Exhibitions
Lee Miler: Portraits, Opening Times: 10.00am – 5.00pm, The Oriental Museum, For admission prices please go to www.dur.ac.uk/oriental.museum/admission/admission/ Our leading exhibition is a powerful examination of extraordinary individuals through the lens of one of the most renowned and gifted female photographers of the 20th Century. Durham Arts Festival is proud to present a collection of Lee Miller’s finest portraits displayed at the Oriental Museum. The work spans her career working in fashion, correspondence and as a fine artist. Featuring the most memorable images from her life in London, Paris, New York and Egypt, the exhibition also encompasses her work as a combat photographer during World War Two where she poignantly captured the liberation of Nazi death camps. In the post war years she focused her talent on those closest to her, producing intimate portraits of the leading fine artists of the time including Pablo Picasso, Antoni Tapies and Max Ernst. www.leemiller.co.uk ______________________________________________________________________ Quentin Blake, Judith Kerr, Stephen Biesty and Pat Hutchins: Once Upon an Illustration… Opening Times: 10.00am – 5.00pm, Durham Town Hall, Admission is free Fun for Kids Climbing wall, Circus skills workshop, vintage cars... Sunday 15th June, Durham Market Place Judith Kerr: Book Signing, Saturday 21st June, 3.30pm - 4.30pm Durham Town Hall Admission Free Books sold on site “Once upon an Illustration…” explores how illustrators turn magical stories into unforgettable images. Each artist has provided four images illustrating the evolution that takes place between the first impression and the final piece. These secrets are rarely revealed and we are privileged to have such an intimate glance into the process of such important illustrators. Who could forget the snozblasting characters produced by the granddaddy of children’s illustration, Quentin Blake? In her final exhibition, Judith Kerr has provided images from her classic The Tiger Who Came to Tea and we celebrate the 40th anniversary of this wonderful tale. Stephen Biesty’s immaculate cross sections of everyday life throughout the ages are as educational as they are inspirational; Alfreda Benge’s personal and homely illustrations are warm with the delight of a gifted illustrator. For further Information visit the website: www.quentinblake.com ______________________________________________________________________ Scopic: Scopic, Opening Times: 10.00am – 5.00pm, Calman Learning Centre, Admission is free Previously shown at the Royal Albert Hall in London, this exhibition includes images from science and original artwork created by school children from County Durham and London, as chosen by a panel of judges including Lord Winston. Surely cell biology and astronomy are about as far removed as could be? Afterall, light from stars takes millions of years to reach our eyes on earth and down a microscope we can look inside the here and now, at cells that are measured in millionths of millimetres and events that happened milliseconds ago. What meets the eye is something which will outstand anyone prepared to take this journey through time and space. The aim of this project is to engage young minds in science using the arts and generate an enthusiasm for science subjects through its novel and creative approach. www.myscopic.co.uk ______________________________________________________________________ CutUp Collective: New Work, Opening Times: 10.00am – 5.00pm, The Nursery, Admission is free, http://www.dur.ac.uk/oriental.museum/admission/admission/ CutUp are an anonymous collective of artists based in East London, who work in outdoor intervention, film and sound installation. Their work focuses largely on the potential for disruption inherent in the everyday and on pre-existing elements of play in the urban environment. Their international reputation has been built on their striking urban interventions which can be found in Durham during the arts festival, following their recent show at The Baltic in Newcastle. www.cutupcollective.com/index.php ______________________________________________________________________ Keith Stuart Murray, Opening Times: 10.00am – 5.00pm, Botanical Gardens, Admission is free, http://www.dur.ac.uk/oriental.museum/admission/admission/ Working in the heart of a limestone quarry in the Weardale valley, sculptor Keith Stuart Murray has received considerable attention in the area following an exhibition at the Biscuit Factory in Newcastle. Concerned with the ‘life force’ phenomena, the intangible source of our cyclical existence and the conception of life, Keith seeks a dialogue with an environment in which he is deeply rooted. He works in Frosterly Marble, a 325 million year old carboniferous fossil that is synonymous with Durham Cathedral and used in churches and stately homes throughout the county. Keith has produced a number of abstract works that will dwell within the Botanical Gardens, ideally situated to reveal the intention of his oeuvre. During the festival Keith will be on site working on a new sculpture providing you a unique chance to observe the artist at work and ask him questions about his work. For admission prices please go to www.dur.ac.uk/botanic.garden/ ______________________________________________________________________ Adrian Clarke, Opening Times: 9.00am – 5.00pm, Institute of Advance Study, Admission is free Adrian Clarke practiced as a civil liberties lawyer before turning to photography in 2003. His work has concerned itself with issues of  deprivation and social justice. He has often accompanied his pictures with short interviews with his subjects. His first series of pictures was of people who had served long prison sentences for crimes of which they were innocent.  From 2004 to 2007 he photographed a community of abusers of drugs and alcohol in the villages and towns around Durham and in Middlesbrough. The project resulted in the publication of  'Gary's Friends' in September 2007. The book, which is a collection of portraits, landscape pictures and interviews was described by Richard Morrison at The Times as "probably the most shocking book I will read this year or for many years to come". The Durham Arts Festival exhibition will include pictures from the 'Gary's Friends' series as well as new work from Clarke's current project in which he focuses on 3 communities lying on the south bank of the River Tees. ______________________________________________________________________ Images of China, Opening Times: 10.00am – 5.00pm, Durham Oriental Museum, For admission prices please go to http://www.dur.ac.uk/oriental.museum/admission/admission/ ______________________________________________________________________ Master John Roger Villis: The Marriage of King Copheta and the Beggar Maid @ The Big Jug John Villis is and internationally known artist with collections across England, Wales, the United States, Germany and Italy. He specialises in the publication of artists books, illustrated image sequences, performance art and conventional single artist exhibitions of images in wax, wood, oil, watercolour, tempera, steel, zinc and copper. John is particularly known for creating an artificial world called ‘ORBIS MVNDI’ which has been ongoing in many media and performances since 1978. Here he presents an interface between the Telluric and the Mundic worlds as interpreted by the fragmentary images of, among other series, "The Telluric Bill-Boards" and "The Comedy of Alice and Elwin". The last day of the exhibition will include the performance of the said marriage by two human actors. ______________________________________________________________________ David Venebles, Opening Times: 9.00am – 8.00pm prior booking necessary, please call Grey College reception on 0191 3345900, Grey College, Admission is free A special exhibition of original works by a master fine art restorer. Brought to Durham Henry Dyson Fine Art. ______________________________________________________________________ Durham Artists, Janie Bickersteth: Windows on the World, Opening Times: 10.00am – 5.00pm Mon – Fri and 10am – 4pm Sat, Al-Qasimi Building, Elvet Hill Road Admission is free Janie Bickersteth works in mixed media, print, and ceramics. She moved to Durham in the early 1990’s. Much of her work has been a response to this experience and her travels in South East Asia, often focussing on religious architecture – Buddhist or Hindu temples, Shinto shrines or Durham Cathedral. ______________________________________________________________________ Durham Artists, Steve Sproates: The Pursuit of Wisdom, Opening Times: Mon – Fri: 9.00am – 5.00pm, Sat: 9.00am – 4.00pm, Sun : Closed, The Season's Gallery, Admission is free Steve Sproates explores the potential of mathematics and geometry as generative systems in fine art. Advancing the ideology of the Systems Group, his work is a “multi-dimensional synthesis of relationships and structure” which seeks to define “the observable aspects of an intuitively guided exploration of 'inner space'”. He is one of Durham leading artists and examples of his work are on view at the Ogden Centre. ______________________________________________________________________ Durham Artists: Angela Peacock: Opening Times: 10.00am – 5.00pm, The Old Nursery, Admission is free Angela Peacock’s work focuses on personal emotional experience and is generally designed to give the viewer a feeling of disquiet and disorientation. She uses ready-made objects (furniture, electrical equipment, tools etc.,) and often combines them with a sound element and/or lighting, in such a way as to visually or audibly disturbs the observer. Her aim is to make the observer stop, think and reconsider their initial emotional response to the installation and then to ask themselves why the combination of the particular elements employed makes them uncomfortable. _____________________________________________________________________ Durham Artists, Angela Sandwith, Opening Times: 10.00am – 5.00pm, Oriental Museum, For admission prices please go to http://www.dur.ac.uk/oriental.museum/admission/admission/ Angela Sandwith is a textile artist based in Dalton-le-Dale,Seaham, and teaches at Sunderland University in the School of Education. Known for her site-specific installations, Angela uses intricate traditional techniques on discarded materials such as crisp and cigarette packets to make a gently subversive commentary on the socio-political and environmental issues of the day. Angela’s site-specific installation for the Oriental Museum involves a festive crowd, gathered in informal yukatas to watch fireworks – a popular Japanese pastime. ______________________________________________________________________ Durham Artists, Stephen Livingstone, Opening Times: (TBC), Vennels, Admission is free Stephen Livingstone is interested in the ways that humans have shaped their environment. In recent years he has explored ideas concerning the ancient ecclesiastical history of the North East of England, relating this rich cultural heritage to life in our post-industrial age. His has produced paintings, installations and handmade books by adapting found objects, recycling discarded books and making paints using natural materials such as coal dust, ash and meteorite. ______________________________________________________________________ Durham Artists, Allan Archibald, Kevin Marriott and Barry Woodward, Opening times for exhibition: 10.00am – 5.00pm please report to college reception, Trevelyan College, Admission is free, For details of tours of the private collection please go to the college website Trevelyan College will be exhibiting Kevin Marriott, Allan Archibald and Barry Woodward, as well as opening their collection to tours for the public which includes work by Trevelyan himself and Mary Feddon. Paying homage to the great pioneers of the early 20th century such as Picasso, Klee and Kandinsky, Allan Archibald’s paintings and drawings grow one out of another, colours and shapes being recycled and reformed. For some years now he has combined teaching with producing his own paintings but now concentrates solely on his own work. This is his first exhibition since that change. Kevin Marriott draws attention to the detrimental impact of human activity. Through a series of monochromatic photographs and paintings, Kevin offers a contemplative and sometimes dramatic evocation of the transitory nature of our contributions to the environment. Diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome in 2005, Kevin has nurtured his talent with little formal training. ______________________________________________________________________ Durham Artists, EDAN, Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 8.00pm, Saturday: 8.30am – 6.00pm, Sunday: 11.00am – 5.00pm, The Gates, Admission is free The network is an emerging collective of professional artists dedicated to the development of the visual arts in the region. As a newly formed group, members are either based in, or associated with, East Durham and currently number around 50 members of all visual art disciplines. EDAN will move into “The Gates Shopping Centre” for the week of the arts festival and flood the entire centre with art work. Large and small scale paintings, sculptures, glass work, textile pieces, installations and community based art projects. ______________________________________________________________________ 50ft Long Horse All week 10.00am - 5.00pm Studio 6 Fowlers Yard Newcastle based collective 50ft Horse will be holding an exhibition of their work in Durham’s artistic centre Fowlers yard. As well as showing their own work they will be holding casual drop-in workshops throughout the day where visitors can create their own art work. These will go on the walls next to their own display and so the space will grow and change as the week goes on. Suitable for all ages this is another great opportunity to get involved and leave your mark. ______________________________________________________________________ Tom Bradley: A Portrait of Chads St. Chad’s College Quad 16th - 20th June 2008, Opening Times: 10am - 5pm (ask the porter when entering the college) Admission: free A Portrait of Chad’s is a unique collection of photographs capturing St. Chad’s college students. Tom is a Durham graduate and took up photography three years ago, in which time he has covered most events in Durham, including the DUCK Naked Calendar, and the up and coming Durham Rocks Fashion Show. He has won, and then judged the following year the Durham Wildlife Photography Competition. Recently he assisted the famous portrait photographer Cambridge Jones on sets with Bill Nighy and Kevin Spacey, who he is continuing to work with next year. http://www.dur.ac.uk/oriental.museum/admission/admission http://www.leemiller.co.uk http://www.quentinblake.com http://www.myscopic.co.uk http://www.cutupcollective.com/index.php http://www.dur.ac.uk/botanic.garden/ http://www.dur.ac.uk/botanic.garden/ http://www.dur.ac.uk/oriental.museum/admission/admission/ http://www.dur.ac.uk/oriental.museum/admission/admission/ shapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2shapeimage_2_link_3shapeimage_2_link_5shapeimage_2_link_6shapeimage_2_link_7shapeimage_2_link_8shapeimage_2_link_9
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