HOUSE Biennial community project in partnership with Photoworks.
Crossover Point is a community project led by artist Becky Warnock for HOUSE Biennial and Photoworks, working with a diverse group of participants from Brighton Table Tennis Club to explore stories, memories and the ideas that connect us.
Starting from the stories found within Brighton Museum & Art Gallery’s Willett Collection of Popular Pottery, such as the Devil/Pope stirrup cup, and the Museum’s collection of Regency caricatures, the project considers ideas around the HOUSE Biennial theme of Excess and the polarities that having too much or too little can foster.
The project culminated in two exhibitions of work, at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery and ONCA Gallery, Brighton. A moving image work by Becky was exhibited within the Willett Gallery at the museum, and the participants’ work was exhibited in a special exhibition at ONCA – complete with a table tennis table for visitor participation!
The project is a partnership between HOUSE Biennial, Brighton Table Tennis Club and Photoworks, supported by the Royal Pavilion & Museums and ONCA. It is sponsored by Brighton Pier Group and the Rotary Club of Brighton, with photographic printing sponsored by Spectrum Photographic.
About Brighton Table Tennis Club
Brighton Table Tennis Club works with people of all ages, especially young people, to improve health, celebrate diversity and build a strong community. It runs sessions for young people of all ages and backgrounds, those aged 50+, adults with learning disabilities and children in care. It is the UK’s first Club of Sanctuary – welcoming Refugees & Asylum Seekers.
The club was founded in February 2007 by Tim Holtam and Harry McCarney, two ex-international table tennis players. They wanted to share their enthusiasm for the sport with amateurs and disadvantaged young people throughout the city. They started with two broken tables and over ten years it has grown into an umbrella organisation hosting 100 tables across Brighton.
The club was declared the UK’s first Club of Sanctuary in 2016, welcoming Refugees and Asylum Seekers and has become one of the most important community outreach projects in Brighton and beyond.
Its disability programme was founded in December 2013 and in September 2015, the club moved to its now permanent address, the former site of St John the Baptist Primary School, The Fitzherbert’s Centre in Upper Bedford Street, Brighton. brightontabletennisclub.co.uk
Crossover Point’s title is derived for a Table Tennis term meaning the point in a game of table tennis where a player needs to change between a forehand and backhand.
About The Willet Collection
The Willett Collection is catalogued into a variety of themes covering all aspects of British life, including the political, social and cultural. The project explores some of the Collection’s themes such as history, sport and pastimes, with a series of workshops, activities and discussions, sharing stories, playing with caricature and inviting the representation of personal narratives, across cultures and backgrounds.
A starting point for the BTTC participants, The Willett Collection of Popular Pottery, also acts as an inspiration for HOUSE Biennial 2017 Invited Artist Laura Ford, who has created a new intervention piece within the Willett Collection, as well creating new work making connections with other of the Museum’s collections. Her work, A King’s Appetite is a new sculptural installation taking inspiration from the Royal Pavilion & Museums collection of caricatures by James Gillray and George Cruikshank, satirizing aspects of the life of the Prince Regent (later to become King George IV).
About Becky Warnock
Becky Warnock is a London based artist working across photography, film and theatre, using participatory practice to create innovative, community engaged art powering social change. She is passionate about social justice and using the arts as a platform to stimulate dialogue and exchange.
