The Lowry celebrates 30th anniversary since LS Lowry’s death
• The inaugural annual LS Lowry lecture, Why Lowry’s Art Lives, delivered by Julian Spalding on 28 February
• A new children’s game, Memory, based on Lowry’s paintings especially created by his biographer, Shelley Rohde, for The Lowry
• A partnership with Rambert Dance Company to commission a new performance reflecting the art and world view of LS Lowry
Although one of our most popular artists, LS Lowry has a reputation which is still dogged by misunderstanding and media stereotypes, The Lowry has seized the opportunity of the 30th anniversary of his death in February to present special events reflecting his stature as well as his continuing broad appeal - for children through to art lovers.
Delivered by distinguished writer and curator Julian Spalding, the first ever LS Lowry lecture takes place at The Lowry on Tuesday 28 February. LS Lowry’s biographer Shelley Rohde has created Memory, a children’s card game to celebrate the anniversary. The Lowry has also commissioned Rambert Dance Company, the UK’s flagship modern dance company, to create a new work celebrating the work of the artist.
Laurence Stephen Lowry was born in Manchester in 1887. In his late years he became a popular celebrity and was also preoccupied about whether his art would last. “Will I live,” he asked over and over again. In the year before he died, he was given an Honorary Doctorate by both the University of Salford and the University of Liverpool. He died in his 88th year on 23rd February, 1976 at Woods Hospital, Glossop, just months before a retrospective exhibition opened at the Royal Academy. It broke all attendance records for a twentieth century artist.
Lecture - Why Lowry’s Art Lives
A landmark event, Spalding’s lecture, Why Lowry’s Art Lives heralds the start of an annual LS Lowry lecture. Speakers from a variety of professional areas will be invited to explore an aspect of Lowry’s work that particularly fascinates them. Julian Spalding will explain the unique contribution Lowry made towards the redefinition of art in the twentieth century. His career includes directorships at art galleries and museums in Sheffield, Manchester and Glasgow. Spalding’s latest book The Art of Wonder - A History of Seeing, shows how mankind’s world picture has changed over time.
Tickets are £10 and the Galleries will remain open until 6.45pm before the lecture starts at 7pm.
Memory – a new LS Lowry card game
LS Lowry’s biographer Shelley Rohde has drawn on her love for Lowry’s art to create Memory, a children’s card game to celebrate the anniversary. Well-known LS Lowry images are featured including Coming From the Mill, Man Lying on a Wall, Head of a Man with Red Eyes, and The Fight and are all on show at the Lowry. This is a game of guessing and collecting matching pairs. Whoever has the sharpest memory and collects the most pairs wins!
Available exclusively from The Lowry, the game retails at £9.99.
Rambert Dance Company commission
The Lowry is also marking the anniversary of 30 years since the artist’s death, with its commission of Rambert Dance Company to create a new performance celebrating the work of LS Lowry. When The Lowry opened in 2000, Rambert Dance Company was invited to become a Partner Company which involves the company’s regular presence at the venue along with a continued commitment to access performances and education workshops.
This new commission will enable both parties to develop the partnership, offering increased creative input, and stronger bonds with the theatre and its audiences. Rambert Dance Company has been working closely with The Lowry, sharing ideas, discussing potential choreographers, associated education projects and developing this exciting artistic project. Rambert Dance Company and The Lowry will soon be announcing the full creative team for this commission.
The Lowry’s Artistic Director, Robert Robson commented, “We’re keen on creating artistic links between the visual and performing arts, so were delighted when Rambert were so enthusiastic about the commission. We’re not looking for a literal translation of LS Lowry’s work –instead work that has an affinity with his world view”.
The commission, which falls within Rambert’s 80th anniversary year, will première in the Lyric Theatre at The Lowry on Wednesday 27 September 2006 before touring the UK as part of Rambert’s autumn 2006 repertoire. With an international reputation for creative adventure and artistic excellence, Rambert Dance Company is the ideal partner to collaborate with on marking this anniversary in an innovative way.
The Art of White exhibition
The Lowry is keen to show LS Lowry’s work in a wider artistic context and its current exhibition The Art of White, takes Lowry’s dominant use of white as a starting point for an exploration of the colour spanning 500 years. Especially curated for The Lowry, The Art of White features over 80 art works from artists including Picasso, Robert Ryman, Turner, Constable, Landseer, Valette, Rossetti and Andy Goldsworthy. Work by Frank Auerbach, one of the most celebrated British based artists of the last 30 years, is also included in the The Art of White. He commented, “I think Lowry was one of the dozen or so English twentieth century painters who made an irreplaceable contribution so I am pleased to be shown with him.”
Many other artists acknowledge the relevance of LS Lowry’s work today including figurative painter Paula Rego. One of Britain's most respected artists, Rego was the first Associate Artist of the National Gallery. She commented “LS Lowry was very important to me; he was so encouraging when I was a student at the Slade. Lowry was a true original.”
The Lowry in Salford is a unique venue for visual and performing arts, presenting a dynamic and award-winning programme in both its galleries and theatres.
Media Enquiries
For more information about The Lowry, please contact Michelle Bowey, Media Relations Manager, on 0161 876 2037 or e-mail michelle@thelowry.com
Pictures can be downloaded from www.thelowryimages.com
• For a picture of Julian Spalding (as illustrated at top of this release) please go to Activities/Visiting artists
• For a picture of The Lowry edition Memory Games, go to Retail
• For Rambert dancers performing in the LS Lowry gallery, go to Theatre Shows/Contemporary Dance/Rambert
Pictures of the building, theatre events and exhibitions are also available to download from our image library. New users should go to the registration page first, enter your personal details and use the registration key water (lower case only) for a password to be immediately e-mailed back to you. You will then have access to images via the log-in page.
Notes to Editors
THE LOWRY
Set in a magnificent waterside location at the heart of Manchester’s thrilling new leisure destination, The Quays, The Lowry is an architectural flagship bringing together a wide variety of performing and visual arts under one roof. The Lowry is a waterfront home for the arts, entertainment and innovation. Free to enter and open all day, every day, The Lowry is there to be discovered, explored and enjoyed by everyone. Donations are encouraged to support the Galleries and the care of the LS Lowry Collection. The Lowry arts complex is located just 1.5 miles from Manchester city centre (linked via the Metrolink tram system), less than a mile from the M602, connecting it with the national motorway system and just 20 minutes drive from Manchester Airport.
The Lowry,
Pier 8,
Salford Quays
M50 3AZ
Information & Box Office Telephone 0870 787 5793
Posted on Wednesday, 22 February 2006 under Press General Press