In Touch, A Solo Exhibition of Sculpture by David Lightly
In Touch is the first exhibition presented by The Tim Stead Trust, and the first solo exhibition devoted to David Lightly’s sculptural work. The exhibition takes its title from David Lightly's own approach to his sculptural practice. It recognises David’s connection to Tim Stead whilst celebrating his own achievements as a master furniture maker.
Woodneuk furniture designs such as the Oak Iona Chair are shown alongside chairs originally designed by Tim Stead, including the Gnasher, Strata and Sailback chairs, as well as the Slab and Porter designs. Stools and other pieces of furniture further demonstrate the range of work produced through the Woodneuk Workshop.
For The Tim Stead Trust, this exhibition broadens the way visitors experience The Steading. It allows our guided tours to move from focussing solely on The Steading - which concentrates on Tim’s life and work - into a living example of how his approach to teaching and making continued through the people who worked alongside him. It also begins to establish the gallery as a place where furniture, sculpture, archive material and contemporary practice can be brought into conversation.
In Touch establishes our gallery as a place where Tim’s ideas can be explored through contemporary work. It allows visitors to encounter his legacy not only through the building, archive and collection, but through the people whose practices were shaped by working alongside him.
Tim Stead’s writings speak about the relationship between people and objects: the surprise, pleasure and questioning that can come through touch. Tim resisted a strict division between art and craft, describing his practice instead as “object making”. This idea is naturally prevalent throughout David Lightly, Master Furniture Maker and former apprentice of Tim Stead MBE.
“Some pieces are led by the natural shape, grain and irregular growth of elm wood, while others are more deliberately constructed through columns, cubes, panels and assembled forms. Seen together, they reveal a practice that moves easily between careful woodworking and a more instinctive, playful approach to sculpture.”
“Handcrafted, furniture made onsite is gently exhibited alongside rare burr elm sculptures and mosaic wall panels elaborately composed from offcuts left over from the furniture making process. Together, they reflect a practice deeply grounded in an understanding of and connection to wood, and an endless imagination.
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“Not art, not craft — object making.
In a person’s day there should be pleasant experiences. In a person’s hand, surprise / touch / questioning of the object rather than wonder at decisions, gift to wonder, how to smile, enjoy, pause at such every thing.
If, in touching a door handle it can give a pleasant challenge, [a] conversation in a person’s day then surely it must be done…. Simplicity and efficiency have also become cheapness and have suffocated an area of simple pleasure… Not necessarily luxury, art, or each component rationalised. Hand-made art breaks down all the rules, but it needs its audience, it needs its medium conversations; it proves the plain is glorious, it sparkles”
The exhibition runs until October 14th and is open from 10am till 4pm on Fridays & Saturdays and also by appointment. To arrange a visit or for more information please contact us by email here
