Blackpool llluminations on The Lowry’s
Folk Archive: Contemporary popular art from the UK
22 July – 17 September 2006
Free Family Fun Day – Sunday 23 July, 1 – 3pm
The latest exhibition at The Lowry – launched with a Family Fun day - aims to show us that we’re surrounded by creativity, often produced by people we don’t think of as artists. And what is the biggest explosion of colour, shape and sheer enjoyment in the North West that’s famous all over the world? Blackpool illuminations! Visitors to The Lowry can see a selection of the world famous creations light up as part of the exhibition, Folk Archive, which includes a replica Blackpool Tower.
Made from steel and covered in gold with lights running down the side, the 5.5m tower which was used in the recent BBC drama, Viva Blackpool starring David Morrissey, will stand in The Lowry’s foyer. Inspired by the Eiffel tower, the full-size real Blackpool tower was built in 1893 and measures 518 feet tall.
A selection of Blackpool illuminations are set to dazzle visitors to The Lowry Promenade area of the galleries. These include life-size seahorses from the Coral Capers section, Mummies direct from the historical Egyptian tableau, giant My Little Ponies, Fish, Groovy Discs from the fun Flower Power and Lovers Knots.
The Lowry will have its very own switch-on of the Blackpool Illuminations during the Folk Archive Family Fun Day, Sunday 23 July between 1pm – 3pm. The illuminations will continue to burn brightly for the duration of the exhibition. The Fun Day, hosted by Phoenix Night’s Janice Connolly aka Mrs Barbara Nice is free to everyone.
Visitors can enjoy rides on Snowdrop, a life size mechanical elephant, try their hand at vegetable sculpture making, watch morris dancers and clog dancers plus all children will receive a stick of special Lowry rock!
Visitors can meet costume characters from Blackpool’s top attractions including Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Tower, the Sealife Centre, Blackpool Zoo and Sandcastle Waterworld. Representatives from Blackpool Tourism will be giving out money saving vouchers for all of these exciting attractions.
Folk Archive is a celebration of the creative life of ordinary people and the first exhibition of UK contemporary folk art for over 50 years. LS Lowry admired the vitality of folk art – “art produced by untrained artists” – and no doubt visitors to The Lowry will agree with his view when they see the wealth of diverse work on show in Folk Archive.
From gurning and graffiti to tapestry and sculptures made from vegetables, Folk Archive is a fascinating and provocative exhibition. It presents an astonishing collection of documentation and works from scarecrows to needlework, sculpture to performance, as well as video, drawings and paintings. Brought together by artists Alan Kane and Jeremy Deller (2004 Turner Prize winner) Folk Archive celebrates folk art’s dynamic and influential role in British culture today.
Folk Archive: contemporary popular art from the UK is a national touring exhibition by Alan Kane and Jeremy Deller, co-ordinated by Bruce Haines and supported by Arts Council England and The Elephant Trust.
The real Blackpool Illuminations sparkle from 1 Sept - 5 Nov 2006. Visit www.visitblackpool.com for more details.
Folk Archive: contemporary popular art from the UK
22 July – 17 September 2006
The Lowry, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester
Posted on Saturday, 01 July 2006 under Press Galleries Press