Altblackpool’s Linda Hampton was at Urban Arts Studio in St Annes to join the party for the launch of artist Sam Jayne Simpson’s exhibition, Lost in Music.
Yes it’s true what you’ve heard. There were unicorns and there was live poetry too, to herald in the latest showcase of artwork by a local creative at this unique venue.
Sam Jayne Simpson creates with acrylics on large canvasses that are alive with movement and passion. Dancers move energetically across the dark background and explode with splashes of colour as if to leap right out of the picture and into the room. Sam’s aim is to capture the moment that the dancer is completely entranced in the moment and lost in music. Her work is striking and original and appeals to us the audience to cast care aside and try her particular brand of mindfulness.
With her dancer’s hat on Sam also runs movement workshops entitled ‘We love dancing! Come join us!’ with her aim to free people of their stresses and anxieties, if only for a while, and enjoy moving their bodies freely to the music.
Sam invited Manchester based performance poet, Joy France, to share some of her words in response to Sam’s work and the result was a joyous (sorry) blending of emotions and images. Joy’s honest and uncensored poetry is refreshing and life affirming as she speaks aloud sentiments that we might usually keep to ourselves. We’re glad to discover that, after all, these thoughts are part of the collective consciousness and Joy helps us to realise this.
Joy took up the dance baton and followed her performance by appealing to the crowd to follow her into the street for some impromptu dancing, which we happily did. Some willing volunteers completed the picture by wearing the brightly coloured unicorn heads generously supplied by Joy. It’s the long hot summer of 2018 and anything is possible.
The night wasn’t over yet as the revelers answered the call of Soul Food DJs, invited by Sam, playing northern soul, funk, Mod, Ska and 60s beats. We piled back inside to partake of dancing in the moment and get lost in the music. Sam Jayne Simpson, with her art and her philosophy of life, certainly knows how to throw a party!
If you missed the evening, you can still view Sam’s artwork throughout July at Urban Arts Studio. All works are for sale.
Images by CJGriffiths Photography
Cafe Bar opening times:
Tuesdays 14.00 -18.00
Wednesdays 1400 – 1830
Thursday 1730 – 2300
Friday 1900 – 0100
Saturday 1900 – 0100
Closed Sunday and Monday
11-12 Whiteside Buildings
Back St Annes Road West
Lytham St Annes
FY8 1RD
Enquiries
Tel: 07931113855
Or find them on Facebook
Great review Linda. Great art, poetry and music a fantastic opening night with lots of old and new friends. A full experience of Sam’s art and her inspiration. Helped along by the inspirational Joy France and Soul Food DJ + Stu.
Thank you for taking the time to comment Phillipa. What a fantastic night.x