Site Gallery is refreshing its 40 year history with a bold expansion project that will see the institution triple in size amid a long-running redevelopment plan that will revitalise the Gallery’s surrounding area and pour fresh inspiration into its exhibits. This is being engineered under the auspices of a new artistic director Sharna Jackson and current executive director Judith Harry, combined with the input and funding from Sheffield city council and other local foundations.
The expansion accomplished by DRDH Architects underlines a vision to re-create an artistic hub near the city centre, while also endeavouring to attract all age-groups with an integrated cafe, family-orientated education and events spaces and bookshops. The project is infused with community consciousness and hopes to entice local voyeurs while seamlessly integrating into Sheffield’s artistic scene.
Site Gallery’s opening exhibition begins on the 29 September and runs until 27 January. The inaugural presentation is entitled ‘Liquid Crystal Display’, the brain-child of former artistic director Laura Sillers and current curator Angelical Sule, will muse over the geometric characteristics of crystalline structures while probing the relationship between modern technology and the natural world through crystals and their cultural significance. Enticing insights into John Ruskin’s quartz collections and an ambitious new commission by artist Anna Barham entitled ‘Crystals, Fabrics, Fields,’ will inevitably provoke thought and response to these themes.
Executive director Judith Harry said: “We are hugely proud of the new Site Gallery. DRDH have created a welcoming gallery and museum quality exhibition space that will enable us to offer so much more to our artists. The opening programme and ‘Liquid Crystal Display’ exhibition will really be the start of new era as we head towards the gallery’s 40th anniversary in 2019.”
The team were keen to keep this project under wraps and determined to maintain a degree of mystery when Exposed Magazine visited this morning, but they are relishing the surprise and intrigue they expect this project to inspire across the faces of its visitors come September.
Site Gallery is reopening with festival weekend beginning on Friday 28 September and will include three days of multicultural artistry and performance aimed to include all age groups.
