Saturday 27 April 2013

MAY BLOSSOMING FOR YOUNG ARTISTS



MAY BLOSSOMING FOR YOUNG ARTISTS

Young artists are springing into action to bring a fresh look to shop windows at New Brighton’s Marine Point for three weeks in May. The students from St Mary’s Catholic College, will display their work as part of the Momentary Art Project (MAP) programme. 
 
 

Featuring a range of materials, including textiles, their creations will be seen in the unit next to The Light Cinema and The Hungry Horse restaurant, until May 23.


Included in the display is the work of 17-year-old aspiring fashion designer and sixth form student at St Mary’s, Patrick McDowell. A finalist in the last season of BBC’s Young Apprentice, Patrick was memorably tipped for the top by Lord Sugar, who told him: ‘I somehow think I'm going to hear a lot about Patrick McDowell the designer, and I want you to carry on with that dream’.


To launch the event, the third in a series of MAP exhibitions, there will be a carnival evening on Thursday, 2nd May, from 6pm to 8pm, focusing on the amphitheatre area of Marine Point, close to The Light Cinema. All are welcome to join in the celebrations, which will feature a live dance and music performances, as well as a balloon race to raise money for Wirral Age UK.


The Momentary Art Project is a community interest company set up by volunteers with the aim of bringing art to and from New Brighton, while raising money for local charities.


Their next exhibition will be called 'Wirral: Pride of Place' and will run from June 8 to June 23, with The Caravan Gallery as part of the Look: Liverpool International Photography Festival.


Jacob Bell, was exhibited in the Saatchi Gallery, London, as part of a young artists' exhibition. This has been used as one of the posters to advertise our event in New Brighton.

 





Patrick McDowell's textile portrait of Anna Wintour, the American Vogue editor, which was shown in The Mall Galleries, London, as part of a Royal Society of British Artists' National Students' Exhibition.



Tuesday 23 April 2013

MAP Open Network Meeting.

 
 
MAP are in the process of preparing for our next open meeting with community partners which will take place this Thursday in the Tivoli Suite at the Floral Pavilion. the meeting will be an opportunity to find out more about the ongoing work of MAP, to share any information about your areas of interst in relation to New Brighton and the ARTS, and to network with others with similar interests.

We hope you will be able to attend and feel free to bring along anyone else who you think will benefit from being part of this open meeting.

May we remind you that this is an open meeting and so be aware when sharing information that confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.

For information, the name of the meeting is being changed from Community Partners' Metting to a title that will better reflect the purpose of the meeting and hopefully make it more useful, the working title at the moment is MAP Open Network Meeting.

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Clare Kirwan poem: Moses came to Merseyside

Moses came to Merseyside       
©Jo Smith

Moses came to Merseyside
and waved his magic staff.
It was his trademark trick and so
it always got a laugh.

He turned up at New Brighton,
and shouted from the beach:
I’m going to make the Mersey part
-  it’s only two quid each!

And Moses spake – at quite some length
though muffled by his beard
and people shuffled, keen to start
- that’s why they’d volunteered.

And all of them let out a gasp
when Moses raised his hand -
the waves receded, rolling back
til the river bed was… land.

The habitat was suddenly
more coastal than marine
from Egremont to Pier Head
- a long walk in between

On Fort Perch Rock, a crowd of folk
had gathered to observe
the faithful few traverse the gorge
- the ones who had the nerve.

And birds of prey on roof tops
Love New Brighton - ©Jo Smith
looked down with greedy eyes
as they set out from New Brighton,
without compass or supplies.

Past rusty junk and sunken hulks
they shuffled on, quite stunned
to see  the bones of murdered men
and all we’ve jettisoned.

They turned to look at Wirral now
- how very small it seemed,
how very grey and far away -
but how Liverpool gleamed!

And how the Liver Buildings loomed
on cliffs that once were docks
now high above their heads – so far
they could not see the clocks

And Moses muttered something
his voice an utter blur
- so difficult to comprehend
through so much facial hair.

Some remarked how tired he looked
- his staff now seemed to quiver
and what’s that watery trickling sound?
and: Here comes the river!

And everybody for themselves
legged it to higher ground
they clung to ropes or climbed the walls.
Only a few were drowned.

This side is ace, the rest agreed,
(except the drugs and crime)
if there was a just a way for us
to come here all the time.

And so they built a tunnel
for they knew – without a doubt –
if they did it without Moses
they could get across for nowt.

But we all know that nothing’s free
- even a giant hole.
You can cross the Mersey any time
but the tunnel takes its toll.

So Wirral folk still stranded
on the river’s other side
still talk about the time that
Moses came to Merseyside.

And we all smile wistfully
when we think about how Moses
gets almost everywhere for free
while we pay through our noses.

©Clare Kirwan

Artworks used to illustrate Clare's poem are from the "love new brighton" exhibition

16: Artist: Jo Smith
Title: Here’s Looking at You, Kid!
Medium: Acrylic and Sand on Canvas

17: Artist: Jo Smith
Title: Love the Light
Medium: Acrylic and Sand on Canvas
Jo Smith

Jo is a mixed media artist and is known for her local landscapes. Jo's inspiration comes from her daily dog walks on Wirral's beaches. She often incorporates sand, shells and beach combed treasures that she applies to canvases or found driftwood. She is slightly obsessed with the birds she encounters too; seagulls, skylarks and crows etc can find their way into her work. Jo feels truly blessed living on the Wirral and loves to express her attachment to it through her art.
www.josmithart.com
www.seagrassstudio.co.uk


Friday 5 April 2013

Clare Kirwan: Poet with painting by Pauline Murphy

love new brighton - © Pauline Murphy
 
New Brighton, 1978

So easy to find myself there –
every hill led to the edge of land.
I’d freewheel without thinking
grey brown river. It meant nothing
to me, yet I sought it out –
it’s brackish solitude and always
the wind – sometimes a howl
you understand, sometimes a sob.

All the wrong way around. I was
too young for such nostalgia
but Seasons in the Sun
stirred up my teething soul.
Those were the days
of blue anorak, battered,
big glasses, briny,
bad hair tattered flags.

The prom was then, as now,
unlovely and all at right angles –
an expanse of pavement, lampposts,
railings, concrete wall, and then
the pirate fingertips of Irish Sea
hypnotizing, enticing me
to that churning horizon.

And going home seemed further
than the journey out had been.
So easy to find myself there,
then turning, realizing the wind
had been behind and pushing.
Head down, salted, gripping handlebars,
fighting back weather and inclination,
thirteen and against everything.
        

©  Clare Kirwan



From ‘Sculpted’ anthology of North West Poets to be launched in April

Wednesday 3 April 2013

Details of all the work in "love new brighton"

 
1:Artist: Marianthi Lainas
Title: Glimmer of Light
Medium: Photographic Print
Price: £85

2: Artist: Marianthi Lainas
Title: Dancing in the God Rays
Medium: Photographic Print
Price: £95

 

Marianthi Lainas

I am a professional photographer based in Hoylake and draw most of the inspiration for my work from our wonderful coastline here in Wirral. The lighthouse at New Brighton is a popular subject for photographers and I have photographed it many times in different weather conditions.    

It's also such a dominant feature in the landscape that it is easy to become engrossed in photographing one subject.   I've found that it's always worth turning round to see what is happening behind you!     'Dancing in the God Rays' was one of those fleeting moments when different elements came together to create something special.

3: Artist: Brenda Sharp
Title: Shelter Marine Lake
Medium: Photograph
Price: £29

Brenda Sharp

“Walking along the shoreline of the Mersey, it takes me just ten minutes to reach Fort Perch Rock. This leads me past all manner of beach combing finds, remains of the sea paddling pool-where as a child shrimps would nibble at my toes (long before you had to pay for the privilege!), on past the Tower Grounds the keeper of so many happy memories of fairground visits and if I’m lucky, there will be an ice cream van too.

Sunset is my favourite time of day to be here, camera in hand ready for the transforming light to work its magic.

Yes, I love New Brighton.”

4: Artist: Helen Doherty
Title: New Brighton Rocks
Medium: Acrylic
Price: £80

“I'm Helen Doherty, ne. Cottrell, I went to Maris Stella Convent, New Brighton. I am a member of the Wallasey Art Society and the Moreton Art Group. I started painting on my retirement in 2006 and have had two paintings accepted by The Williamson Gallery. I look forward to exhibiting my work through MAP in the future and wish the project every success.”

5: Artist: John Christiansen
Title: River Mersey, Circa 1914
Medium: Watercolour
Price: £180

“My name is John Christiansen and I have lived on Merseyside all of my life. My art work is produced in my spare time.  From a very early age I found a strong connection towards the maritime side of Merseyside life. My Grandfather was born in Norre Saltum near Aalborg, Denmark in 1890 and was working at sea from age 16 on Clipper Ships. His father was a fisherman. My own father had worked on the Tugs all his life, 34 years as a Captain with the Liverpool Screw Towing Company and later the Alexandra Towing Company before his retirement in 1982.

Amongst my achievements I was asked to design the front cover for the book "Take the Strain" for the Alexandra Towing Company, two of my paintings were then used as Christmas Cards. A further painting was commissioned for Alexandra Marine Transportation based in London. More recently I have produced Original Paintings for both Daniel Adamson Preservation Society and The Steam Tug Kerne Preservation Society Ltd which enabled them to sell signed Limited Edition Prints to raise funds to keep these historic vessels in steam as they are part of our Maritime Heritage.

This original watercolour shows T&J Harrisons ‘Explorer’ being assisted by the tug ‘East Cock’ in the River Mersey off New Brighton with New Brighton Tower in the background, circa 1914.

Scenes like this are still seen off New Brighton today however vessels have become more sophisticated and landmarks have changed.

This was at a time when it was the tugboat crews that made the difference not the equipment used.

This was at a time when it was the tugboat crews that made the difference not the equipment used.”

6: Artist: Pauline Murphy
Title: New Brighton Storm
Medium: Gouache and Ink
Price: £35

“I love having all the different elements of the River Mersey on my doorstep and have been painting for about 6 or 7 years. I am part of two local art groups and delighted to be involved in this exhibition.”

7: Artist: Janine Pinion
Title: Wet sands at New Brighton
Medium: Watercolour
Price: £65

Janine Pinion

I’ve always lived by the sea, originally in Belfast and now in New Brighton.  The tides rise and fall, changes in the coastal landscape happen slowly or overnight.  I like the patterns left in the sands and the way light falls on them – bits of sky reflected in rivulets.  I usually work in oils but over the past couple of years I’ve been photographing and painting the Wirral coast in watercolours.  It presents so many aspects, from salt marsh to industrial docklands.  I like the link to Ireland too.

8: Artist: Frank Lund
Title: Summertime
Medium: Chalk pastel on paper
Price: £125

"Summertime" represents the dream of possibility and the joy of arrival. It is a retrospective view, back to Wakes Weeks - the momentary flashes of colour and excitement - the explosion of NOW! in the long hard maul of the millworker's year. Back then New Brighton's holiday makers were just across the water, close enough to imagine, almost close enough to touch....

9: Artist: Susan Brown
Title: New Brighton Beach 1
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Price: £35

10: Artist: Susan Brown
Title: New Brighton Beach 2
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Price: £35

Susan Brown

“A Wirral-based multi-disiplinary artist, I paint in oils in a traditional style. Living on a coastline means that beach scenes feature quite a lot in my work, and New Brighton is a place where both children and adults come to visit
the beach. The two paintings in this exhibition depict children of different ages enjoying
the clean safe environment that New Brighton affords.”

11: Artist: Lydia Irving
Title: New Brighton from the Mersey Estuary
Medium: Watercolour
Price: £70

12: Artist: Lydia Irving
Title: Fort Perch Doorway
Medium: Watercolour
Price: £35

Hello, my name is Lydia Helene Irving and I’m a New Brighton based artist whose work is based on local views, foreign travel, flowers, trees, scriptural art, & abstract. I trained at Wirral Metropolitan College (Art Foundation & Graphic Design) and Wrexham (Glass).
My watercolours are self-taught. I like to do watercolours with fresh treatment using vibrancy and colour. I also do Digital Art, acrylics, collage, hand made cards & hand painted glassware. I also produced some ‘bubble fishes’ for the recent MAP exhibition before Christmas. I’m excited about this exhibition happening in New Brighton, which will encourage artists, locals and visitors alike.

These are the pieces included in the exhibition.
1) A view of New Brighton from the Mersey Estuary was also recently a gift for a couple to remind them of New Brighton. This is an unusual view that can be seen whilst sailing in from Ireland or the Isle of Mann.
2) On taking photographs I usually like to zoom in on the details, and chose this Fort Perch doorway to paint, which is instantly recognisable.

www.lydiaheleneirving.webs.com


13: Artist: Helen Doherty
Title: Lighthouse New Brighton
Medium: Gouache
Price: £80

“I'm Helen Doherty, nee. Cottrell, I went to Maris Stella Convent, New Brighton. I am a member of the Wallasey Art Society and the Moreton Art Group. I started painting on my retirement in 2006 and have had two paintings accepted by The Williamson Gallery. I look forward to exhibiting my work through MAP in the future and wish the project every success.”

14: Artist: Helen Bennett
Title: Changing Tides
Medium: Mixed media
Price: £55

Helen Bennett is a local Designer and illustrator working in West Kirby, with a love of the drawn line, the natural world and the decorative arts. Living on the Wirral Coastline I am always inspired by our wonderful Wirral scenery especially our coastline and the power and drama of the changing tides. When considering my entry for Love New Brighton I wanted to express this appreciation with New Brighton's most iconic landmark. With rich jewel tones and a stylised swirling sea I hope you enjoy my mixed media piece 'Changing Tides'.

15: Artist: Louise Oakes
Title: The Lighthouse
Medium: Fabric collage
Price: £40.00

Louise Oakes (Elsie May and Bertha)
I'm a maker and a lover of all things vintage. I love fabric, so much so I even save scraps 'just in case they come in useful' - linen and silk are my favourites. I'm also a sucker for a wool shop and have quite a large collection, which doesn't stop me buying more. Having taken voluntary redundancy from work, I'm now in the process of becoming a full-time maker.
16: Artist: Jo Smith
Title: Here’s Looking at You, Kid!
Medium: Acrylic and Sand on Canvas
Price: £75

17: Artist: Jo Smith
Title: Love the Light
Medium: Acrylic and Sand on Canvas
Price: £48

 

Jo Smith

Jo is a mixed media artist and is known for her local landscapes. Jo's inspiration comes from her daily dog walks on Wirral's beaches.
She often incorporates sand, shells and beach combed treasures that she applies to canvases or found driftwood. She is slightly
obsessed with the birds she encounters too; seagulls, skylarks and crows etc can find their way into her work. Jo feels truly blessed
living on the Wirral and loves to express her attachment to it through her art.
www.josmithart.com

18: Artist: April Cheetham
Title: The Lighthouse at Perch Rock
Medium: Embroidery on silk paper, organza, denim and linen
Price: £100

April Cheetham

“For the 'Love New Brighton' exhibition, I wanted to create images of the lighthouse using very different media. The textile piece comprises layers of handmade silk paper and felt, with strips of embroidered linen, denim and organza. The embroidery stitches used are wheel stitch, Pekinese stitch, French knots and seeding. The monoprint of the lighthouse is the darkest of a series of prints I made using paper stencils.”

19: Artist: Liz Byrne
Title: New Brighton Lighthouse
Medium: Glazed Clay
Price: £80 (available by commission)

I am enjoying the creative opportunities that retirement from the Ministry is allowing, especially at the moment in exploring working with clay.  Having undertaken a 2 year Sculpture and Pottery course at Wirral Met, one of my sculptures was accepted in one of the Spring Exhibitions at the Williamson, I am now developing my skills as a Potter and further developing my sculpting abilities.  As a novice at sailing I am particularly inspired by the ‘things’ of and on the bay, and the lighthouse lent itself to being sculpted in clay.

*20: Artist: Rose Leckey
Title: Guiding Light
Medium: Photo on canvas
Price: £30

Rose loves taking photos and has lived most of her life around rivers and ships. Anything nautical is usually the theme of her images.

21: Artist: Nicholette Landrum
Title: Silent Dawn
Medium: £75

“I am Nicholette  Landrum, I am an amateur photographer who loves to capture moments and Events on the Wirral.

“Silent Dawn was taken in October about 7.30am.  I got up early to take my dog Bruce for a walk and thankfully I had my camera with me.  There wasn’t anybody about, the roads and streets of New Brighton were so quiet.  I was so lucky to see this Sunrise as I thought that it was breathtaking.”

22: Artist: Nicholette Landrum
Title: Afternoon Stroll
Medium: Photograph
Price: £75

“Afternoon Stroll was taken on the beach near Fort Perch Rock over looking Liverpool. My family and I walk New Brighton beach quite often to take in the views.  It was a windy day and the Sun was strong which gave good shadows. I couldn’t resist photographing my family as they walked.”

23: Artist: Toni Hughes
Title: New Brighton Fort
Medium: Photographic limited edition print on canvas
Price: £180

Toni Hughes

After taking the big decision in 2009 to leave the rat-race to follow his passion, Toni's popularity as a vivid landscape photographer is rapidly gaining pace. Using a combination of special lenses, filters and post-processing, colours are enhanced to the point where skies become stunningly dramatic and the image "jumps out" from the canvas. Toni was recently invited to New York where he captured their vibrant city in his own style.

All of Toni's work is printed onto acid-free 100% pure cotton canvas using archival inks that will not colour fade for 100 years+ and stretched around a deep wooden frame in sizes up to 9 feet wide. Larger sizes available by request.

New Brighton Fort.
“After many attempts at getting this shot, my perseverance paid off and I was rewarded with this sky. Managing to capture some amazing blues, reds and yellows in this shot, Perch Rock almost silhouettes against this deep blue sky. The marine lake beautifully reflects the colours in this evening scene.”



24: Artist: Louise Oakes
Title: My New Brighton Fort
Medium: Paper collage
Price: £35

Louise Oakes (Elsie May and Bertha)
I'm a maker and a lover of all things vintage. I love fabric, so much so I even save scraps 'just in case they come in useful' - linen and silk are my favourites. I'm also a sucker for a wool shop and have quite a large collection, which doesn't stop me buying more. Having taken voluntary redundancy from work, I'm now in the process of becoming a full-time maker.

25: Artist: Carl Leckey
Title: Dawn Regatta
Medium: Photo on canvas
Price: £30

Carl Leckey served on the Mersey tugs for fifteen years, except for two years national service.  On returning to the tugs, he rose to the rank of Mate before being made redundant in 1968 when the company was taken over.  He then worked as a Leading Lock Keeper for British Waterways in Cheshire for 28 years until ill health brought premature retirement.  He also served as a union steward convenor and worker representative on the company pension fund management committee.

In 1985 Carl was awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship to study ports and harbour services in the USA and China.  On returning from his travels, he undertook a series of lectures on his experiences abroad to interested organisations.  In 1995 he was awarded an MBE by the Queen for services to British waterways.

Since retirement, Carl has completed a writer's course with the Open College of Arts, and has contributed articles for a number of newspapers and magazines.  He has always loved being a storyteller, and enjoys collecting interesting tales and news of unusual happenings.

26: Artist: Sue Stinchcomb
Title: Blue Sky Beaches
Medium: Photograph
Price: £12.50

27: Artist: Sue Stinchcomb
Title: At The End of the Day
Medium: Photograph
Price: £15

I have lived in New Brighton for 25 years and love taking photographs of my local area.  The two works I have submitted for the "love new brighton" exhibition are a reflection of the spellbinding array of colours that can present themselves as a gift to the onlooker, should they care to spend a few minutes just watching. I love photography as it captures a moment which is unique in time and will never be repeated in exactly the same way again.

Blue Sky Beaches reflects some of our  'seaside' features against a backdrop of endless blue skies, when I look at this work, I am reminded of the simple pleasure of a walk by the sea and it's uplifting effect.

At the End of the Day depicts New Brighton's clown sculpture in the far distance backed by a sensational sunset, this work gives me  a feeling of contentment and peace.

Walking by the sea is a way of life  and I take pictures to share some of the amazing moments I am lucky enough to see.

*28: Artist: Brenda Sharp
Title: Mist at Sunset
Medium: Photograph
Price: £25

Brenda Sharp

“Walking along the shoreline of the Mersey, it takes me just ten minutes to reach Fort Perch Rock. This leads me past all manner of beach combing finds, remains of the sea paddling pool-where as a child shrimps would nibble at my toes (long before you had to pay for the privilege!), on past the Tower Grounds the keeper of so many happy memories of fairground visits and if I’m lucky, there will be an ice cream van too.

Sunset is my favourite time of day to be here, camera in hand ready for the transforming light to work its magic.

Yes, I love New Brighton.”


29: Artist: Pauline Murphy
Title: A day at New Brighton
Medium: Pastel
Price: £60

I love having all the different elements of the River Mersey on my doorstep and have been painting for about 6 or 7 years. I am part of two local art groups and delighted to be involved in this exhibition.

30: Artist: April Cheetham
Title: New Brighton Lighthouse
Medium: Monoprint
Price: £50

April Cheetham

“For the 'Love New Brighton' exhibition, I wanted to create images of the lighthouse using very different media. The textile piece comprises layers of handmade silk paper and felt, with strips of embroidered linen, denim and organza. The embroidery stitches used are wheel stitch, Pekinese stitch, French knots and seeding. The mono-print of the lighthouse is the darkest of a series of prints I made using paper stencils.”

Tuesday 2 April 2013

Community Partner update: Poet Clare Kirwan

love new brighton - © Janine Pinion

Over the water

On this side wading birds line up
evenly spaced: the usual suspects.

Over the water, new towers rise
with metal fists to summon clouds

On this side, promenade centurions
patrol their battlements of water.

Over the water your turbines spin the wind
and windows twinkle like diamonds.

On this side we wave like abandoned aunties
you will not visit, who boast of your success.

Over the water all your new splendor
is a kind of puppetry suspended by cranes.

When I’m there I look back again to this side
when I’m here I look across to you

seagulls polka dot the sky over the water
and I’m lost, like them somewhere between the two


©  Clare Kirwan

 From ‘Sculpted’ anthology of North West Poets to be launched in April


Details of painting used to illustrate Clare's poem
7: Artist: Janine Pinion
Title: Wet sands at New Brighton
Medium: Watercolour
Janine Pinion
I’ve always lived by the sea, originally in Belfast and now in New Brighton. The tides rise and fall, changes in the coastal landscape happen slowly or overnight. I like the patterns left in the sands and the way light falls on them – bits of sky reflected in rivulets. I usually work in oils but over the past couple of years I’ve been photographing and painting the Wirral coast in watercolours. It presents so many aspects, from salt marsh to industrial docklands. I like the link to Ireland too.