Tall Stories at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen: motions and emotions in automata and storytelling exhibition

The exhibition is called Tall Stories, but it could equally go by the name Moving Stories, what with all the motions stimulating emotions at The Devon Guild of Craftsmen in Bovey Tracey with its new exploration of storytelling through automata.

Hot on the heels of the V&A’s Telling Tales and the Kinetica exhibit at the Exeter Phoenix, and as precursor to the forthcoming moving sculpture by Theo Janson, which will mosey into the Spacex in May, the Devon Guild’s Tall Stories has an exhibition of handcrafted toys for 16 leading craftspeople from throughout the UK.

South West artists are also well represented, with half of the exhibitors from the region.

According to Devon Guild curator Saffron Wynne: “Tall Stories is about the playfulness of craft. Although the artists have used different mechanics and materials – they’ve all created fantastic stories based on scenarios, animals and figures that will intrigue everyone, child or grown-up.”

And there’s loads to intrigue, involve and excite the kids, what with a quiz, a story competition, make your own toy activities and storytelling events during the school holiday.

On Tuesday, April 6 National Young Storyteller of the Year will be telling stories, Wednesday, April 14, there’s the Burglar Bill Puppet Show with Armchair Puppets.

For more details check out the Arts+Culture page on the Devon Guild of Craftsmen

Tall Stories is at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen from Saturday March 13 to Sunday, April, 25.

(image: top Rachel Larkins’ Yew Figure, above, Tony Mann’s Linguisticonleaf at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen)