New Art Gallery Walsall want you to exchange, display or transform your unwanted presents when artist Mitra Memarzia opens up her Unwanted Gift Shop as part of her three month residency (18 Jan to 18 Apr).
“Every year £2 billion is spent on unwanted gifts in the UK alone,” says the West Midlands-based artist. “So much is purchased that will just sit there in a cupboard unused and forgotten, and this project will turn them into something else – either another, more useful gift, or art!”
If you got some tacky ornament, horrible socks or useless gadget you can donate them to Mitra’s shop. Each item taken to the Unwanted Gift Shop will be catalogued and displayed, and donators will be given the opportunity to either exchange their rejected gifts for another item at a special Swap Party (on Saturday 17 April), or have them transformed into a work of art – potentially increasing their
value.
The Unwanted Gift Shop is part of The New Art Gallery Walsall’s 10th anniversary celebrations. A full programme of exhibitions and special events will launch with the opening of PARTY!, an exciting and eclectic exhibition featuring over 50 international artists (12 February – 18 April 2010).
Mitra Memarzia: The Unwanted Gift Shop
Monday 18 January to Sunday 18 April 2010
The New Art Gallery Walsall
Gallery Square
Walsall WS2 8LG
Admission free.
Open: Mon-Sat and Bank Holidays 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm
Tel: 01922 654400
www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk
Area Culture Guide 