Focus: The Spaghetti Factory

The Spaghetti Factory is Eve Cromwell and Jenny Mc Namara who started a curatorial project that originated in a house in Central Newcastle where they wanted to use as a space to allow experimentation in a non-formal setting. The project has since expanded to include events, workshops and the guest curation of regional galleries and pop-up spaces. We find out more about the dynamic duo and what exciting projects they’ve got coming up.

Who are you?
We are Jenny Mc Namara (25) and Evie Cromwell (23) two Newcastle based artists. Jenny is originally from Dublin and Eve is from Yorkshire. We met in 2014 at The National Glass Centre while studying on our Glass and Ceramics degree course at Sunderland University

What is it you do?
We curate exhibitions together, host collaborative events and also have our own separate studio practices. The Spaghetti Factory aims to support artists at the start of their careers and to show a range of experimental work.

How long have you been doing it?
The first exhibition we put on was in our house in April 2018 and the last was August 2019. We’ve been working satellite since then.

What inspires you?
We’re inspired by working with early careers artists to offer space and support to show experimental work – and to put on exhibitions that excite us!

We want Spaghetti Factory to make art exhibitions more informal, casual, fun, break down barriers. To start, grow and develop a stronger network and community of artists in our area. A place for people to gather and also a place for (gentle) critical discussion.  It has taken many forms – our own house, part of an art festival, pasta workshops and now in a Museum. We continue to strive to exhibit experimental work especially by early-career artists, to take chances, but to have fun with exhibiting work, in order to create a more relaxed atmosphere around gallery experience.

Tell us about your work.
We started The Spaghetti Factory as a series of exhibitions in our flat in central Newcastle. We did eight solo shows there, about once a month, working with a range of artists across many disciplines. Since then, The Spaghetti Factory has continued as a satellite curatorial project, working with existing art spaces to run pasta workshops and programme exhibitions. 

Our Hot New It show is currently on show in the Art Gallery at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens until March. Hot New It is a series of three exhibitions curated by us which brings together contemporary talent from Sunderland and pairs it with other works in the Museum. 

We’re now on our second exhibition of the series which features the work of local artists Kevin Petrie, Brenda Watson, Katie Watson and Paddy Killer. All of the artwork featured has been selected in response to the Museum’s current Arts Council Collection exhibition, Received Wisdom and its theme of celebrating age and creativity.

What have you got coming up in the future?
We’re members of The Programme Committee and also studio holders at The Newbridge Project in Gateshead. As part of The Collective Studio, their graduate programme, we’re taking part in an exhibition called ‘Scramble’ in Pineapple Black Gallery in Middlesbrough from March 14th – April 4th. We’re doing a performance at The Late Shows in Newbridge Newcastle on May 16th. 

We’re currently planning for the last Hot New It exhibition at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, which will take place between April and May which we hope everyone will come and see!