Shoes at the Shipley Art Gallery

Shipley Art Gallery, Old Durham Rd, Gateshead
Sept 2nd, 06
After a few days recovering from jetlag and a head cold, and having consumed mass quantities of tea I was able to get out. One of my favourite places as a child and a teen was the Shipley Art Gallery. They had a great exhibit called " The Agony and the Ecstasy". What made it particularly interesting is that they didn't break down the shoes into periods and label the age, but had them displayed mixed together. At times you couldn't tell if you were looking at a shoe style from the past or the present. I thought it clever really, as it made your really examine the shoes. One shoe in particular seemed like an old shoe until you really examined the materials. It is 2006 and I am still seeing some girls wearing these vintage styles LOL!
Here is a link to the The Bata Shoe Museum which has some great pics of shoes from around the world.
Looking at the beautiful but tiny lotus shoes it is hard to imagine anyone's foot being able to fit in. 

Comments

Janets Planet said…
A group of us artists in Green Bay had a shoe show at the Neville Public Museum a few years back. The Really Big Shoe Show II (first one was at at secondhand shop). We made art using shoes. (There had been one about the same time in St. Louis at the contemporary art museum.) The local radio personality bashed the museum for putting it on -- ie taxpayers money etc.

Since then I have seen shoes in art alot and just an increase in interest in them in general. Kind of makes me think we were ahead of the curve. But that seems to be the way it goes, either ahead or behind, never spot on! Sigh. :-)

Where does one go to find that spot?
Dr.John said…
Welcome back. You have been missed though I don't really care about shoes. Just a note to let you know that your name was drawn this morning and you will be receiving a wonderful mouse and bat. Perhaps you can turn them into art.
jafabrit said…
LOL! Dr. John, I will use them indeed and hopefully bring some smiles to the faces of wee ones.thankyou.

Jan, that sounds like it was fun, would have enjoyed seeing that. Not sure why the radio show would bash the museum for putting the show on. Looking at shoes there is a whole history behind them that is more than just about fashion, but then maybe some people are just too narrow to understand that. The art of making a shoe and what culture it spring from is fascinating really.

as for the spot on jan, I wish I knew LOL!
Anonymous said…
Oh my gosh, i knew about chinese foot binding but i just read the article you linked to, how completely horrific. Amazing though how these things begin.

Glad you enjoyed the Shipley, I adore shoes and I'm afraid it's even spread to my daughters now! LOL
lilfeathers2000 said…
Surfing through passing out Cheer. Its's click and comment Monday.
Have a Blessed Week
Anonymous said…
Well Sis, we are missing you so much!!! Glad to see you have recovered to do your blogging!
That Madras Curry was hot:)
See you looked up the cultural history of the lotus shoe!!
Looking forward to your updates.
Loving you and missing as always
your sis aka ThE PHoEnIx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lori's Minute said…
Wow, how did I miss the shoe show in Green Bay?

I know what you mean about always being ahead or behind. When we bought our house 6 years ago, I was looking for a certain style chair...they are just coming out with them now!

Great post today!

Did you know Steve Wadzinski? He passes away about a month ago...he was my art teacher at UWGB and was involved in all sorts of art shows.
fennymun said…
Welcome back! Interesting posting today. I like shoes and really find the websites amazing.
Cynthia said…
That's too weird, I posted on your blog yesterday and there's nothing here...maybe I didn't get the word veri thingie correct!

Very interesting post...can't imagine foot binding, anymore, I need super comfortable shoes for my sanity.
Janets Planet said…
Lori, the first shoe show was at Frugal Classics in Allouez. Then we had the Non Compliant Appliance show. When Jack Moga was the curator at the Neville, he asked us to have the next shoe show at the Neville. We did get some spots on the morning tv shows. I think we had these shows about 6 years ago.
B.R.L said…
I like the name. Most shoes hurt my feet and I can't go barefeet.
Cool exhibit. Glad to see you are back, I was just here in the last couple days checking to see if you were back yet. Good to hear that you had a great time!

The feet binding article was very interesting. It is just amazing to me what women will do to make themselves "beautiful"! Personally, I love shoes, but I prefer to go barefoot as much as possible.

Thanks for visiting my blog and for the kind comments about my paintings!

Welcome back!
Anonymous said…
Aboooooout time! It's alright for some, galavanting around the world!

You left just in time for the weather to go pear-shaped, anyway!
It's good to have you back. Thanks for commenting on my Found Artists Bulletin Board post. I was beginning to think that everyone had abandoned that site.
The shoe art was interesting. Once, many years ago, my brother had me paint his Keds paisley. That was my first shoe art. He was always a little different.
Lynette said…
JB I'm so glad you're back and that you had a wonderful time visiting family! I tried to post earlier but lost the whole thing when the blogger site went down, arrgh. I was shocked to see the site of how those girls feet were bound ouch ouch! How horrible (broke all their little toes?!) and those lotus shoes OMG imagine trying to walk in those. :O Thanks for the interesting and fun links! Some wild looking shoes in there!
Unknown said…
Amazing art....I love these....Keep in touch with Timberland shoes

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