contemporary art Archives - Blackpool Social Club

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…

28 Jun

Exhibition Preview: Artist Rooms Louise Bourgeois

Antonia Charlesworth0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsartist rooms, Blackpool, contemporary art, louise borgeois, Tate Liverpool, tate modern

One of the great figures of modern art, Louise Bourgeois’ embrace of duality is revealed in a posthumous exhibition that brings work owned by the Tate and National Galleries of Scotland to Blackpool's Grundy Art Gallery. If Louise Bourgeois’ work is personal, inward looking and intimate, it’s not reflected in its scale. The French sculptor, painter and printmaker’s seminal work is a 30-foot steel spider, too large to house at the Grundy's posthumous exhibition of her work. Its eight spindly legs, which stand improbably on sharp-tipped pointe, support an irregular-ribbed spiralling body above a wire mesh containing 17 gleaming marble…

08 May

Exhibition Review: New Things and Still Life

David Simper0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitionsart exhibition, Blackpool, contemporary art, grundy art gallery, still life

In between shopping trips, David Simper does two laps of the Grundy's new duo of exhibitions where he has an odd conversation with a mysterious stranger, and vows to practice drawing pears. The need to go to the supermarket had blocked me from attending the Grundy's new show's opening. However, with the coast clear a few days later, I got the service 3 bus down and was stood outside the door on opening. For spring 2023, the gallery is presenting two Collection Spotlight exhibitions as part of its ongoing work to explore its collection using different themes, styles and subjects…

09 Mar

Garth takes the fight to London exhibition

Catherine Mugonyi0 CommentsVisual Arts & ExhibitionsArt, artist, contemporary art, contemporary artist, Exhibition, group show, London

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Blackpool based artist Garth Gratrix has been invited to join artist and curator Cecilia Sjoholm in an upcoming London exhibition that brings together seven contemporary artists who all engage in defiance. THE COMRADES THEY WERE BRAVE runs at 44 GRS Gallery in Bloomsbury from 18 March until 10 April 2022. Conceived as an homage to Edith Garrud (1872- 1971), Jiujitsu martial arts teacher to the suffragettes, it explores the theme of fighting for a cause. In 1909, in response to increasing physical abuse by the police and opponents to their campaign for women’s right to vote, Edith Garrud began…

09 Dec

Something for the weekend? 11/12 December 2021

Catherine Mugonyi0 CommentsGuideAbingdon Studios, Art, contemporary art, Exhibition, Lytham, what's on

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Looking for something to do this weekend? Here are a some top picks from the cultural happenings taking place on the Fylde Coast on 11 & 12 December. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Present Absence [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="34219" img_size="large" alignment="center"][vc_column_text] Exhibition runs until 20 Jan 2022.Open Thu-Sat, 11-4pm.Except between 17 Dec - 7th Jan.Free entry It's not often that you get contemporary painting shows on your doorstep, but Abingdon Studios has come up trumps with this new exhibition from Parham Ghalamdar. Curated by Garth Gratrix, this show exhibits works across the Project Space and Window Gallery, located on Abingdon St right in the heart…

11 Aug

Ride Your Pony down to Abingdon Studios: Exhibition and residency opportunity

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsLocal News, Opportunitiescontemporary art, Exhibition, gallery, opportunities

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] This fourth iteration of international group exhibition and residency Ride Your Pony is coming to Blackpool. RYP has received support from Arts Council England and offers paid opportunities to 26 artists across the UK. Let's take a look at this a cross artform opportunity for visual artists, architects, designers, makers, digital and beyond. The open call welcomes submissions from creatives seeking to be part of a culture of coexistence and exchange. Submissions are encouraged, but not limited to Designers, Illustrators, Photographers, Artists and Makers. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1628720572424{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #ffe758 !important;}"] "The name…

14 Jun

ROCKIFIED at Abingdon Studios

Catherine Mugonyi0 CommentsVisual Arts & ExhibitionsAbingdon Studios, Art, contemporary art, Exhibition, gallery

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Blackpool's Abingdon Studios (ABS) hosts an international collaboration with links very close to home. The upcoming exhibition ROCKIFIED is the culmination of a 9 month residency at ABS for Brazilian artist Gustavo Ferro who has collaborated with London-based visual artist Sam Meredith. Gustavo’s recent work comes from an investigation into artificial landscapes built with pulhamite, a material that resembles natural rock created by Pulham & Son and used to ‘rockify’ the cliffs in the North Shore of Blackpool in 1923. He says, "Recently I’ve been researching man-made objects and materials used to create artificial landscapes such as rock gardens."…

02 May

Spring Programme comes to the Grundy

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsVisual Arts & ExhibitionsArt, contemporary art, Exhibition, The Grundy Art Gallery

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] As it celebrates its 110th anniversary, the Grundy Art Gallery is delighted to announce details of its upcoming Spring Programme and its plans for reopening the galleries and shop. The Spring programme activity is now live on the Grundy’s website and social media platforms, however the gallery is due to reopen very soon in line with the government's coronavirus roadmap. If all goes to plan, the Grundy will open to the public from 11am on Tuesday 18 May 2021. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] REMOTE WORK REMOTE WORK brings together new work by Nicola Dale, Kieran Leach, David Penny, Shy Bairns and Ciarán Wood; five…