Carlisle artists’ ‘assault on the senses’
Last updated 05:35, Friday, 03 October 2008
As the debate about provision of the arts in Carlisle continues, a group of city artists is taking the initiative with a new exhibition.
Take Two showcases works by artists from Shaddongate-based Eleventh Hour Studios. The exhibition is open this weekend only.
Nine of the studio’s 11 artists are exhibiting in various media, including painting, sculpture, pot-making and jewellery.
Take Two is curated by Sharon Kennedy and Vicky Tedford, who both studied contemporary applied arts at Cumbria Institute of the Arts.
“It’s a mixture of contemporary and fine art, which you don’t often find together in Carlisle,” says Sharon. “Art needs to be more prominent in Carlisle. There’s so much talent out there. Artists need to get together. Our ultimate goal would be to start a Carlisle centre of the arts.”
Among the most eye-catching pieces is a sculpture by Dave Morris entitled I Want A Megatron! This is a humorous hybrid of different toys such as soldiers and dolls.
A visit to an Eleventh Hour exhibition is an assault on the senses, with music as well as visual art playing a prominent role. “When you go to a gallery they can be quite pompous,” says Vicky. “You feel you can’t speak. We like it quite relaxed.”
Eleventh Hour has secured Lottery funding for its artists to set up community-based workshops and classes in various media.
Eleventh Hour Studios is at Caldew Business Park, Shaddongate, Carlisle, opposite the Shaddongate branch of Subway. The Take Two exhibition is open on Saturday 6pm-9pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.
