The Prints of Michael Rothenstein
Today's broadcast from Goldmark Gallery features gallery manager Kate, talking about the prints of Michael Rothenstein. We also hear from writer and art historian Mel Gooding speaking from his home about this extraordinary printmaker. Born in Hampstead, London, on 19 March 1908, Michael Rothenstein was the youngest of four. He studied at Chelsea Polytechnic and Central School of Arts and Crafts, 1924-7. He had his first one-man show in 1938 and during World War II participated in the Pilgrim Trust Recording Britain project. After the war, he taught printmaking at Camberwell School of Art and was Art Fellow at Sheffield University in 1962.Rothenstein became one of the most experimental printmakers in Britain during the ‘50s and ’60s. As well as found objects such as wood offcuts and metal debris, he incorporated fresh 20th century imagery into his relief prints, combining photographic material with traditional woodcuts and linocuts. Numerous major galleries currently hold his work and he was made Hon. RE and elected RA in 1983.The Textured Vases of Mike Dodd
Later in the broadcast we hear from gallery writer Max, talking about Mike Dodd's signature textured vases. We're also shown a clip from the Goldmark documentary featuring Mike Dodd throwing one of these jars and talking a little about his life as a potter.Mike Dodd was born in 1943 in Sutton, Surrey. While in the village of Corfe Castle, on his way to a teashop with his parents, the young Dodd spotted a potter at work. He stopped, mesmerised by what he saw. The image of that potter burnt itself into my mind, and according to my mother’s later account I bored them rigid, talking excitedly about everything this white coated magician had done.Dodd has a strong commitment to animal welfare, conservation and environmental issues. He has held workshops at Landshut College for Ceramics in Germany and the Golden Bridge Pottery in Pondicherry, India. He has exhibited extensively throughout the UK and his work is held in collections at the V&A, British Crafts Council and Ulster Museum, Belfast.
