Time for some Home Truths at Touchstones Rochdale

Touchstones Rochdale is officially launching its 2006 Summer Season, under the banner of 'Home Truths', with a series of Exhibitions and Events exploring what home means.

Rochdale Borough's award winning arts and heritage centre brings together fine art, domestic art, ceramics and photography from both local and regional collections, as well as showcasing dazzling contemporary arts and crafts for the home.

Special guest for the opening ceremony on Thursday 18 May is Ian Simpson. As founding partner and director of Ian Simpson Architects, Ian Simpson is responsible for many innovative and award-winning building projects, including RIBA awards for Urbis, No 1 Deansgate, and Manchester Museum. Ian was a former member of Sutherland High School, Heywood. He went on to study architecture at Liverpool Polytechnic and after he completed his studies he went on to work in London with Foster and Partners. Ian has lectured extensively, both nationally and internationally, on architecture and the work of the practice. He has judged many design competitions and high profile awards and is a regular contributor to radio and TV programmes.
Ian Simpson Architects' portfolio comprises a variety of building types, including museum, gallery, university, large-scale residential, commercial, retail and arts/theatre.

The Launch will unveil the newly installed Our House exhibition in the Heritage Gallery. Our House is a unique exhibition exploring the many aspects of housing in the borough of Rochdale over the last 150 years. What did the inhabitants of a workhouse in 1856 think of their living conditions and how did mill owners' lives differ? When did electricity and fresh water become available in local homes? How will the new investment in housing regeneration change the lives of residents? Find the answers to these questions and much more in this distinctive exhibition. Our House is on display until 29 October.

Enjoy a range of historic and modern works from the Borough's Collection in Home Is Where The Art Is in Gallery Two until 17 September. This exhibition looks at domestic architecture and interiors along with townscapes of the local area, including works by Vanessa Bell, Patrick Caulfield, Harold Hemingway, Harry Rutherford and L.S. Lowry.

Emma Summers presents a fascinating exhibition entitled Anatomy of Exiles in Gallery Three. Summers uses ceramics as a medium to explore issues surrounding forced displacement, exile, and human rights. Through the use of familiar objects including a bag, a food tin, baby clothes and a house, the work aims to highlight issues often neglected by conventional media.

Guests will also have the chance to view the innovative Gallery Four exhibition, by Manchester-based artist, David Gledhill. In This was Home Gledhill examines the connection between the built environment and our sense of place. This was Home and Anatomy of Exiles both run until 9 July.

For further information about current and upcoming exhibitions ring 01706 924492 or visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/touchstones