Here and Elsewhere: Reflecting on an Independent Exhibition of Place, Memory and Craft

In July, Here and Elsewhere transformed ArtSpace Woodbridge into a celebration of contemporary craftsmanship, bringing together the work of Suffolk artists Maddie Willis and Carmen Alexander. Entirely self-funded and independently organised, the week-long exhibition presented two distinct creative practices united by shared themes of place, memory and belonging.

Through different disciplines, both artists explore how environments, objects and experiences shape identity. Through painting, metalsmithing and jewellery, Here and Elsewhere invited visitors to reflect on how landscapes, collected objects and personal histories continue to influence the present.

Maddie Willis’ oil paintings transform familiar natural forms and everyday scenes into dreamlike compositions shaped by memory. Balancing realism with blurred imagery, her work reflects how certain details remain vivid while others fade over time. Flowers recur throughout the collection as symbols of nostalgia and “rose-tinted glasses”, inspired by Willis’ family history of floristry and reflecting our tendency to romanticise people, places and the past. Blurring the line between realism and imagination, her paintings draw subtle parallels with today’s culture of filtered images and curated memories.

Willis has spent the past four years working as a ceramic painter at a gallery in Southwold while developing her career as an independent artist. Recent projects include a commission of nine large-scale landscape paintings for a housing development in Hackney Wick, London

Metalsmith Carmen Alexander graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2025, specialising in narrative design. Her practice explores the histories carried by objects, using metalsmithing to reimagine overlooked materials and celebrate the stories they hold.

Her award-winning graduate collection, Friday Street, inspired by weekly visits to Saxmundham’s Friday Street car boot sale, combines analogue photography with metalsmithing to recreate found objects, carefully imitating their patinas and signs of wear.

Alongside this, Alexander exhibited a new jewellery collection inspired by the ornamental architecture and decorative details encountered while travelling through Morocco, continuing her interest in craftsmanship, observation and memory.

Alongside the exhibition, two community events celebrated Suffolk’s creative scene. An open evening featured live music from local artist Harriet Cree, while a creative meet-up brought together local artists to discuss artistic practice and community.

For two emerging artists choosing to create opportunities independently, Here and Elsewhere demonstrated the value of self-initiated exhibitions in bringing contemporary art to local audiences. More than a showcase of painting and metalsmithing, the exhibition celebrated craftsmanship, storytelling and the importance of creating spaces where art can spark conversation, connection and community.