Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair (WCPF) and Ushaw Historic House, Chapels, and Gardens will debut their collaborative exhibition named ‘The Ushaw Editions’, this March, highlighting the annual Ushaw Residency and Acquisition Prize.

Each year Ushaw hosts a two-week residency program at their heritage site in County Durham, where artists are invited to respond to its extensive permanent collection of artworks and artefacts.

The winner of the prize is then exhibited at the international art fair, WCPF, with one edition being acquired for Ushaw’s permanent collection.

Running from Saturday, March 23 until Sunday, June 23, this year the ‘The Ushaw Editions’ exhibition will be hosted by Ushaw House, bringing together three artists - Maite Cascón, Natasha Michaels and Lindsey Moran.

The Northern Echo: Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair (WCPF) and Ushaw Historic House, Chapels, and Gardens will debut

The regional exhibition will curate artist works, created during their two-week Ushaw Residency, alongside pieces from the Ushaw Historic House permanent Collection.

CEO and Director of Culture & Heritage at Ushaw, Lucy Jenkins said: "Ushaw’s collaboration with WCPF is a wonderful way to reinterpret our stunning buildings, collections and stories and encourage visitors in new ways of seeing.

"The works that have been created from the residencies bring to life hidden stories and overlooked details and offer a fresh perspective for our audiences."

On completing the exhibition there is also a film piece providing broader context to the exhibited art.

‘The Ushaw Editions’ exhibition line-up delves into a variety of print mediums, unified by the inspiration of Ushaw’s stories, architecture, landscape and treasures.

The Northern Echo: The 'Ushaw Exhibitions' runs from Saturday, March 23 until Sunday, June 23

Maite Cascón, from the 2022 Ushaw residency, explores metaphorical and figurative realms within her printmaking, referencing psychoanalysis and folklore to provoke contemplation on broader societal issues.

2023 prize winner, Natasha Michaels, works within an etching studio using a monoprint technique. Each piece is cut from an aluminium plate and inked or painted, and passed through an etching press, giving Michaels’ work its signature texture.

Concluding the line-up is Lindsey Moran, a 2023 Ushaw alumna and returning WCPF exhibitor, who delves between printmaking and photography. Moran's prints predominantly use photopolymer and a fusion of techniques. 

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WCPF Director Lizzie Glendinning said: “As a platform for contemporary art conversation, we continue to reach beyond the London-based event to provide wider opportunities for artists, develop relationships with like-minded institutions, and reach new audiences across the UK and beyond.

“We have a special connection with Ushaw, having moved only minutes away in early 2020 and spending lockdown walking its grounds, to then discover this incredible cultural resource minutes from Durham City Centre. It’s been a really exciting journey introducing artists to the rich history of this part of the country.”

WCPF and Ushaw will host three open events throughout the exhibition: the launch evening on Friday March 22, a printmaking workshop during May half-term and an artist talk with Hugh Hamshaw Thomas and Ade Adesina to close the exhibition.