Art / Expressions Arts Festival
Expressions Arts Festival returns with ambitious exhibition
A new exhibition at Paintworks explores the world of imagined landscapes through contemporary art and music.
Imagined Landscapes features work that deals with nature, geology, and the climate emergency, as well as human connection and our inner experiences of the land and landscape through time.
Audiences will be invited to consider the landscapes they experience, explore shared and individual imaginings and to respond to these as witnesses and collaborators.
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Artist collaborator Emma Grant says the exhibition is all about questioning societal norms: “In our work we have been striving to find the uncanny in the everyday, to challenge the status quo and to imagine a new world through art making.
“With the group show we are advocating for collective, cross-disciplinary collaboration in pursuit of togetherness and equality as a way of life.”
Much of the work grapples with nature, geology, and the climate emergency – Image: Expressions creative arts programme
Exhibits include art made in collaboration with international photographer Barry Cawston, sculptor Tina Brown, painter Ben Bishop, video artist Giles Webberly and portrait painter William Oxer.
Speaking about his involvement in the show, artist William Oxer said: “Producing portraits offers a connection to self, perception and image.
“The portraits produced in these workshops will present positive experiences aimed at reducing stigma about mental health within communities and normalising mental health through the expression of self in art.”
Imagined Landscapes is the culmination of a year-long programme of creative arts workshops run by the artist collective, Expressions, and will form part of the Expressions Arts Festival, which returns to celebrate its tenth anniversary this year.
Imagined Landscapes is the culmination of a year-long programme of creative arts workshops – Image: Expressions creative arts programme
Supported by Bristol-based social care charity Milestones Trust, Expressions encourages participants living with mental health needs and learning disabilities to develop new creative skills.
The people supported by the charity are involved in all aspects of Expressions, from creating the art to organising the show, giving participants valuable access to the art world and help to get their art work exhibition-ready.
The progressive annual programme aims to have a positive impact on mental health and well-being, as well as making the arts more accessible.
As part of the celebration, Bristol bands will be performing all day and night over the weekend, as well as spoken world and performance, creative workshops, stalls and refreshments.
Imagined Landscapes is free and runs from Saturday, July 23 to Tuesday July 26 at Paintworks Event Space.
Main photo: Expressions creative arts programme
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