As fireworks paint the skies, we step out to discover things to come in November. Between the bonfires, explore five events to fill the coming weeks, from a Zimbabwean print exhibition to the national Being Human festival.
Zvakazarurwa at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge
Zvakazarurwa is Portia Zvavahera’s first solo exhibition in Europe. Born in Zimbabwe, where she currently lives and works, Zvavahera’s art draws on southern African culture, Christian iconography, traditional European painting and African printmaking. Her Kettle’s Yard exhibition flows from her own dreams and the spiritual traditions she was raised on. Blending batik, oil bar drawing, lino printing and paint, Zvavahera constructs intense, exquisitely layered compositions, inspired by Shona mythology, her Christian faith, and her personal experiences of motherhood, love, and loss.
Zvakazarurwa, Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge until 16 February 2025. The exhibition will travel to Fruitmarket, Edinburgh, from 1 March – 25 May 2025.
Fungi Festival and Ancient Underlands at Hardcastle Craggs
On the 26 October, The National Trust’s Fungi Festival will be held at Hardcastle Crags, including arts, crafts and mushroom foraging. That site and the surrounding Calderdale is home to some of the most vulnerable species of ancient grassland fungi. Lead mycologist Steve Tindle is keen to raise awareness that “Calderdale is our fungi equivalent of the Amazon rainforest." Close by at the 19th century Gibson Mill, you will find Ancient Underlands, running till Christmas and featuring more than 40 visual artists and writers. The programme continues foraging with craft workshops in mushroom printing, cards and sculptures, suitable for all the family.
The National Trust’s Fungi Festival, Hardcastle Crags, from 26 October.
Man in the Woods at That Art Gallery
Artist Man in the Woods makes artefacts speaking to Britain’s rural folk traditions. The Three Fishes is informed by his Friday Walks, begun in 2018. On his first Friday Walk, he rambled 18km out into the countryside, had a pint of ale in a village pub then went home. The next Friday, he took a bus and carried on his walk from where he left off. Every week, he has continued that journey through the English countryside. The walks are not for sightseeing. Over time, Man in the Woods has embedded himself in the landscape. His print exhibition is inspired by each of these Friday journeys.
The Three Fishes by Man in the Woods, That Art Gallery, Bristol, 1-16 November.
Anthony Burrill at Tillingham
A hands-on creative session with the renowned graphic artist and printmaker, Anthony Burrill, known for his bold, uplifting designs. An interactive workshop, exploring six distinct graphic elements to craft your own prints. Through the use of silkscreens, the workshop delves into layering vibrant colors and patterns on A4 paper to create fun, engaging compositions. Trial and error play a key role in experimentation with overlapping shapes, textures, and designs, culminating in a unique print finished with a stamped credit line.
Screen Printing with Anthony Burrill, Tillingham, 8 November.
Being Human Festival
The UK’s national celebration of the humanities, Being Human Festival, returns from 7 to 16 November, with events happening across the country. This year, the theme is “Myth, Magic and Markings.” With hundreds of free activities planned, this year’s edition invites creative perspectives on what it means to be human. Highlights include Landmarks Late, a night of interactive experiences, installations and participatory performances at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, exploring how humans mark the land and how the land marks us.
The Being Human Festival, 7-16 November, locations across the country.
Image 1: Portia Zvavahera, Kudonhedzwa kwevanhu (Fallen People), 2022. Photo: Mario Todeschini. Courtesy Stevenson and David Zwirner
Image 2: Portia Zvavahera, This is Where I Travelled (4), 2020. Courtesy Tate Images
Image 3: Portia Zvavahera, Labour Pains, 2020. Courtesy Tate Images
Image 4: Image courtesy of National Trust Images/ Victoria Holland
Image 5: Courtesy of Tillingham's Vineyard/ Thomas Adank
Image 6: Simon Eccles, University of Wolverhampton
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