LEEDS ART WALK, walked by Jessica Peace (@poetryinboots) …
Walk: provided by Pavilion
Happens: First Wednesday of the Month
Price: FREE (plus possibilities of free booze if you hit an opening)
Art: Anything currently exhibiting in Leeds
The Leeds Art Walk happens every first Wednesday of the month and is orchestrated by Pavilion. Pavilion is a commissioning organisation based in Leeds that deals with contemporary art and its politics… Well, that’s what the blurb says. HOWEVER these walks are very much designed to open up the city and nurture contemporary art in a casual and non judgemental way.
An ‘Art Walk’ … I know, what is it? Well, one of the Pavilion Girls waits at a chosen location for us all to appear, then we follow her to the exhibit/ exhibitions where we are given a brief introduction by someone such as the curator/ artist or collective member. We are then free to mill around until we move together like an arty swarm to the next destination. You can arrive/ leave as you choose.
Who is there? It was quite a big crowd (maybe around 15?) mix of ages, some regulars, people turned up on their own, some friends and couples. I was not in a sociable mood but there was a place for me to be aloof at the back as well as a surprisingly open atmosphere for easy conversation and discussion.
What do you see? It was all a surprise for me, I just about managed the arrival time and destination but I found myself viewing 3 events in around 2 hours… each VERY different.
Pavilion have done something quite special here, instigating an open place for art and people, as well as doing the legwork on the shows for us. There is opportunity to engage with the artists and curators of the exhibits as well as other art walkers (if that takes your fancy). It is similar to London’s ‘First Thursday’ thing, in that Pavilion will scout the newer shows/opening nights for their walks. Galleries are often quite an insular experience. I do prefer to be on my own usually but the art walk provided a structure that allowed for a group of people who like art to be put in a little gang for a few hours.
We began at the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery, ‘JEWISH ARTISTS IN YORKSHIRE’, this is a genius exhibition. A modest amount of art on show here but the works of Jacob Kramer and Jacob Epstein alone are wonders. It is significant to see the pairs work so close together and read of their of entwined history. The works shown vary between expression of the artist’s devotion to Judaism, and simply the artist being born a Jew and his work not reflecting spirituality but presenting Yorkshire. For example, ‘The old Quarry, Hawsworth’ by William Rothenstein and the dewy, vivid works of Judith Tucker. (‘Jewish Artists in Yorkshire’ at Stanley and Audrey Burton until 20th July)
Next we moved to Leeds College of Art, Cooper Union Photography Exhibition ‘FRAMING SPACE/ NARRATING SPACE’. Cooper Union is a prestigious school in New York and apparently as we were in the hushed exhibition space in Leeds, riots were kicking off at the School in New York regarding the introduction of fees for the first time in the colleges extensive history. Favourite piece ‘Badlands’ by Martyna Szczesna. The exhibition at Leeds College of art changes every 3 to 4 weeks.
Time to get acquainted or have a fag break and more evening city strolling on the way to ‘SEIZE’ at the Grand Arcade. We were greeted by Edward Hurst, one of the eight art students involved in the Grand Arcade, Night Club take over, all of us presented with wine, a dice and a map. Brilliant. I am always excited by a group of art students who get up off their arses and create an exhibition but ‘SEIZE’ was spectacular. The pieces and installations were of a high quality and all artists were on hand to work the event and openly talk about the art on show. Fascinated by the paintings of Will Turner.
Thank you to Gill Park for leading the walk and her enthusiasm for art and community. Artist Amelia Crouch also leads the walks. With thanks also to Layla Bloom at the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery and Terry Jones at Leeds College of Art for their introductions to the shows.