‘Baggage Claim’ at Staffordshire Street curated by independent curator Georgia Stephenson and artist-educator Rosalind Wilson, examines the tools and burdens we carry with us. A sculptural display of works presents an assortment of responses: from self-defence to coping mechanisms, compulsions or avoidances, self-medication, mantras, armour and antidotes. The works on display are vessels or vehicles for dealing with or undertaking the myriad journeys of life.
The title of the exhibition is taken from Rosalind and Georgia’s chosen method of display: a large curved plinth which references the dimensions of an airport’s baggage carousel. Categorised by ‘baggage size’, the plinth displays a variety of sculptural and video artworks by 46 artists based in London, the UK more widely and internationally. This platform asks the viewer to consider the methods they carry with them to navigate challenging times, but equally offers an archive of potential approaches and solutions used by other creative individuals.
Artists included in the exhibition have been invited and selected from an open call; Alix Emery, Amanda Kyritsopoulou, AP Nguyen, Billy Crosby & Sian Newlove-Drew, Bo Sun, Bob Bicknell-Knight, Campbell Mcconnell, Charlotte Dawson, Cora Sehgal Cuthbert, Eleni Papazoglou, Ella Yolande, Ha Yeon Byun, Helen K Grant, iolo walker, Ilona Balaga, Irini Bachlitzanaki, Isabel Bonafe, Jemma Egan, Joa Blumenkranz, Julie Maurin, Katja Larsson, Kialy Tihngang, Laurene Bois-Mariage, Linda Zagidulina, Maria Positano, Mary Watt, Matilda Mercer, Max Petts, Michael Wall, Mike McShane, Nancy Allen, Rachel Mortlock, Richard Phoenix, Ruaidhri Ryan, Ryan Woodring, Sadie M Hennessy, Sarah Davis, Seray Ozdemir, Sophie Cunningham, Sophie Glover, Sophie Percival, Steph Francis-Shanahan, Stephen Blades, Susannah Bolton, Tulani Hlalo and Zofia Skoroszewska.
Baggage Claim, curated by Georgia Stephenson & Rosalind Wilson -5th March, 2023, 49 Staffordshire Street, London SE15 5TJ staffordshirest.com
Alongside the exhibition, there is a bespoke archival publication designed and created by Call Your Friends Studio as well as two events which aim to introduce additional perspectives on the themes of the show. Firstly ‘Soft, sweet and sticky’ – an afternoon of intergenerational conversation and secondly, ‘Reading is what!?’ – a writing workshop taking the artworks as a library of prompts. Full details of the events can be found below.
Events
Saturday 25th Feb 2-5 pm, free, Soft, sweet and sticky
Tea, coffee & biscuits provided An afternoon of intergenerational conversations eventbrite.com/e/soft-sweet-and-sticky-an-afternoon-of-intergenerational-conversations-tickets-519600237297
Thursday 2nd Mar 7-9pm, £5 via eventbrite
Reading is What!? A writing workshop responding to a buffet of prompts on the exhibition’s ‘baggage carousel’ eventbrite.com/e/reading-is-what-tickets-519607047667
Georgia Stephenson is an independent curator and writer based in London, UK. She is the co-founder of artist-led gallery and studios Collective Ending HQ in Deptford, London. Notable projects and exhibitions of her include: squeezebox, Collective Ending HQ (2021), Patio Project Summer Programme (2020), The Potion Room, Subsidiary Projects (2020) and more. Rosalind Wilson is an artist-educator based in London, UK. She is the co-founder of Crit Club and teaches as an Associate lecturer of Illustration at Camberwell College of Art. Notable projects of hers include On Wheels (2019-2021) and Ebb collective (2019-2021) and her recent exhibitions include Lioness Weetabix – Sanford vitrine (2022), Emerging from the rubble – Staffordshire St (2022), SZN Summer (2022), Ashley’s fit up – The horse hospital (2022) Sad cakes – Pete the Monkey (2022), Crit Club presents – Staffordshire St (2021), The Factory Project – Thorp Stavri (2021), Beyond Each Other – Florence Trust (2022) and Chevron Fantasy – SET (2021).
Staffordshire St is an independent project space in Peckham, South East London. The venue facilitates arts and cultural events and provides affordable studios for artists, makers and designers. ?The venue was recently established as an art gallery, before then it was for many years a community centre and originally it was built as a Methodist Hall. Staffordshire St will build on the established record of these histories, opening up again to the neighbourhood and developing a welcoming interdisciplinary arts space. More information on upcoming events at : @staffordshirest
