blackpool arts scene Archives - Page 4 of 7

10 Jul

Exhibition Review: Garth Gratrix – Flamboyant Flamingos

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & ExhibitionsBlackpool, blackpool arts scene, contemporary art, grundy art gallery, queer art

Following coffee with friends at the weekly HIVEArts jive in the Church Street gallery, David Simper strolled over to the Grundy Art Gallery in Queen Street to catch the opening of the gallery's summer exhibition from local star artist, Garth Gratrix. Having caught Garth's Shy Girl exhibition in 2019, I had some idea of what to expect of their work, but this show is on a much larger scale and occupies the whole main gallery, this being transformed into an immersive space of pastel but vibrant colour that I think, successfully, aims for a resort-like atmosphere. By the time I…

30 Jun

Theatre Review: Thick and Tight present Tits and Teeth

David Simper0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performanceblackpool arts scene, Blackpool Grand Theatre, Comedy, social comment, Theatre

This is one of those when you come out of the theatre and walking towards the bus stop, wonder what the hell you have just seen. For one night only on Friday 28 June 2024, a stunning performance of an extended sketch format show with the Thick and Tight ensemble cast of talented and committed people. Singly or in pairs, the cast works through a series of pieces in mime, voice-over and dance based around a variety of historic and not so historic figures. The workshops to determine how these would be handled must have been something to behold, or…

24 Jun

Exhibition Review: Capital of Dance

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsart exhibition, blackpool arts scene, dance, Exhibition, hivearts

The HIVEArts collective has curated a new dance themed exhibition. Declaring his interest in having a piece in this show, David Simper bused it down to the Church Street gallery to catch some exciting art and enjoy a coffee with friends. In the absence of an opening event for this fine exhibition, I combined a view with a social visit to the weekly HIVE Jive gathering in the Church Street gallery. A good cup of coffee was had; cake was resisted. The exhibition features the HIVEArts collective's typically eclectic mix of painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media and this time, costume,…

06 Jun

Exhibition Review: Make a Scene at HIVEArts

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scene, Drag, exibition, lgbt culture

In partnership with Funny Girls and the 'Be Who You Want to Be' initiative, HIVEArts has put together a celebration of drag culture and its contribution to Blackpool. Having seen M&S mannequins arriving for the gowns, David Simper was keen to see how the show would pan out. I just had time to get home from a rare visit to the office nowadays, change my clothes, pick up the camera and catch the service 61 bus to town and the Church Street gallery space, where large numbers of people were already thronging in to the venue. They entered through a…

04 Jun

Exhibition Review: Katarzyna Nowak at Tea Amantes

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsart exhibition, blackpool arts scene, painting

Following on from her exhibition in February 2023 at the Tea Amantes gallery, Katarzyna Nowak presents a fresh set of images for our delectation. David Simper went down to the gallery to view the paintings and speak to the artist. Having been extremely impressed with the work exhibited in Katarzyna Novak's earlier show, I was keen to see this new offering, which did not disappoint. The pre-exhibition write up described it as focusing on eliminating the negative and embracing the highs life has to offer. I would certainly vouch for this. The paintings are bright, colourful and optimistic. Size varies…

08 Apr

Exhibition Review: Northern Exposures

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scene, photographic exhibition, street photography

David Simper bussed it down to the Tea Amantes cafe and gallery to catch this excellent show of contemporary street photography in the North West. The Tea Amantes gallery is always conducive to an attractive and intimate show such as this, together with excellent snacks. On arrival a good crowd was already there creating a homely buzz of conversation. I noticed a good number of excellent photographers in the throng, and then there was me but I hardly count. Street photography has always fascinated me and I've never really had the nerve to pursue it properly. Nowadays a lot of people…

03 Apr

Exhibition Review: Darren Elwell

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsart exhibition, blackpool arts scene, hivearts, illustration

A new HIVEArts supported exhibition featuring local teacher and illustrator, Darren Elwell, opened in the Church Street coffee shop on Thursday 28th March 2024. David Simper bused it down to catch this opening and work of striking quality. This HIVEArts supported exhibition on the ground floor of the HIVE coffee shop on Church Street showcases the work of local illustrator Darren Elwell. The art works were wall mounted with smaller pieces placed on tables and a display to the cafe's rear. A short 'creative diary' booklet was an interesting addition. This is bold work with striking and immaculately composed images.…

20 Mar

Gallery: Heritage Action Zone with Blackpool Community Darkroom

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsblackpool arts scene, community photography, film photography, photowalk

Never one to let a photographic opportunity pass him by, David Simper took his twin lens reflex film camera down to the Aunty Social building to join Blackpool Community Darkroom and explore the surrounding Heritage Action Zone. I got to Aunty Social on Topping Street reasonably early due to Sunday bus times and the need to load the camera, however there were already plenty of friends and new faces already there. Aunty Social created a community darkroom space for people to share, learn and refine their photography skills. Run by a collective of local photographers, it launched at the start…

16 Mar

Theatre Review: Amy Johnson: Last Flight Out

Linda Hampton0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & PerformanceBlackpool, blackpool arts scene, heritage, performance, Theatre

Actor and writer Jenny Lockyer singlehandedly flew her audience through the fascinating story of the life of female aviator Amy Johnson with her one-woman show, Amy Johnson: Last Flight Out, at the Old Electric. Linda Hampton reviews and shares a fascinating local connection to the story. Amy Johnson: Last Flight Out celebrates this internationally famous woman pilot and her record-breaking solo flight from England to Australia in 1930. The play touches down on her early years as she discovered flying and went on to plan and execute her Australia flight in the face of huge physical and personal challenges. In…

13 Mar

Theatre Preview: Amy Johnson: Last Flight Out

Linda Hampton0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performanceblackpool arts scene, performance, Theatre

Amy Johnson: Last Flight Out, a one-woman show celebrating the life of the pilot and her record-breaking solo flight from England to Australia in 1930, touches down at the Old Electric on Friday. Written and performed by Jenny Lockyer, Last Flight Out tells the story of Johnson's passion for adventure and love of aviation. The show was originally created for the 2017 Croydonites Festival of New Theatre and has since played a string of sold-out runs in Croydon and toured key venues from Brooklands Museum to Herne Bay. Professor Dawn Bonfield at The Royal Academy of Engineering described the show…