Relentless Optimism Winter Show
- with People’s Republic of Stokes Croft
---------
- Friday, December 8th from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Around 7:00 PM: Talk with artists Laura Kessels and Bev Milward from the People's Republic Community
- Saturday, December 9th from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Hot cocoa & Cointreau, bubbles, art, and tableware: Holiday gifts
---------
'Truth, Justice, Beauty, and Respect.'
These four words are central on the cup with a typical 1960s Wedgwood print. Made by the People's Republic of Stokes Croft (PRSC), an activist artist community from Bristol collaborating with the Amsterdam-based KochxBos Gallery for the Winter Show.
The first Pride was a Riot and Citizen Not Subject
People's Republic introduces their tableware: Designs with vintage images and powerful statements that keep the world moving, such as 'The first Pride was a Riot,' 'Citizen Not Subject,' 'Joy as an act of Resistance.' Many of these pieces are unique and exclusively available through us.
How it all began
The love for People's Republic started in 2015 when Koch and Bos visited the city of Bristol for Banksy's Dismaland exhibition. People's Republic is a community that cares for the Stokes Croft neighborhood in Bristol, doing so by selling china, running a bookstore, and providing for the homeless. Founder Chris Chalkley, a marketer in ceramics and glass in the '90s, found himself in a unique position - when large pottery factories went bankrupt - to rescue kilns, equipment, and unused (design) transfers. He teamed up with artists and designers to establish a sustainable ceramics workshop in the Stokes Croft neighborhood.
This moment is the moment
Hans Bos and Esther Koch strive to be attuned to societal movements, and the gallery can be seen as a good platform to bring these movements to light. This is one of those moments.
Artists from the community include Chloe Slater, Rose Vickers, among others. Other designers include Bev Milward, Scot Burgoyne, Chris Chalkley, Kay Su, Laura Kesseler, Maryem Meddeb, Clare Andrews, Jamie Gillman, Mark Cranfield, Micha Libert, and Katy Bauer.
Winter Show
In addition to the launch of the tableware, it is also the opening of the Winter Show featuring selected works from our artists, including Martine Johanna, Meryl Donoghue, Sarah Maple, Dadara, Ciou, Zoé Byland, and Claire Partington.
On Friday and Saturday, you can come and enjoy Hot cocoa & Cointreau or bubbles!