Gypsy Maker press releases
The Romani Cultural & Arts Company is proud to announce two new exhibitions of works by the artists Cas Holmes and Dan Turner. This exciting installation of specially commissioned artworks is the latest in our groundbreaking Gypsy Maker project—an initiative that supports the development of innovative works by established and emerging Gypsy, Roma and Traveller artists. The Gypsy Maker project expands the work of the RCAC by continuing to engage GRT communities with the wider public in ongoing dialogue about the ways in which art continues to inform the lives of individuals and communities today.
Cas Holmes trained in fine art and currently works with textiles and mixed media. She is the author of several books for Batsford Publications including Stitch Stories (2015) and Textile Landscape: Painting with Cloth (2018). As part of her practice Holmes works on community collaborations developing a range of projects based on environmental themes from the natural and observed world. The transient nature of Holmes’ work and process underpins her compulsion to engage with our built and natural landscapes—with people and place. The overlooked details of daily life which reveal commonalities across communities continue to inform her particular take on the world.
‘The opportunity to work with and be mentored by the Gypsy Maker 4 project allows me to pause to reflect on my identity and mixed heritage. With migration, changes in our working lives and increasing opportunities to travel, certainties about who we are and our place in the world is in flux.’ Cas Holmes
Dan Turner is an artist and educator. A Romani Gypsy, born in Dartford, Kent, Turner achieved a BA Hons Degree in Sculpture from St Martins School of Art. His work recently appeared in FUTUROMA at the Venice Biennale in 2019. By using Transactional Objects which have significance across cultures, Turner examines how Gypsy, Roma and Traveller cultures meet and interact with the dominant culture. Working with migration maps of Roma diasporas and using traditional crafts and occupations such as peg and wooden flower making, and fortune telling Turner re-imagines Roma past, present and future to challenge mainstream culture’s view of our Roma identities.
‘Working with the RCAC on its Gypsy Maker project provides a unique opportunity that is rarely available, especially to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups. Its approach of tirelessly commissioning ground breaking work and projects has helped promote understanding about GRT communities. In the process it has changed people’s lives, including mine.’ Dan Turner
‘‘I am very excited that the work by Cas Holmes and Dan Turner will be exhibited in the Rug Art Gallery in Queen St in the centre of Cardiff in March and April next year. Many thanks to The Romani Cultural & Arts Company for organising it.’ Jenny Rathbone, Aelod Cynulliad | Assembly Member
“The pioneering work of the Romani Cultural and Arts Company in supporting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller artists is unparalleled. Their Gypsy Maker project is unique worldwide in commissioning new bodies of work by GRT artists thereby enabling the production of new knowledge from an underrepresented group and thus making a valuable contribution to international contemporary art and cultural discourse.” Dr Daniel Baker
‘Here at RUG we are very pleased to exhibit new artworks by Cas Holmes and Dan Turner as part of the Gypsy Maker 4 project. We look forward to expanding the reach of the works and our gallery through this collaboration with The Romani Cultural & Arts Company in 2020.’ John Abell, Director, RUG.
The Romani Cultural & Arts Company invites you along to the opening of this new exhibition of works by Cas Holmes and Dan Turner on the evening of Friday 20th March.
