Visual Arts & Exhibitions Archives - Page 23 of 68

30 Jun

Graduate Platform – Photographer Sally Sharpe

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsphotography, student

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Sally Sharpe: I get Older They Stay The Same Age At Blackpool Social Club we are all about supporting creatives and new graduates in Blackpool: photographers, artists and musicians pushing boundaries and exploring new realms, proving just how cool Blackpool is. We noted Sally Sharpe's work on social media and warmed to the threads of skateboarding, how we measure time and growing older and how we might consider intimacy and relationships using Photography to explore these complex themes. Sally Sharpe: "Through this body of work, I aim to capture moments of performance, self reflection, intimacy, and nostalgia. Over the…

30 Jun

Roots Plant Life – an interview with plantsman and photographer, Richard Jon

Catherine Mugonyi0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Combining plants with photography has got to be a dream combination. Most of my cacti collection was sacrificed for window blinds and I miss them still, and resent the blinds. Richard Jon has made that connection and melds his obsessions within his company, Roots Plant Life. Our intrepid reporter caught up with Richard for a good old chat and Q&A. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Tell us a little bit about your background I’ve been a photographer for almost ten years documenting subculture especially northern soul and skinhead. I was born and raised in North Manchester until my parents moved to Blackpool. By then…

29 Jun

A proverbial KICK up the ass to remind people to pick up their litter.

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsLocal News, Visual Arts & Exhibitions

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During lockdown Blackpool had never looked so clean, but as folks began to emerge, more and more litter also appeared. I found some posters on one of my photo walks, not long ago and during lockdown and not your usual "Keep Britain Tidy" blandness. But posters that played around with "popular" musical references prompting us to keep our environment clean. It seemed unnamed guerrilla artists were taking to the streets to literally paste up messages and remind us of a few home truths. We caught up with the perpetrators, incognito of course. They told us how, why and what started…

26 Sep

Open Studio: Fine Artist, Tina Dempsey.

Laura Green0 CommentsVisual Arts & ExhibitionsArt, artist, studio

Above the hustle and bustle of the town centre a collective of artists share a space that is well known for drawing in some of the best contemporary practitioners in the area. The entrance to this studio is a large brown door nestled between two shop fronts on a busy shopping street in Blackpool town centre. Up a flight of stairs and you are suddenly faced with a row of unassuming doors, each one leading to a studio space behind. A hub of creative activity that often goes unnoticed by the people going about their business below. Through the first…

24 Sep

Blackpool’s Hidden History At Raikes Hall

David Simper0 CommentsHeritage, Visual Arts & ExhibitionsBlackpool, hall, heritage, history, jewel, lost, raikes

I was previously aware of the Raikes Hall and the Royal Palace Gardens history, but this event delivered by the Blackpool Conservation Office, Blackpool Museum, Heritage Blackpool, the Belle Vue Strawberry Gardens Group and the Regent Cinema filled in all the gaps. This was a free historical exhibition presented over the 14th and 15th September 2018 at the Raikes Hall itself. This building, now a public house, and its fine bowling green (I cycle past it most mornings) is the only part of the former leisure complex remaining. Initially built in open land, the hall was constructed in 1750 for…

11 Sep

Preview – Felicity Means Happiness (Abingdon Studios)

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsLocal News, Visual Arts & ExhibitionsArt, artist, Blackpool, community, Exhibition, photography, Theatre

This coming Thursday at Abingdon Studios, Felicity Means Happiness arrives in Blackpool. Felicity Means Happiness is a video piece exploring the background of a 98-year-old woman and her time as a former chorus girl, something that might have a strong relationship with Blackpool and its own heritage of performance. Alison J Carr, the artist behind the work, spent time interviewing Felicity about her experiences as a chorus girl in the thirties when she was one of the Bluebell Young Ladies. As a Bluebell Girl, Felicity toured Europe until WW2 was declared in Italy. The video work demonstrates Felicity telling her own stories and the…

06 Sep

In My Minds Eye at The Art Break Hotel

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsLocal News, Visual Arts & ExhibitionsArt, Art Break Hotel

Mental Health and awareness of its impact on everyday life has become a hot-button political topic in recent years. According to the 2014 Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, one in six adults has a Common Mental Disorder, such as Depression, Anxiety or an eating disorder. It is an issue which has found greater focus in the workplace, at home and in the halls of Parliament. With this increased focus comes a drive to express what living with one of these conditions is like. The ArtBreak Hotel in South Shore will be presenting In My Minds Eye, an exhibition of…

25 Aug

The Osmosis Gloop Machine lands at Grange Park.

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsadrian pritchard, Art, slime, The Grange

Slime and gloop launched itself as a trend with dozens of children, my own nephew included since it has got a bit of bad rep with warnings of products having hazardous side effects which was kinda' sad considering its popularity and it's positive attributes of science and creativity away from screens and devices. This, however, has not put the trend to rest and from the 28th August at Grange Park "Slime Artist" Adrian Pritchard will be installing his impressive gloop machine. The art piece has toured the UK including residencies at Art Festivals and workshops in shopping centres giving rare opportunities to children…

16 Aug

Shaws’ Latest Exhibition – John Marc Allen

Stephen Dunstan0 CommentsLocal News, Visual Arts & Exhibitions

For those readers who don't know Shaws it is an art house cafe on Clifton Street. It recently celebrated nine years of providing culture and cappucinos to the cognoscenti drawn to the excellent coffee and thought provoking art. Their new exhibition opens this Friday evening and features the work of John Marc Allen. The theme of the art is Echoes, we haven't asked which of John Marc's extensive range of work this features but then we wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. If we haven't tempted you then hopefully the fact that free Shaws coffee and cake is available to…

09 Aug

Applications open for creatives in Blackpool.

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsLocal News, Opportunities, Visual Arts & ExhibitionsArt, commission, community, leftcoast

Leftcoast's continuing creative legacy in Blackpool has thrown a number of opportunities across the creative community in Blackpool and in recent times further afield. Earlier on in the year Leftcoast placed a call out for a long term socially engaged artists residency in Fleetwood and Haweside. Born from these placements new micro commissions have come to light. The third bedroom micro residencies invite artist to respond with an initial expression of interest to take part in the residencies from December 2018 to June 2019. Described as an opportunity to be experimental and test ideas the successful applicants are encouraged to…