ICEbreakers is a collaborative project by Mary Crenshaw and London-based poet Emma Roper-Evans alias Edre produced at Gate44.

The initial inspiration for the project came from a large paper fan found at a flea market. Captivated by its form, Mary Crenshaw envisioned designing a series of handcrafted fans that would function both as sculptural objects and as narrative carriers.
The first step in the creation process involved screen-printed paper, pre-shaped in a fan form, containing drawings and fragments of text collected while watching Rachel Maddow’s coverage of Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. These snippets of political language became part of the work’s visual and conceptual vocabulary. The printed sheets were then cut and assembled into individual fans, built onto bamboo supports of Chinese manufacture, forming vibrant sequences of color and rhythm.
To complete the artworks, Crenshaw transcribed Edre’s poem onto the white strips that had been intentionally left blank, using pencil and spray enamel paint. Words and textures were layered to carry the poem across each piece. Finally, custom containers were devised from folded paper, grommets, and hand-knitted laces, with cords dyed in colors that echo the palette of each fan.

Fan: Screen printing on paper, spray enamel paint, cotton yarn, and bamboo spines
Container: Wood pulp board, cotton yarn, and eyelets
Dimensions: Variable
Year: 2025