Start-Yard showcases artist Daniel Meakin’s solo exhibition of paintings “If Walls Could Talk”.
To preview the exhibition, Daniel will do a Live Painting Performance, allowing spectators to meet him and witness his work in progress in situ.
The exhibition will run until the end of May and the paintings are available to purchase.
Join Convenience Gallery for their brand new programme launch at 39 Borough Pavement, Birkenhead, CH41 2YE on the 22nd March 2024 launching their most ambitious programme to date, The Town is the Gallery.
As a Community/ Contemporary arts organisation, Convenience will animate Birkenhead Town locations across the 2024 Borough of Culture Year for Wirral, including reanimating a high street shop, alongside locations such as Birkenhead Priory, Birkenhead Library and others with free to access arts exhibitions workshops and experiences all made and designed by local people.
This project will create a number of new artworks and culture opportunities across Birkenhead and beyond during 2024 and 2025. This first night will be a not to be missed celebration and launch party.
Featuring:
Launch night details:
Date: 22nd March
Time: 4pm – late
Where: 39 Borough Pavement, Birkenhead, CH41 2YE
Cost: FREE (subsidised by Borough of Culture) Donation tickets also available to support future culture opportunities on Merseyside with Convenience.
Exhibitions and space will be open after the launch on this schedule:
Wednesday: 10am – 4pm
Thursday: 10am – 4pm
Friday: 10am – 4pm
Saturday: 10am – 4pm
CLOSED: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday – please contact to arrange special visitation.
With thanks to Wirral Council, Kindred LCR, ESA and all of the artists and local people making this happen. Join them for the biggest party of 2024 (so far).
More about the incredible creative involved in the first part of The Town is the Gallery public programming:
Elisa Sallis and Ella Matthews (ELLSQUARED) presents “On the Waltzers”
“‘On The Waltzers’, is an interactive and immersive arts installation created by artist and curator duo ELLSQUARED. You are invited to participate in a series of classic fair games for the chance to win hand-crafted prizes made by the artists with the intention of exploring how exhibitions can be more accessible. ‘On The Waltzers’ implores the viewer to not only engage with the installation but to become a part of the work itself.
Sorrell Kerrison presents “Chwarae Teg / Fair Play”
Sorrell’s new Exhibition invites you to ponder the timeless question: “When do we stop playing for the sake of enjoyment and always search for productivity? Is it a byproduct of the capitalist dilemma, or simply an inevitable aspect of aging that we forget to find joy in the simple act of playing and exploring? Through this thought-provoking exhibition, Kerrison delves into the complexities of human nature and the intrinsic value of play.
Wirral Met college animation with illustration: Student showcase
We are very pleased to announce a new collaboration with WMC, across the past semester students were tasked to explore their creative relationship to the surrounding of Hamilton Square and Wirral and make their own response through drawings and map making. Students undertook a life brief with the Gallery team and we are excited to present the creative outcomes of this project.
Queensway collective partnership:
We are excited to announce our official partnership with Queenways collective. Queensway is a community dedicated to platforming female, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ electronic music artists. Queensway electronic artists will be soundtracking The town is the Gallery across 2024.
Convenience Store:
Convenience will be bringing their Convenience Store to the launch and which will then be open from the 22nd March to the 20th April. Highlighting some of Merseyside’s best creatives. The Convenience Store was something we set up in 2023 as an additional way to support northern artists to sell work and have sustainable income. We have shown this at the Manchester Contemporary and in Collaboration with the M&S Bank Arena, with this event being our 3rd pop up – you can see all the works on the site: www.conveniencegallery.store . All work will only be available until April 20th.
Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience – produced by Annerin Productions and Paquin Entertainment Group – blends more than 300 of the post-Impressionist icon’s paintings with cutting-edge technology and a specially curated musical soundtrack to tell the story of one of history’s most influential artists.
It has already been seen by more than five million people across the United States and Canada. And now it is coming to the UK, with the unmissable show being staged in Liverpool on its famous waterfront at Exhibition Centre Liverpool (for a limited run) from 27 June to 14 July.
In Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, the artist’s spectacular paintings are liberated from their two-dimensional realms and rendered into three-dimensional, fully immersive scenes that swirl and flow with colour and movement – exhilarating in every sense.
Wander through iconic works as they come alive around you, including The Starry Night, Sunflowers and Terrace of a Café at Night, and be enveloped by a selection of his revealing self-portraits which might just blink back at you.
Visitors are taken on a journey through the artist’s world from darkness to light, enhanced by his own dreams, thoughts and words set to a stirring symphonic score in this sensational narrative experience which appeals to a whole new generation of art enthusiasts and Van Gogh fans alike.
Beginning in the Introduction Hall, visitors connect with Vincent van Gogh through personal letters he wrote to his brother, and greatest supporter, Theo. Visitors then move into the heart of the exhibition – the Immersive Room – where Van Gogh’s paintings are freed from their frames to dominate the space and fully immerse the audience in the incredible detail of his work, awakening their imagination in a playful and dreamlike way as they are enveloped in colourful flowers, cafés and stunning landscapes, shifting and swirling across the projection-swathed walls and floor.
Even if you are not very familiar with Van Gogh’s incredible paintings, this is an excellent access point to his world, and a way to connect to the artist behind the art.
There is also a chance to take part in special Saturday morning yoga sessions inside the exhibition itself. Meanwhile VIP Experience tickets include selected Beyond Van Gogh merchandise along with flexible arrival times and fast track entry.
The LAKE Gallery is proud to present ‘Beneath the Surface’, a collection of new paintings from the studios of Nina Archer and Clare Maria Wood.
Both artists have a strong association with landscape; Nina with the hills around her south Shropshire home and Clare with the moors and coastal edges of her native north Yorkshire. Working intuitively, layers and textures are gradually built up to create striking abstract pieces which offer a look beyond what is normally seen.
Nina Archer is an abstract painter, living and working in the borderlands of the Welsh Marches. Her work is very much about her experience of living and working in a diverse landscape combining Welsh and English cultural influences with a distinctive geography of ridgeways, forested valleys, mountains and rivers.
“I spend a lot of time walking and observing elements of the landscape that have become important to me. When I am back in the studio I develop these observations through abstracted forms often defined by the dramatic light, black shapes, the darkness and contrast of the forested valleys, accents of colour and the textural feel of this unique landscape.”
Clare Maria Wood was brought up by the coast in North Yorkshire. She studied Fine Art Painting at Wimbledon School of Art and Goldsmiths University in the 90s, and, more recently, Printmaking at the Curwen Print Centre with Stanley Jones and Chloe Cheese.
“The worlds above and below the ocean’s surface have been my most recent inspiration, which serve as a metaphor for human interactions about love, loss, and hope. I walk each day with my dog, in all weathers. To be at the edge of the elements, where light shifts and dances; reliant and yet independent of the darkness, is exciting. This immersive ritual of walking through familiar terrain allows me time to reflect whilst acquiring sensory information on the way. “
The gallery will be hosting a preview evening on Thursday 7th March between 6pm and 8pm, and all are welcome.
You’ll find the LAKE gallery in the heart of West Kirby, a couple of minutes walk from the train station.
Beneath the Surface
Intuitive responses to the landscape
Nina Archer
Clare Maria Wood
Thursday 7th March – Saturday 6th April
Opening Times: Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm
The LAKE gallery
52 Grange Road, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 4EF
0151 625 6000
thelakegallery.co.uk
Organized as a part of the Wirral Borough of Culture 2024 programmed events, Birkenhead Park will feature the artwork “Gaia” created by the incredible UK artist Luke Jerram.
The floating Planet Earth replica measures seven meters across its diameter and slowly rotates like our Earth, allowing everyone to enjoy the detailed view of the Earth’s surface based on the 120dpi NASA imagery.
Gaia in Greek Mythology translates to the personification of the Earth, connecting to Luke Jerram’s objectives of his artwork to gain a deeper connection with our Earth and realize how beautiful and irreplaceable our home is.
Gaia will be displayed just past the Grand Entrance, which is the northeast entrance of Birkenhead Park (the corner of Park Road North and Park Road East), warmly welcoming visitors with the remarkable art piece. Alongside Gaia, Birkenhead Park is excited to include community cultural events across the 3 day event, including local artists and community groups to participate within the awareness of our planet. Dance Around The Globe will start the event on Tuesday 28 May, showcasing an array of dance talent and creativity from local dance schools and groups based in the Wirral. Love Your Earth Day is the second day of the event, Wednesday 29 May. The second day of celebration welcomes Wirral environmental artists and community groups to the park to share sustainable art and address topics about the environment. The final day of celebration, Thursday 30 May is Wirral Sings, where Birkenhead Park invites Wirral singer/ songwriters to the stage to sing their hearts out. Finally as a special treat, on the second and third day of the event, a pedaled Stephenson’s rocket replica, accompanied with six pantomime horses will be touring the park across peak hours of the event.
The featured Gaia display presented in Birkenhead Park is a fantastic opportunity to view the Earth from new heights and to discover how magnificent and valuable our planet is.
Our In the Window displays throughout 2024 will include a changing selection of pieces ‘in conversation’ by makers working across ceramics, glass, wood, textiles and jewellery.
Throughout 2024.
This display focuses on everyday functional pieces which can be used in the home. These individually handmade works are a joy to use day in, day out. Works featured could also be gifted to others for them to enjoy.
Makers include:
A curated selection of work is also available through our online shop: bluecoatdisplaycentreshop.com
A new pop-up exhibition at Liverpool ONE tells the history of the Liverpool City Region, its people and green spaces through trees and calls on locals to share their own pictures and stories.
Today (Friday 16th February), a 20-metre-long art display on School Lane and multiple tree integrated displays on Paradise Street were unveiled showcasing photographs, stories and poems about trees submitted by residents across the region.
The images and stories have been submitted via Tree Story, a project set up by local art galleries Open Eye Gallery and dot-art back in 2020 during lockdown.
They invited people living in the Liverpool City Region to take photographs of trees that were special to them in some way and submit their story explaining why, which were then uploaded to an interactive map.
Now, the galleries are working with Liverpool ONE to showcase a selection of these stories and encourage visitors to get involved themselves.
Passers-by can scan the QR code shown on the pop-up exhibition and on trees along Paradise Street to submit their own pictures of trees relating to their family histories, memories, and daily lives.
And, to celebrate the exhibition’s launch, The Mersey Forest marked this occasion giving away tree saplings for visitors to take away and plant.
Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director for Liverpool ONE, said: “Our city’s green spaces have a profound effect on the wellbeing of residents. Connecting with nature is incredibly beneficial to our mental and physical health, which is why at Liverpool ONE we take proud in looking after our green spaces for visitors to enjoy alongside our ever-growing retail, dining and entertainment offering.
“We’d love our visitors to take this opportunity to stop and connect with nature through the stunning images on display and contribute to the Tree Story project with their own experiences of nature.”
Lucy Byrne, Managing Director of dot-art, hopes the display at Liverpool ONE will inspire visitors to think about how nature has benefitted them through hard times such as the Covid pandemic and in their day-to-day lives since.
She said: “Tree Story is a fantastic project which has already engaged hundreds of people of all ages across the city region since its launch during lockdown. Many of us gained a renewed appreciation for the outdoors while we weren’t able to do the activities we usually enjoyed, and this seems to have stuck with us.
“We are absolutely delighted to bring together a selection of the Tree Stories so far uploaded to our interactive map and showcase them in such a prominent and high-profile location as Liverpool ONE.
“We can’t wait to see what fascinating and thought-provoking new stories will be shared by visitors.”
Maria Gulina, Communications and Content Producer for Open Eye Gallery, said: “We were fascinated by all the heart-warming Tree Stories shared with us. Urban trees are crucial in mitigating climate change and also reflect our cultural heritage, as they bear witness to historical events and our everyday life. Trees, parks and green areas are invaluable for our mental health, and they help us form meaningful connections with the place where we live.
“We are looking forward to reading new Tree Stories from all across the Liverpool City Region, and we are grateful to Liverpool ONE and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for making this amazing project possible.”
For more information on the pop-up exhibition visit https://www.liverpool-one.com/treestory
To submit your stories and pictures about trees visit https://treestory.me
The Sefton Open is an annual exhibition celebrating the creativity and artistic talent across the borough. The exhibition takes over The Atkinson’s art gallery in an eclectic salon-style hang and features a wide variety of works from individual artists and local groups. Each year the exhibition attracts thousands of visitors to The Atkinson.
The Atkinson’s longstanding partner, Southport Palette Club, select the work from individual artists for the Sefton Open. The club was formed in 1921 to champion the work of local artists and this will be their 98th annual exhibition.
A wide variety of media is welcomed, including film, sculpture, craft, paintings, prints and textiles. Artists may submit up to 3 original artworks for consideration by the Council of Southport Palette Club. There is a non-refundable £5 handling fee for each work submitted. No more than 4 works can be displayed by any individual artist in the Sefton Open, this includes works displayed with Southport Palette Club and works displayed with local groups.
Individual artists are responsible for selecting original artwork for consideration by Southport Palette Club or inclusion with local group submissions, which has not previously been exhibited at The Atkinson or featured in the shop. Local groups can register for entry by contacting jemma.tynan@sefton.gov.uk to receive the groups and societies entry form.
To submit artwork, you must be aged 18+ and either live, work or have been educated in Sefton.
Visitors to the exhibition can purchase catalogues and are encouraged to vote for their favourite artwork on display. The artwork with the most votes will be awarded The People’s Prize. Visitors can also support local artists by investing in their work, most artworks are available to purchase through The Atkinson and the Own Art Scheme.
Artwork hand in day: 12 March 2024, 11am – 7pm
Download entry form
In the entry form documents you will find:
• Entry guidelines.
• Information on how to prepare your artwork for submission.
• Entry form.
As citizens, we live with systems that are put in place to monitor, control and change our behaviours. In On the other side, three artists consider the impact of these systems: on those who design them, those who administer them, and those who are subject to their enforcement.
Melanie Crean and Katrina Palmer present two new artworks made with participants across Liverpool, York and Rochdale who have experiences with the justice system: imprisoned people and their communities, staff, and those who influence decision makers. Public perception and understanding of the UK justice system varies wildly across media outlets, political positioning, and cultural representation.
Developed between the artists and the participants as experts in their own experiences of the system, these artworks make visible the complex formation of individual and collective identities formed by the landscapes of prison and incarceration.
Alongside, Pilvi Takala presents a multi-channel video installation made in collaboration with former colleagues who worked as private security guards in one of Finland’s largest shopping malls. In it she considers how power is exercised in spaces for the public that are privately owned, and reflects on the roles and responsibilities of security personnel who exert power to maintain social order.
These works encourage us to reconsider the everyday behaviours we learn and conform to, often without question. How might looking at them differently allow us to disrupt or reimagine what we accept as normal?
On the other side includes works from Resolution – a multi-year project to explore how art can affect public attitudes and influence decision-making in the justice system. Resolution invites artists, incarcerated people and their families, prison staff, policy makers and criminology researchers to work together as project participants. Working in this way creates the opportunity for dialogue within the system – and ultimately, a hope for change.
Photo Credit: Melanie Crean, A Machine to Unmake You (M2UY) (2023). Film still. Courtesy of the artist.