Buxton Art Gallery and Museum

Saturday saw the preview of the new exhibition at Buxton Art Gallery and Museum. It was a very successful event with 40 plus visitors enjoying the art, sound works and a glass (or two) to drink. We caught up with some old friends and met lots of new people. I was very pleased to see David from Marlhill Court, and to share the sound recording of his poem with the exhibition audience.

The feedback for the exhibition was very positive, with artworks provoking a wide range of emotions in the viewers… such as the ’amputee’ poem, which many people were particularly moved by, and the powerful strength of Pauleen Eaton’s ‘self portrait’. Other artworks produced smiles and laughter, such as Harry Wantlings and Hilda Hewitts sound piece. Each and every artwork and poem in the exhibition held the audiences attention…. We look forward to further feedback.

www.arthur-and-martha.co.uk

worlds words vision

This Saturday (29th March) is the pre-view for the new exhibition Verbivisivoco
"Self-portraits in an ageing mirror: the worlds, words and visions of older people"

Worlds, words and vision’ is an exhibition at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, of self-reflections made by older people in living in Stockport. Many of these artists are in poor health and the fragile, wavering lines and whispered words often mark a struggle with pain and illness as well as the ageing process.

The exhibition contains multiple self-reflections, a hall of memory mirrors. Concrete poems combine word and image, as do the photo/poems. Sound pieces play with the texture of word-making. Found objects spark associations. Finally, the drawings trace delicate lines of ageing.

The exhibition continues until 22nd June, you can ring Buxton Museum and Art Gallery on 01298 24658 or email buxton.museum@derbyshire.gov.uk the gallery is open Tues to Fri, 9.30am-5.30pm, Sat 9.30am- 5.00pm and Sundays and Bank Holidays 10.30am- 5.00pm.

Gamesley taster

This morning we were working in Gamesley Derbyshire, creating poems and artworks with local people and children from St Margaret's RC Primary School. In just 2 hours we created 16 self reflection poems and 8 concrete poems. We are hoping to work with them again later in the year. More photos of the session at www.flickr.com/photos/arthur-and-martha/

moved from a large house
with a bit of
thin features
and a dozen rooms to
gray
a small back-to-back
green eyes long lashes
terrace house two up two down
salt and pepper eyebrows
backdoor with a lived-in face
cried wanting to go home
my mum said you are home son
this is your home now.

Dennis Burns
March 2007

Buxton exhibition

Phil and I have been working with the group at Marlhill Court, to make more 'medicine container' books " entitled a wee star coming through" for the forthcoming exhibition at Buxton Art Gallery, Word, vision, voice…Verbivisivoco (opening on the 29th March) The show includes 15 new poster size prints, the baby sock collection called "pictures emphasizing stillness" and the postcard collection "our needs are very small" watch this space for more details...The photo here, shows Phil working with Beaty.
www.arthur-and-martha.co.uk