12/08/2026
03-31 August 2026.
RED | BLACK | BLACK | RED and the Space in between presents a diverse offering of 16 artists and 16 very different interpretations of the colours red and black.
SH | Steve Haden
Steve Haden creates handcrafted brushes and brooms that blur the boundaries between functional object and sculptural form. Rooted in traditional craftsmanship and natural materials, each piece celebrates process, utility and beauty, honouring heritage skills while elevating everyday tools into thoughtfully made contemporary objects.
Under the wing.
As children, we all seek safety under a mother’s wing; for a young bird, that sheltered space is the very definition of security.The same instinct for protection threads through
household traditions. For centuries, people have hung brooms by the front door to ward off bad spirits and welcome good luck, a custom now enjoying a modern revival through the
gifting of hand-made brooms. This work is a traditionally made broomcorn brush known as “Turkey wing” brooms, named for their sweeping, featherlike profile. The form traces back
to the Appalachian region in the 1800s. Earlier still, before the 1750s, people used actual turkey wings to whisk crumbs from tables and ash from hearths. In Celtic marriage rites, “jumping the broom” symbolised a couple’s union and a fresh
beginning. The broom, given afterward as a housewarming gift, stood for sweeping away old energy to make space for the new. These brooms also reflect Shaker ideals: utility and
beauty in harmony. They are “functional art,” with patterned, woven handles that hang gracefully on the wall while serving daily life. High-quality examples are made from 100%
broomcorn, usually left in its natural state. Today, makers in small, rural workshops continue the craft with an emphasis on sustainability and natural materials, objects of care
designed to protect, to clean, and to grace the home.
www.hadenmade.com Steve Haden
OPENSPACE | The Vault
Contemporary Art Gallery & Exhibition Venue
59 High Street, Grantown-on-Spey, Ph26 3EG
