates on BAC social media.
Opening Weekend – Sat 11 Oct, 10am-4pm/Sun 12 Oct, 11am-3pm
Saturday: from 12-2pm catch buskers performers in the gallery. The From and To opening reception takes place 2-4pm. Come and have a drink to launch the exhibition.
Sunday: from 11am-1pm join photographer Carole Evans with her pop-up studio to have a portrait taken using the installation as a backdrop – it’s free, but booking is essential. From 1-3pm there will be a dedicated family time: a chance to connect, create and relax with some making activities. Free event.
Portrait Photography with Carole Evans – Wed 15 Oct, 1-4pm
Photographer Carole Evans returns with her pop-up studio. More information and to book your portrait here. Free event.
Free Reading – Sat 18 Oct, 10.30am-1pm
An offsite event at the Poor House Reading Rooms – an archive and a space for reading, writing, and art publishing based in a former church poor house. In partnership with More Than Ponies. More information and to book your place here. Free event.
No Fail Drawing Workshop – Wed 22 Oct, 1-3pm
A ‘no fail’ drawing session for adults with artist Jo Burlington. Book here. Free event.
Apples Session – Sat 25 Oct, 1-3pm
Bridport Community Orchard brings juice, juicing demos and creative activities to the gallery, weaving together the deep connections of people, place, and creativity that flourish at the orchard. Free event.
Art Play with Jo Burlington – Wed 29 Oct, 10-12pm
What do you want to be? What do you want people to see, or not see? What do you want to make? A making session with Jo Burlington from Oops Wow responding to the From & To exhibition. For children aged 6+. Book here. Free event.
Hip-Hop Words with Isaiah Dreads – Wed 29 Oct, 1.30- 3pm
A young people’s creative writing workshop with Dorset-based rapper Isaiah Dreads, exploring personal storytelling through rap, poetry, and group collaboration. Book here. Free event.
Freedoms and Creativity in Song – Sat 1 Nov, 12.45pm
Performance and an open singing workshop from Dorset Red, a socially engaged choir based in Bridport. Drop in, all welcome. Free event.
Storylines – Wed 5 Nov, 3.30-5.30pm
A playful, collaborative story-writing adventure workshop with The Bank of Dreams & Nightmares, empowering young imaginations to explore, question and dream big through the power of words. More information to follow.
Laura Eldret in conversation with Honor Beddard – Sat 8 Nov, 11am
Join artist Laura Eldret in conversation with curator Honor Beddard within the From and To exhibition at BAC’s Allsop Gallery. Free event.
Laura Eldret
Laura is a Dorset-based artist, researcher and organiser making work for/with/about people, places, ecologies and communities. Laura’s installations, posters, drawings, textiles, videos and events have been exhibited internationally in major galleries worldwide. She has been awarded commissions by major art institutions and undertaken extensive projects and residencies, from England to Argentina. https://lauraeldret.com/
Laura Eldret
From and To is one of 60 new projects commissioned across the UK as part of Our Freedom: Then and Now, a new UK-wide, locally-led arts and creative programme, reflecting on what ‘Our Freedom’ means to communities following the 80th anniversary of VE/VJ Day. It is delivered in partnership with Libraries Connected and Open Eye Gallery, supported using public funding by UK Government through Arts Council England.
