Robert Race
| 1943 | Born |
| 1965 | Graduated from the University of Cambridge ( in Natural Sciences). |
| 1966/67 | U. of London, Sch. of Education : Postgrad. Certificate in Education |
| 1967 | Taught Science in Secondary Schools |
| 1970 | Warden of Trowbridge Teachers' Centre. |
| 1974 | Diploma in Education, University of Bristol |
| 1978 | Became a full time toymaker. As a craftsman he is self-taught. |
"Immoment toys, things of such dignity
As we greet modern friends withal,..."
Antony & Cleopatra, Act V sc.ii
I try to make things which move in simple but interesting ways. Moving toys have always been made all over the world from wood, bamboo, clay, paper, string, wire, leaves, feathers and so on. These traditional toys have been a strong influence on my work, and I have travelled in Indonesia, Mexico, India and Japan in search of them. There are many pressures leading to their disappearance today, but they are still to be found in many parts of the world, sold on the street or appearing for fairs and festivals.
At their best they achieve a vigorous imagery and make ingenious use of really simple mechanisms. The makers of these toys have also been constantly inventive in their use of materials: They have cleverly exploited the properties of whatever natural, re-used and recycled materials were readily available to them. I try to do the same and at present particularly like using driftwood because collecting it gives me a good excuse for going to the seaside.
Robert Race
2007
Treibholz u. Fundstücke
38x43x10cm
Foto: Robert Race
Awards
Best Newcomer Shield , 1991The BTG Cup 1991, 1992, 1998
The Malsbury Memorial Cup (for automata and kinetic toys) 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000
Toymaker of the Year 1999
The Longleat Cup 2001
Chairman of the Guild 2003 to 2006.
Grand Prize in the Fifth Hikimi Wooden Puzzle Competition, Japan, 1992.
Commissions
Black Swan Arts, Frome, SomersetSalisbury Playhouse, Wiltshire
Victoria Art Gallery, Bath
Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester
Bibliography
Peppé, Rodney Automata and Mechanical ToysThe Crowood Press, Ramsbury 2002 ISBN 1-86126-510-7
Exempla 2002 - Welt des Holzes
Bayerischer Handwerkstag e. V., Muenchen 2002 ISBN 3-933363-13-6
Work in public collections
Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green, LondonJapan Museum of Contemporary Toy, Okayama, Japan
Arima Toys and Automata Museum, Hyogo, Japan.
Exhibitions in the last ten years have included (One man shows in bold type)
| 1998 | "Living Workshop" at Heim und Handwerk in München |
| 1999 | Jun Humour & Automates Galerie Claude Andre, Brussels |
| 2001 | Mar Keep Moving First Gallery, Southampton Jun/Jul Robert Race Hitchcocks', Bath Jul/Sep Automata Exhibition Japan Museum of Contemporary Toy, Japan Oct/Nov Robert Race Number 7, Totnes, Devon Dec Exposition Robert Race La Parenthèse, Nancy, France |
| 2002 | Mar Exempla 2002 at the IHM, Munich Sep/Oct Robert Race Hitchcock's,Bath Exempla Welt des Holzes, 54th IHM at München |
| 2003 | Nov/Dec Christmas Show, Medici Gallery, London Crafts Council shop at the V&A, London "Living Workshop" at Heim und Handwerk in München |
| 2004 | Sep/Nov Happy Times & the Seaside Machine Ale & Porter, Bradford on Avon |
| 2005 | May The Art of Craft Medici Gallery, London May/Jun Making Friends craft2eu, Hamburg Sep 2 Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan invited guest ath the "World Karakuri Contest" |
| 2006 | Apr/May Signals from the Shore Black Swan Arts, Frome May/Sep Mechanical Magic 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe Sep/Nov Fish and Ships craft2eu, Hamburg Nov/Dec Toys at the gallery@oxo, London (British Toymakers Guild) Künstlerisches Spielzeug?, Galerie Handwerk, Munich Nov/Mar Made Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Bretton Hall Yorkshire |
| 2007 | Mar/Apr A Piece of the Action Bridport Arts Centre, Bridport,Dorset |
Seit 1991 war Robert Race ein aktives Mitglied der British Toymakers Guild,