Three Manchester School of Art graduates are having their work displayed at the new Manchester Craft & Design Centre exhibition.

Each year, the Manchester Craft & Design Centre selects their favourite work from the Manchester School of Art Degree Show to display in their exhibition the following year. 

After visiting the 2024 Degree Show, they selected their 18th award-winning graduates, Isla Paine and Sam Holmes from BA (Hons) Product Design and Craft and Mary Craig from BA (Hons) Textiles in Practice. Their work features in the current Manchester Craft and Design Centre exhibition, Movement Through Materiality which is open to the public for free until March 29^th 2025. 

Isla Paine’s Material Sound project explores the intersection of music, dance, sound, and the body, transforming these elements into a wearable sculpture. Inspired by Chladni plates, Isla vibrates sheet steel filled with jewellery wax to embed sound-generated patterns into the material, making sound the primary artist of her creations.

Speaking on her work, Isla Paine said: “Material sound is centred around the idea of music, movement, sound and its significance in my life and emotional impact on people. I wanted to create a wearable piece that encapsulates music into a material form coming alive through the act of wearing. Using Chladni plates, the first method used for visualising soundwaves invented in the 1700s, I used fillings of jewellery wax on flat sheet metal and a violin bow to vibrate the plate to create patterns of the resonant frequency of each Chladni plate. This allowed sound to become the artist behind the piece, while the shape and form of the piece is inspired by dance and the lines found within the body through movement. I aimed to create something that would move with the wearer and emulate the same feeling as listening to your favourite song”.

Mary Craig is a textile designer and activist artist whose work champions environmental sustainability and social change. Specialising in embroidery and graphic art, Mary uses her craft as a platform for advocacy, creating impactful pieces that spark dialogue and inspire action. Her designs are deeply rooted in the natural world, blending intricate embroidery with bold graphic statements to convey messages of urgency and hope. 

Mary Craig’s work that features in Movement Through Materiality focuses on the “potential of art to evoke emotion, provoke thought, and galvanise communities into meaningful action”. Talking on her final piece Mary said: “Drawing inspiration from the world around me, I revel in the versatility of mixed media, seamlessly blending different materials and techniques to craft pieces that resonate on multiple levels. From the tactile textures of embroidery to the bold statements of graphic design, every element is carefully chosen to convey a message of urgency and hope”.

Sam Holmes crafts jewellery that intertwines artistry with nature’s beauty. His work is grounded in the belief that each piece should resonate with its surroundings, blending personal style with the harmony of the outdoors. Sam’s creative journey began with a deep love for nature, drawing inspiration from wildflowers’ vibrant colours and stones’ rugged textures. This connection fuels his design process, transforming natural elements into wearable art. 

He commented that the process of making the jewellery for the exhibition was initially frustrating as he was “stuck indoors on beautiful days”. However, he added that to solve this problem he “combined my passion for the outdoors with my craft by developing a portable jewellery workbench. This allowed me to take my creative process outside, drawing direct inspiration from nature while working in the environment that fuels my designs. Working in this way began to influence the designs of my jewellery and the process of making each piece”. 

Yet, working outside brought new challenges as Sam continued: “The biggest challenge I faced while creating my final piece was dealing with unpredictable weather, especially when working outdoors with my portable jewellery workbench. One of the most extreme moments was attempting to work on the edge of a cliff during a red wind warning - everything I placed on the bench was instantly swept away, making it impossible to continue. Despite the difficulties, I embraced the challenge and found the experience both exciting and inspiring.”

The exhibition, Movement Through Materiality, showcases how materials can both impact and be impacted by the environment. Drawing inspiration from their surroundings, these innovative graduates use the movement of place and person to reflect the harmony of nature and life. Their work conveys messages of urgency and hope, empowering the audience towards a brighter, greener future. 

Manchester Craft & Design Centre said that they chose these artists as “they caught our attention through their creative use of materials, pattern and movement…their work is ambitious, exciting, and demonstrates great potential.”

Speaking on her work being featured in the exhibition, Isla Paine said: “To be selected to feature in the upcoming Manchester Craft Centre exhibition is such an honour, particularly to be exhibiting alongside Sam and Mary who are both extremely talented artists. I can’t wait to see all their pieces come together in the exhibition. I am so grateful to everyone who has taken an interest in my work, and to have been awarded this opportunity which is a dive into the professional world of craft that I am thrilled to be a part of.”

Mary Craig commented: “This recognition has significantly boosted my confidence and validated my creative efforts. Being selected for such a prestigious event is an honour, and it encourages me to continue pursuing my artistic journey with renewed enthusiasm and determination. This opportunity not only highlights my skills and dedication but also connects me with a broader audience and a community of fellow artists.”

Sam Holmes said: “It’s amazing to see my pieces showcased in such a respected space alongside other talented makers. This opportunity not only validates my creative journey but also allows me to share my passion for outdoor-inspired jewellery with a wider audience.”

EXHIBITION DETAILS
Movement Through Materiality opens on 11th January – 29th March 2025
Free entrance
Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5.30pm
2nd Sunday of the Month, 11am – 5pm

Find out more about the exhibition and the artists involved