Event type: Exhibition

Stephen Dixon and Paul Scott: Exhibiti...

The Bluecoat Display Centre welcome this unique opportunity to curate and host an exhibition dedicated to work by Stephen Dixon and Paul Scott, both well known for their research and work in printed ceramic as well as political and social commentary.

Both artists are internationally renowned and have worked in Manchester and in Cumbria for much of their professional careers.

All work featured will be available for sale in the gallery and online from Friday 4 March.

The exhibition runs until 30 April.

 

Kunichika: Japanese Prints

This stunning new exhibition of prints by Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) is an exciting follow up from Lady Lever Art Gallery’s previous exhibition Edo Pop.

Kunichika was one of the most important 19th century print makers in Japan. Born in Edo (present day Toyko), Kunichika was trained by Kunisada, a leading print maker of the time, and went on to be a highly original master in his own right.

Kunichika embraced modern subjects and his prints reflected the great social and political change in Japan at the time. He was best known for his depictions of the Kabuki theatre, capturing the drama and excitement of scenes from popular plays and famous actors.

More than 50 of Kunichika’s hand-printed single, double and triptych prints will feature in this must-see exhibition, which is the first in a national gallery outside of Japan to focus on his work.

For more information visit www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Image: Kunichika-Ichikawa-Danjuro © National Museums Liverpool, courtesy of Frank Milner

Super Last Minute Studio Show

Super Last Minute Studio Show is an exhibition celebrating some of the wonderful artists they have on offer here at The Royal Standard.

As one of Liverpool’s oldest and largest artist-led organisations, they aim to support and provide opportunities for their studio community as much as possible, and are using this gap in their gallery programme to showcase some of the amazing creativity and talent we house in our studios.

They also only decided to do this last week, and it’s super last minute.

They asked artists to show completed pieces and works in progress, as finished pieces of work aren’t always available at such short notice, and they want to give an insight into where studio members are at with their creative practices in this current moment.

The exhibition will be open for one night only on Friday 25th February, 6-9pm.

M@rt Music Metro Exhibition by Martin ...

Martin Pin Jiang studied as a graphic designer in Newcastle upon Tyne in the mid 1980’s and always had a fascination and obsessive interest in record sleeve / cassette inlay art and design.

The artist also had a similar obsession with collecting maps, folded street maps, leaflets and railway network diagrams (e.g. Merseyrail, the London Underground) from an early age.  Martin would draw and doodle aimlessly making up road and rail networks that didn’t exist, as well as meticulously reproducing street maps of UK cities from the atlases he had in his collection.

Martin is a keen music fan, being an aspiring drummer from childhood, so the art of record covers was always close to his heart and he would compile his own mix tapes and CDs and design and print out his own versions of sleeves.

At the end of the 1990’s, he started drawing again by hand his diagrammatic railway network maps, with the aim of translating them into a musical context. Thus was born the whole concept of customised rail network maps, based on albums by different bands.

Fast forward 20+ years to the present, and some of these earlier embryonic versions have since been upgraded and redesigned to a much higher standard and comprise some of the examples that are being exhibited at Mersey Arts Zone.

Why Music Metro Maps? Martin always regarded listening to an album as a bit like a trip you are embarking on. It might sound trite of course but that was precisely what it was, the excitement as a youngster, of putting on a LP record or indeed cassette tape which you’d just bought from WH Smiths, Woolworths, HMV or wherever else, and just listening to the tracks sequentially one after the other.

It was just like embarking on a sonic train journey and it struck him at the time that very few others would equate the two in such a way: one ‘station’ after another before the final number which is the terminus. Martin made that connection and never lost sight of it since”!

Mersey Arts Zone is open Wednesday to Sunday 10-5pm

Space, The Universe and Everything

An immersive art experience, known as ‘Space, The Universe and Everything’, is set to transform the inside of Liverpool Cathedral with an extraordinary display of lights, projections and sound, which will see visitors surrounded by the awe-inspiring wonders of the universe as they walk through the building’s vast splendour. 

The breathtaking installation will come to life after dark as the stunning Gothic architecture of Liverpool Cathedral becomes a canvas for an incredible exploration of space and the universe, with a spectacular son-et-lumière performance taking place every evening between Friday 18 – Sunday 27 February 2022.                                                                                                                 

Combining the dazzling projections of sculptor, Peter Walker, with the beautiful atmospheric sounds of composer, David Harper, ‘Space, The Universe and Everything’ is the work of award-winning artistic collaboration, Luxmuralis, the team behind ‘Angel Wings’ and ‘Peace Doves’ at Liverpool Cathedral.

Photo Credit: Gareth Jones

Bruce Asbestos: OK! Cherub!

The Bluecoat’s famous courtyard will soon be getting some fun new residents when it becomes home to OK! Cherub!, a group of new artworks by artist Bruce Asbestos.

Newly commissioned work by Bruce Asbestos includes three giant inflatable sculptures: a yellow worm, a collection of frogspawn and a giant arm.

Each sculpture represents, and takes its name from, a different aspect of positive mental health. A giant yellow worm represents Rest, a group of green frogspawn represents Community and a giant cartoon arm represents Connection.

The work has been developed in response to the Bluecoat’s historic building and courtyard, particularly the architectural features such as the cherubs that adorn the façade.

Discombobuloscopy by Roxy Topia and Pa...

A part of Convenience Gallery’s 21/22 ‘In Cahoots’ programme

‘Discombobuloscopy’ is an experimental collaborative painting, made in relief from hand cut MDF, metal and polymer clay. Mounted as a tri-fold modesty screen made specifically for the Convenience Gallery modular framework, it sits in a tradition of decoratively carved and painted screens and room dividers that dates back thousands of years, including those used for the privacy of medical examination.

The painting depicts an imaginative, unfolding body as landscape for contemplation; part self-examination, part costume change. Inspired by cartoonish representations, medical models and body imaging, body horror movie prop design and the melting, colour driven animism of psychedelia; the piece meditates on how conscious we have become of our bodies and whether it’s possible to build a coherent picture of them? Do we view our bodies as just a vehicle and what or who is along for the ride; are we just relay nodes for the micro-organisms we house? How best do we live in ourselves as a site for transformation?

Topia and Gould have exhibited and undertaken residencies across the UK and internationally. Selected exhibitions include RMAC, Roswell, USA, Studio 1.1, London, Studio 2, Todmorden and Bunker Gallery, Manchester. Their most recent solo show in 2021, ‘Pause for Living’ was held at CBS Gallery, Liverpool. They also founded Pink Sands in 2018; an independent press for Artist publications. Their latest book release ‘There’s Always Things Falling Out the Sky’ is a fully illustrated long form poem and was created in collaboration with Artist Sammy Playford. They are based in Birkenhead.

All donation based tickets funds are reinvested back into current and future creative programming. This will support them in creating more opportunities for both people in the creative industry and the wider community. All “In Cahoots” core programming is free to attend and donations are optional.

Opening Night: Friday 25th February 6:30pm-late

Show runs: 25th February- 11th March (Monday-Friday 10am-6pm)

Location: Bloom Building, Birkenhead, CH41 5FQ.

A Day In The Life

A Day In The Life takes its inspiration from the newest addition to the Williamson’s collection: Grayson Perry’s ‘Six Snapshots of Julie’, a set of prints capturing moments from the life of the artist’s fictional everywoman, Julie Cope.

The pictures accompanying Perry’s prints in this display likewise show ordinary people – individuals, couples, families, friends – going about their everyday lives in the places they live, work, and visit on holiday.

Although the subject matter is ordinary, many of these pictures are extraordinary and absorbing, capturing the fleeting events, situations, and emotions we experience every day. They are snapshots of the moments of happiness, sadness, boredom, and contemplation that make up our daily lives.

Open Wednesday & Thursday 10:30-5, Friday 10:30-9 and Saturday 10-4:30

Image courtesy Grayson Perry & Paragon | Contemporary Editions Ltd

On the Waterfront

Liverpool’s docks transformed the fortunes of the city. Their story is a 300 year journey that turned a small, regional port into one of the world’s great maritime centres.

From the opening of the world’s first commercial wet dock in 1715, this exhibition documents the changing fortunes of Liverpool’s waterfront and the impact the docks have had on the city.

A section dedicated to the Three Graces at the Pier Head includes reproductions of two recently donated Stewart Bale images of the Cunard building under construction during the First World War. One of the photographs, dated 1913, is now the oldest image held in the Stewart Bale collection.

The exhibition also recognises 21st century changes to the waterfront including another National Museums Liverpool venue, the Museum of Liverpool.

The waterfront has changed greatly in appearance and use since the construction of the Old Dock, but it remains an important symbol and focal point of the city.

PHLEGM

Since May last year, Phlegm has been running as an alternative space for creative self-education.

Participants responded to bi-weekly prompts, took part in workshops, and shared and received peer feedback during informal Zoom crits. This exhibition is a celebration of those who’ve made it to the end of the project, showcasing pieces of work that have been in development for the past month or so.

The artists are from various places across the UK, including Liverpool, London, The Black Country, Ireland, and Bristol. They also have varying backgrounds: some have never had a formal education in the arts, whilst others have been practising in their fields for years. Some are musicians, some are writers, some are fine artists and some are professionals in other fields harnessing their creativity for the first time.

Artists:
Aislinn O’Reilly
Annie Dobson
Aoife McCollum
Bobbie Hook
Catherine Johnston
Christine Bramwell
Jed Timms
Kyra Cross
Laura Jane Round
Lydia Johnston
Maja Lorkowska

Given the current COVID rates & guidelines, they’re asking people visiting The Royal Standard to wear a face covering when inside the building, and would advise that visitors have a negative lateral flow test result before arriving. They want to keep their community as safe as possible, and ask that you consider following this advice before visiting TRS.