David Parfitt
Animateur in Residence during THE UNDERCROFT
David Parfitt is a sculptor who works with many differing forms of structure.
His creative involvement has included working with; local government, multi-national corporations, educational initiatives, life prisoners, property developers and other artists.
The physical results vary considerably; large stone statuary, texts enclosed in a confessional, alchemical games with pharmaceutical scientists, illustrated books on lawn mowing patterns and making tree houses, sculptures that protect from car bombs, a reconstruction of Tatlin's tower, drawings in light on a river bed.
Through his work David attempts to demystify attitudes towards art, taking the emphasis off its consumption as a cultural commodity and concentrating on active participation in the process of creativity.
He argues this is the same creative energy that children enjoy and that instead of being lost or becoming jaded in adulthood it can be developed, become exuberant, refined and sophisticated, but only if we give it permission to do so.
During this exhibition David will be working with Fabrica staff and volunteers to develop and share his investigative processes with gallery visitors through a programme of informal discussion and drop-in workshops.
To keep updated, visit David's project space in the gallery or read his blog.

Animateur's Story – David Parfitt
Wed 16 July, 7-8pm
A loose visual ramble through the concepts behind Marcel Mauss's classic anthropological study, The Gift, and Gregory Ulmer's more recent publication Heuretics, the Logic of Invention. David Parfitt discusses how they are crucial to sculpture, current art practice and his residency during THE UNDERCROFT exhibition.

Echoes, Reflections and Variations
Sundays 20 and 27 July, 3, 10 and 17 August, 2-4pm
Drop-in workshops, for all ages and abilities, exploring aspects of the exhibition.