BLACK ON BLACK | Manchester Art Gallery | 20 June – 9 October
Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend but there’s more to contemporary jewellery than our favourite dazzler, as curator Jo Bloxham demonstrates. From jet mourning Victoriana to delicate Berlin ironwork to modernist statement knuckledusters, this exhibition charts the history of black jewellery through a blend of unconventional materials, seventeen artists and ten countries; with each wearable work of art telling its own tale.
Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, M2 3JL (10-5pm; free).
SHOW ME THE MONEY | People's History Museum | 11 July – 24 January
What does ‘the market’ look like? What does money really stand for? How can the abstractions of high finance be made visible? Pertinent questions to which few of us have the answers. Charting the imagining of finance through visual media over the last three centuries in Britain and the United States, this exhibition illustrates just how money makes the world go round. Read our review here.
People's History Museum, Left Bank, Spinningfields, M3 3ER (10am-5pm; free).
Debt and her DebtorsExtraORDINARY| The Lowry | 25 Jul - 18 October
For centuries, artists have converted everyday objects into artistic forms that may belie their original state...or may not; begging the question, are both works of art? What indeed is a ‘work of art’? In this playful exhibition, a collection of renowned visual artists demonstrate why objects we often take for granted, like the human body, are some of our greatest masterpieces.
The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays M50 3AZ (10am-5pm; free).
BEDWYR WILLIAMS: THE STARRY MESSENGER | The Whitworth | 8 August – 10 January
Ever fancied exploring space? Well now you can – in The Whitworth art gallery. Welsh artist and comedian Bedwr Williams also invites you to experience life as a chunk of quartz...you won’t get an offer like that again. Echoing the principles of ExtraORDINARY above, quintessential everyday objects are transformed in his zany installation of sound, light and who knows what else.
The Whitworth, Oxford Road, M15 6ER (10-5pm; free).
The Starry MessengerTHE PHANTOMS OF CONGO RIVER | Manchester Museum | 11 September – 10 April
Nyaba L. Ouedraogo’s ode to Joseph Conrad’s favourite novel The Heart of Darkness similarly explores European colonialism and racism via the journey of an ivory transporter down the Congo River. Through reconstructing scenes from the story, the Burkina Faso-born photographer contrasts the residues of savagery with the vibrant humanity of Congolese communities.
Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, M13 9PL (10am-5pm; free).
TWELVE | Castlefield Gallery | 18 September – 1 November
Having spent the last two years with twelve people recovering from substance abuse, TWELVE is Melanie Manchot’s version of their stories. Rituals, repetition, ruptures...all are infused with pathos and humour in this multi-channel video installation, inspired by the acuity of renowned contemporary filmmakers. To coincide with the exhibition, Manchot has developed a series of workshops with people from the North West in long-term recovery.
Castlefield Gallery, 2 Hewitt Street, M15 4GB (Wed-Sun, 1-6pm; free).
TWELVEBOTH SIDES NOW | Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art | 24 September – 6 December
By selecting video works from 1990 to 2014, Both Sides Now seeks to draw comparisons between the identity and culture of China and the UK. Hong Kong is an anomaly, an increasingly-westernised administrative region seemingly glued onto the People’s Republic of China. Excluded and forgotten images explore its hybrid history, from the handover to China and the recent pro-democracy umbrella movement. Contemporary artists similarly explore Britain’s society through issues such as the Scottish referendum. You’ll need your thinking caps on for this one.
Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art, Market Buildings, 13 Thomas Street, M4 1EU (Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm; free).
BUY ART FAIR | Old Granada Studios | 24-27 September
AS 2015 shapes up to be a pivotal year in Manchester’s cultural development, the Buy Art Fair returns to Old Granada Studios on 24-27 September 2015. Now in its eighth year, the sellers fair will bring together over 100 galleries and artists to feed an appetite whetted by HOME, MIF, The Whitworth and the like. Prices range from £50 to £5000+ so whatever your budget, there is a piece of art that you can afford, whether it is your first or for a growing collection.
Old Granada Studios,Quay Street,M60 9EA(Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm; tickets are free when purchasing in advance online and £3 to buy at the door).
Buy Art FairMANCHESTER IN MIND | Kosmonaut | 8-22 October
Showcasing the minds behind Manchester with original print designs and a host of inspirational speakers, this celebration of our diverse population is in aid of mental health charity Mind. With one in four people likely to experience a mental health problem in their lifetime, we are compelled to consider the extremes to which the mind can travel. For those who can’t make it in person, artworks will also be available to purchase on the website.
This exhibition is part of the Manchester Design Festival, a week-long celebration of creativity and collaboration in art, design, film and music. For more information, visit designmcr.com.
Kosmonaut, 10 Tariff St, M1 2FF (12pm-12am; free).
BODY OF LIGHT | Museum of Science and Industry | 23-24 October
Whilst ExtraOrdinary may explore the transition of everyday objects into visual artworks, how about sound? Everyday appliances like microwaves and fridges develop a new personality entirely in this bespoke soundscape by Dance Manchester and Darren Pritchard.
This exhibit is part of the Manchester Science Festival, whose 2015 programme comprises over 170 events across Greater Manchester. Indulge your inner Einstein with our 8-things-not-to-be-missed.
Museum of Science and Industry, Liverpool Road, Castlefield, M3 4FP (noon-1pm and 3-4pm; free).
Body of Light
