Northumberland open call exhibition tackles life in modern England
Artists look at national issues through a local lens. Tony Henderson reports
Artists in a new Northumberland exhibition have explored how national issues are reflected in local communities.
Around 70 artworks from 50 artists, ranging from paintings, photographs, prints, and sculpture to collages and textile pieces, feature in the exhibition.
The event is at the Dovecote Centre in Amble between Saturday May 23 and Sunday June 7, daily from 11am-3pm.
Luke McTaggart, co-director of exhibition organiser Dovecote Street Arts CIC in Amble, said: “We’ve been absolutely thrilled at the response to our open call for exhibits, which are a contemporary portrait of England today, seen through a local lens.”
Issues which are tackled include the rise in the prominence of flags as a political statement, farming, the relationship between rural and urban life, local development controversies, environmental concerns, water quality, and wildlife habitat loss.
The overall winner is Amble’s Andrew Holder, with his exhibit of a desk with objects from sea coal to postcards.
“This has stopped people in their tracks and interpretations include that we are living faster lives and need to slow down and look at the world,” said Luke.
Highly commended are the Coquet Estuary’s Changing Skyline (top) by Warkworth’s Marjorie Firth and Carmen Gordon from Thropton in Northumberland, who has portrayed the Little Shore at Amble, which has been awarded bathing water status after a campaign by residents.
Co-director Jim Donnelly said: “It’s safe to say we will have a ‘kaleidoscope of talent’ on display.”
The exhibition is being supported by Alnmouth Arts Festival, who have given the organisation a grant of £400 to cover their core running costs for the show.
Festival committee member Jayne Billington said: “Alnmouth Arts Festival are delighted to support Dovecote Street Arts in this project celebrating creativity, community participation and making the arts accessible to all. Alnmouth Arts Festival and Dovecote Street Arts champion local talent while welcoming diverse voices.”
The exhibition opening coincides with the Amble Puffin Festival, with events and activities taking place across the town this weekend (May 23-24).
The festival will include a craft fair, guided nature walks, bird watching, local history and nature talks, exhibitions, workshops, children’s entertainment and live music. Events will be held in a variety of locations throughout the town.