‘First of its kind’ international touring exhibition opens in Derry

A “first of its kind” international exhibition, bringing together 19 artist-makers from across Europe, has opened in Derry’s newest state-of-the-art visual arts space – Nerve Visual Gallery at Ebrington in the Waterside. Future Artist-Makers: The Exhibition explores how today’s artist-makers are embracing the latest digital fabrication tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC routers, to imagine, design and create unique artworks. Art works include 3D printed ceramic pots, biohacking experiments where computer chips are implanted in the human body, invented musical instruments, miniature 3D models of iconic digital consumer objects, screens and etchings that have been laser cut, and interactive visual story-telling on iPads. Curated by Declan Sheehan, the exhibition features works from Cecile Babiole, Benjamin Gaulon, Jonathan Keep, Francesco Pacelli and collaborative partnership YoHa. Northern Ireland artists include Paola Bernadelli, Martin Boyle, Ciara Finnegan and Jiann Hughes. Funded by Creative Europe, the Department for Communities, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Acorn Fund, Future Artist-Makers: The Exhibition is the culmination of a year-long programme of art-making, exhibition, training and networking. Through three leading FabLabs at the Nerve Centre, University of Limerick and UltraLab in Madrid, the programme has given artists free access to the latest digital fabrication technologies and materials, delivered three international artist residencies, provided young people with new skills and accreditations in digital fabrication, and fostered international networking between three former Cities of Culture, sharing expertise and good practice in art-making and fabrication. David Lewis, project leader at the Nerve Centre, said: “From the printing press to colour photography to powerful laser cutters, the creativity of each generation’s artist-makers evolves in relation to new technologies. “Future Artist-Makers highlights how artist-makers from across Europe are engaging with the FabLab ethos of open-source design, creative collaboration and hardware hacking, and how a combination of new machines, new materials and new networks are beginning to make their mark.” Opening this Saturday, November 26, the exhibition will run until February 26 next before it moves to Limerick and then onto Madrid in early summer. A community and events programme will accompany the exhibition, offering young people and families art-making experiences, including getting to grips with a suite of digital fabrication equipment such as 3D printers and scanners, laser cutters and vinyl cutters. A ‘Meet the Artist-Makers’ drop-in event will be hosted this Sunday, 27 November, from 3.00 – 5.00pm with Aiofe Brown, Ed Devane, Jim Ricks, Benjamin Gaulon, and Francesco Pacelli. While over two weekends in December (10, 11 and 17, 18) families are invited along to the Gallery to create Christmas decorations. All of the events are free and more information can be found on www.nervecentre.org. Opening hours at the Nerve Visual Gallery, Eighty81, Ebrington are hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am – 5.00pm and Sunday noon – 6.00pm. Entry is free.