ADVERTORIALwww.nadfas.org.ukNADFAS REVIEW / SPRING 201151Shaley were selected for a design thatechoed the shapes of the formergasworks, including the rotundawhich forms the heart of the gallery.As the Tate Collection has grown overthe years, the buildings that house ithave become as iconic as some of theartworks within them. With this in mind,Tate offers not only guided tours of theexhibitions and displays but also of thearchitecture and history of the sites. Guided tours of the permanentcollection are available at Tate Modernand Tate Britain. To find out more abouttemporary exhibitions, groups can booka private talk with a Tate Lecturer. Talksand tours last for one hour and cost £9per person (minimum group sizes apply). Call 020 7887 4946 to book.To arrange a visit to the Prints andDrawings Room at Tate Britain, call 020 7887 4946 to discuss your groupsrequirements. Tate Liverpool offers aprogramme of tours and talks for groupsof all sizes. Guided tours cost from £5per person with a minimum price of£50. Call 0151 702 7400 to book.Tate St Ives offers guided tours andpractical artist-led workshops to groupsvisiting the gallery and the BarbaraHepworth Museum and SculptureGarden. These can be tailored to suit thegroup's requirements, prices available onrequest. Call 01736 791114 to book.Groups are welcome at all Tate sitesand entry to Tate Britain, Tate Modernand Tate Liverpool is free to see thepermanent collection. For groups of 10or more visiting temporary exhibitionsMonday to Friday, Tate offers a £1discount per ticket whenbooked inadvance. Call 020 7887 8888 or visitwww.tate.org.uk for more details. NOT TO BEMISSED Tate ModernMiró11 Apr-11 SepThe former power station at Banksidewas selected as the site for Tate Modernin 1994, and in 1995 Swiss architectsHerzog and De Meuron were appointedto convert the building into a gallery.That their proposal retained much of theoriginal character of the building was akey factor in this decision. The iconicpower station consisted of a stunning35m high and 152m long turbine hall,with boiler house alongside it. Theturbine hall provides a dramatic entrancearea and exhibition space while actingas a reminder of the industrial roots ofthis imposing riverside presence.Tate St Ivesopened in June 1993although proposals for a permanentgallery dedicated to showing the work ofartists living in and around St Ives hadbeen under discussion since the 1960s. Tate formed a close link with St Iveswhen it took over the management ofthe Barbara Hepworth Museum andSculpture Garden in 1980. In 1988a building was chosen on the siteof a former gasworks overlookingPorthmeor Beach in Cornwall.Architects Eldred Evan and DavidNOT TO BEMISSED Tate LiverpoolMagritte24 Jun-16 OctNOT TO BEMISSED Tate St IvesBarbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture GardenAbove: London'sMillenniumBridge leads tothe impressiveformer powerstation that isnow Tate ModernBelow: Book agroup guidedtour at St Ives Right: TateLiverpool housesthe nationalcollection ofmodern art in thenorth of EnglandImages: © Tate Photography

52NADFAS REVIEW / SPRING 2011www.nadfas.org.ukadding the next," she explains, "The legsand feet are the last bits to go on." Magically, the animal takes shapewithout Elaine referring to sketches orphotos. "I use my anatomical knowledgeand my memory of the character of theanimal," she says. "The challenge iscombining anatomy and the essence ofthe creature to make a piece whichrepresents its life and energy." The walls of Elaine's studio are linedwith studies of dancing hares - herfavourite subject - each one chargedwith wild, whimsical energy, and thereare shelves with clay models in varyingstages of completion. Elaine's subjectsrange from farm animals to exotic wildanimals and recently she has beenexperimenting with imaginary creaturesfrom mythology. "My interest in tacklingmythological subjects was triggered bymy love for Picasso's Minotaurlithographs," she tells me, "the way hecombines his total understanding of thehuman form with the brute strength ofthe animal - they're brilliant." There arehorse's heads too, like fragments from aGreek temple. "I'm very interested inexploring animal themes from antiquity,"adds Elaine.Like all of Elaine's sculptures, theMinotaurs are made either fromstoneware clay or porcelain and aredecorated with textures and colouredslips. "Texture plays a large part in thefinished piece," explains Elaine, "I love towork with different scraps of fabric,shells, seed heads, netting and impressthem into the clay to create the illusionof animal hair and hide. Each piece isthen fired to 1,000°C before beingcoloured with stains, oxides and glazesand fired again - this time to 1,260°C -to make the finished sculpture."Not surprisingly, eager collectors fromall around the world snap up Elaine'swork. "I am selling sculptures in theGalerie du Don in France and last year Bottom left:Peto's interest in mythologicalcreatures suchas this centaurstems from herlove of Picasso's'Minotaur'lithographs Above: Peto'sProjectWorkshopsstudio is filledwith herfavouritesubject -dancing haresProject Workshops, near Andoverin Hampshire, is a vibrant centrefor the visual arts which is hometo over a dozen artists who create aunique range of sculpture, furniture,ceramics, pottery and glass vessels. Thecentre, which has expanded to includefive new workshops, covered exhibitionspace and a brand new 4,000sq ftsculpture foundry, is one of the mostmodern and competitive in the country. Elaine Peto, a sculptor based atProject Workshops since 1996, is justone of the talented artists at work in thisunique space. You have only to seePeto's remarkable animal sculptures toappreciateher mastery of clay and herdetailed understanding of animal anatomy."I've always been fascinated by the waybody structures work," she tells me. "Even now I try to build my clayanimalsfrom the inside out, rather thanjust looking at the surface. I use thinslabs of clay and stretch them likepastry to form the ribcage, rump andneck - pushing from the inside to makethe sculpture look alive and full ofenergy." She shows me how she startsbuilding each sculpture in mid-air, deftlydraping thin sheets of clay over a ricketystructureof sticks and Coke cans. "Iallow each section to dry slightly beforeClay menagerieProject Workshops offers a unique workspace for artists specialising in various mediums. Richard Atkinson-Willes meets resident sculptor Elaine Peto, whoseintriguing animal sculptures are catching the attention of collectors worldwidePROJECT WORKSHOPSI was awarded the prize for bestexhibitor at the Terraniaceramic festivalin Spain," she reveals shyly. Closer tohome, you can visit Elaine and see herwork right here. "Project Workshops issuch a supportive environment to workin," says Elaine, "and it's great beingpart of such a talented group of artists."This year studios will be open to thepublic on 7 and 8 May, when "there willbe an amazing array of sculpture,pottery, glass, furniture and painting onshow - and you can meet all the artiststoo". One can also enjoy the beautifulcourtyard, which lies at the heart of theold workshops buildings. The Project Workshops studios areopen to the public on 7 and 8 May.There is ample parking, entry is freeand light refreshments will be availableall weekend. For more details, seewww.project-workshop.co.uk or call01264 889889.