A film has been released to officially launch a public artwork exhibition space for Sidmouth and promote the town as a centre for art and culture.
Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub (SCCH) has been working with artist David Shrigley OBE to officially launch the first installation of many on a new billboard dedicated for artwork in the Ham car park.
The project is part of a wider Sidmouth School of Art initiative to engage and make new art and to promote Sidmouth as a centre for art and culture.
A film has now been released on YouTube to officially launch the project, which can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/JHAbM9nkcJ4
Working with students at Sidmouth College, the first art work is titled “How Are You Feeling?”
The students, aged 11 to 14 years old, created 60 self-portraits from line drawings in black and white.
Each portrait is an expression of individual identity, capturing thoughts and feelings which reflect the everyday and the not so everyday of life during Covid.
Louise Cole, director of SCCH, said: “Collectively the artwork reflects different outlooks of young people in Sidmouth; humorous, fleeting, whimsical, random, sad, happy and reflective. This piece is a narrative of its time and gives voice to our young people, respects difference and is a reminder that creative activities can help us to share how we are feeling.
“Sidmouth Wall Space repurposes an unloved wall overlooking a car park in Sidmouth – it will showcase community/public art that residents and visitors enjoy.”
The project is funded by the Arts Council England with support also from Sidmouth Town Council. A new Sidmouth School of Art website is in development and will provide an online gallery for many of the artworks developed in the process of those which are exhibited on the billboard.
The SCCH has also teamed up with the Thelma Hulbert Gallery, which is based in Honiton, and this Sunday (July 18) will see THG’s travelling Creative Cabin at The Shed in the Fisherman’s Yard. The collaboration is the first in a series of Climate Conversations that will be held across East Devon.
From 1.30-3pm look out for craft activities, including a pot making demo with Dave French from East Devon Withy Pots, and storytelling from the Coral garden, as well as music, a bar and great food including Vanilla Bean ice-cream, Angel Chops cakes and fish baps from Sidmouth Trawlers.
Winstone books will also be present with climate themed books for sale including Helen Scales’ new book. Climate Conversations brings together local activists and project groups, with academics and artists specialising in these fields.
This inspiring programme of talks and art activities will take place in towns across East Devon including Honiton, Axminster, Exmouth and Sidmouth. It will reflect on four key themes: Nature, Food, Energy and Reduce/Reuse/Recycle.
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