Rediscover Kettle’s Yard
Ring the bell. Step inside. Welcome back.
This month Kettle’s Yard reopened its doors to the public after two years under wraps, revealing new exhibition galleries, a Clore Learning Studio and research, archive and presentation spaces. The reimagined extension also boasts a café, gift shop and extended welcome area. And with an astonishing array of concerts, exhibitions and classes planned for the year ahead, Kettle’s Yard takes its rightful place once again at the heart of the North Cambridge community.
A living place
Many alumni will know and love Kettle’s Yard, home to curator and collector Jim Ede and his wife Helen. The house itself remains unchanged, from the spiralling pebbles carefully arranged to harmonise with the staircase and cider press, to the lemon placed on the pewter plate, to highlight the spot of yellow to be found in the Miró painting close by. Indeed it was said that after the Edes moved to Edinburgh, Jim would check with a friend each week that a lemon was still placed just so.
Whether true or not this anecdote illustrates Jim’s passion for both the natural and the created, with paintings and sculptures sitting alongside pebbles and shells. Here no protective blinds are drawn, rather the winter sunlight streaming through the windows is celebrated. Seasonal flowers and pot plants add to the unique ambience of the house and this month vases of freshly cut daffodils are dotted about, speaking of the promise of spring.
View from the house
View from the house
For alumni who are unfamiliar with Jim Ede and Kettle’s Yard, his vision for the house is best captured in his own words. For him it was vital that Kettle’s Yard was not:
“an art gallery or museum, nor … simply a collection of works of art reflecting my taste or the taste of a given period. It is, rather, a continuing way of life from these last fifty years, in which stray objects, stones, glass, pictures, sculpture, in light and in space, have been used to make manifest the underlying stability.”
Central to the ethos of Kettle's Yard was the creation of a space where art could be enjoyed by the community, especially students. He wrote that the house was to be:
“a living place where works of art could be enjoyed… where young people could be at home unhampered by the greater austerity of the museum or public art gallery.”
“I think of Kettle’s Yard as a nest in which sensibility is grown”
Sir Antony Gormley (Trinity 1968)
Open to everyone
True to his word, Kettle’s Yard became a haven of inspiration and refuge for students across the decades. The house was opened every afternoon during term time; students rung the bell and were greeted with a warm welcome, before stepping inside the timeless interior of Kettle’s Yard. Here was a place where they were free to wander, simply sit and ponder, engage in conversation, browse the bookshelves, and even borrow a painting.
In a recent article for the Telegraph, British artist Edmund de Waal (Trinity Hall 1983) writes:
“I used the library table to try to write essays, distracted by the armada of Alfred Wallis paintings sailing along the wall nearby.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 of his memories of Kettle’s Yard, British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley (Trinity 1968) remembers:
“You were invited as a student to come in, to have a cup of tea, to sit and talk to Jim, to look at his extraordinary collection of work, and to read the books.”
He goes on to summarise his understanding of Jim’s philosophy:
“I think that Jim’s attitude was that art was there to be shared, was there to be lived with, was there to be dwelt with. Kettle's Yard remains open, open and free, to anybody who’s interested”.
Jim’s passion for sharing art with the public remains central to the work of Kettle’s Yard today. Strong links with local schools and young people’s groups mean Kettle’s Yard is firmly embedded in the North Cambridge community. The recent redevelopment means that even more is possible, with the new Clore Learning Studio opening up even more opportunities for adults and children alike to engage with art. Kettle’s Yard also remains a house of music with the longstanding tradition of affordable and accessible concerts continuing.
Clore Learning Studio
Clore Learning Studio
"The wonderful Kettle’s Yard, one of my favourite places, now refurbished and about to re-open"
Mishal Husain (Murray Edwards 1992)
A force for good
Music is a key aspect of the opening exhibition Actions, the image of the world can be different, with composer and pianist Kate Whitley commissioned to create a new piece.
Andrew Nairne, Director of Kettle’s Yard and curator of Actions, said:
“Actions goes beyond the visual arts and includes the architect of the new Kettle’s Yard, a composer, a dance company and choreographer.”
Actions features new and existing work by 38 international artists and was inspired by a letter Naum Gabo wrote in which he reasserts the potential of art as a poetic, social and political force in the world. The exhibition brings together both emerging and renowned artists and includes a new large scale installation for the church of St Peter’s by Rana Begum and a mural in North Cambridge by eL Seed.
Edlis Neeson Research Space
Edlis Neeson Research Space
As before, entrance to Kettle’s Yard is completely free. Simply go to the visitor’s reception and either enter into one of the new exhibition spaces or pick up a timed ticket from the information desk and walk around to the front door of the house, retracing the footsteps of countless students, alumni and visitors before you.
Actions. The image of the world can be different runs from 10 February – 6 May 2018.
Plan your visit to Kettle’s Yard and find out more about the upcoming events.
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