East Ayrshire Council is pleased to announce it’s forthcoming exhibition, The Cutting Edge, an exhibition to showcase the very best work, in a wide range of media, currently being produced by Scotland’s craft makers.

The exhibition runs from 26th May – 14 July at the Dick, Kilmarnock. The Cutting Edge celebrates the very best of Scotland’s contemporary crafts showcasing the most exciting, innovative and world class work. Glass, ceramics, jewellery, silver, furniture, textiles, plastics and basket making are all represented in this major exhibition. Many of Scotland’s craft makers lead the field in their particular discipline and this exhibition provides an opportunity to see a wide range of their work exhibited together for the first time. Scotland is internationally recognised for contemporary craft and The Cutting Edge provides a rare opportunity to see the very best. The work on display demonstrates the talents of 30 renowned makers and celebrates the innovative developments in Scotland today. See silver by Adrian Hope, Michael Lloyd and Malcolm Appleby, jewellery by Peter Chang, Dorothy Hogg and Jack Cunningham, glass by Keiko Mukaide and Ray Flavell and textiles by Jilli Blackwood and Gillian Cooper as well as ceramics, basketry, furniture and metalwork.

The title of the exhibition refers to the fact that Scotland is at the fore-front of contemporary craft practice with four of the UK’s leading art schools and a large number of internationally acclaimed resident and Scottish trained makers. Many of the artists’ work is however known better internationally than in Scotland.

The title also refers to the wide range of tools used in all craft disciplines ranging from traditional cutting edged tools such as glass cutters, chisels and scissors to the increasing innovative and diverse use of technology such as lazer welding, fibre optics and computers in contemporary crafts practice. (A range of tools used to produce work will be on display as part of the exhibition. These will be displayed in a format which will make it straightforward to install them at all tour venues and will have text to explain their purposes and which artists make use of them in their practice).

The exhibition aims to give visitors an insight into the skill, commitment, creativity and challenges involved in being a leading craft maker in the 21st century,

Visitors will be able to move round cased objects and view wall mounted and free standing pieces to get close to the work without touching it. This will enable them to examine details such as engraving, surface decoration, small jewellery pieces, textile structures etc.

A series of gallery talks and a jewellery making workshop will run alongside the exhibition. This exhibition is in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, East Ayrshire Council and Glasgow City Council.