New exhibitions make waves at the Albert Dock

THE Albert Dock continues to showcase home-grown creative talent within its stunning World Heritage waterfront setting with the launch of 2 exciting new art exhibitions. 

Lines of Investigation:-

This runs until 10 June 2007 at the Albert Dock
Visitors to the Albert Dock will provide the inspiration for a collection of new art works produced ‘live’ within Merseyside’s most visited attraction until 10 June 2007.

4 artists from Merseyside and Cheshire will create drawings and sculptures within the Grade 1 listed Albert Dock, responding to shapes of visitors as they walk past the gallery.  Visitors will be able to meet the artists as they work, view existing pieces and provide them with inspiration. All new works will be completed by 31 May 2007 in time for a private view of the exhibition.

Artist Claire Weetman will produce striking drawings onto glass, capturing the outline of passers by. Textile artist Cathy Rounthwaite will explore the game of Cats Cradle, creating a sculptural installation using lengths of fabric. Dave Bixter will develop new drawings that record the natural movement of the body through space and time. Barbara Lamb will showcase a range of paintings inspired by research into the movement of cranes.

Artwork exploring the Mersey: -

Runs from 16 June 2007 to 15 July 2007 at the Albert Dock.

Artists from Halton in Cheshire are launching a new exhibition at the Albert Dock which charts the path of the River Mersey using river-bed mud, drift wood, textiles and string.

The group of 10 artists, known as the Markmakers Collective, have all taken inspiration from the River Mersey which flows from the Peak District, through Manchester and out to sea in Liverpool, running through their home borough of Halton.  The result is a varied exhibition of sculpture, paintings, photographs, prints and textiles which explores the famous 110km long waterway. Markmakers chose the Mersey as a common theme for their work as it provided a wealth of subject matter from rich wildlife to industrial heritage.

The Halton-based artists are working with the Albert Dock Company to showcase their exhibition within the Grade 1 listed visitor attraction, looking out to the river which inspired their artwork.

The River Mersey exhibition, which runs from 16 June 2007 to 15 July 2007, is located within the Albert Dock’s Colonnades area, just metres from Tate Liverpool, LJMU’s Site gallery, Liverpoolgallery.com’s exhibition and the many art shops at the Dock including Liverpool Pictures and Art 4 You.

Graham Cook, Director of the Albert Dock Company said:- “We are delighted to provide Markmakers with a home for their Mersey exhibition, right on the banks of the river that has given them so much inspiration. Our aim is to build on the Albert Dock’s strong visual arts offer and one of the ways we’re doing this is opening our units to local artists.”

Artist Claire Weetman, who is involved in both the River Mersey Exhibition and Lines of Investigation, said:- “The Albert Dock is the perfect location to display these 2 very different exhibitions, both created by local artists. We’re looking forward to showcasing our work in such a high profile spot to the wide range of visitors who come to the Dock.”

Student artists take over Liverpool's historic Albert Dock

STUDENTS from Liverpool John Moores University’s School of Art and Design are to stage their final year Degree Shows at the historic Albert Dock. 

Eagerly awaited each year, the annual Degree Shows are a great place to spot emerging artistic talent and visitors will be spoilt for choice with exhibits ranging from illustration, graphic design, multi media, fashion and textiles to architecture and fine art. 

Private Views of the shows will be held on Thursday 31 May 2007, with the exhibitions opening to the public on Friday 1 June 2007, from 10am to 4pm daily, closing on Sunday 17 June 2007. Entrance is free.

The Albert Dock was chosen as the new home for the Degree Shows following the success of LJMU’s Site gallery at the Dock and the ongoing partnership between the University and the Albert Dock Company.

The grade 1 listed visitor attraction was seen as the perfect high profile location to exhibit some of the city’s hottest new artistic talent. 

The Degree Shows represent the culmination of three years of learning, research and development by LJMU art and design students, and are expected to attract thousands of visitors, including professional artists, designers, potential future employers and supporters from the creative industries.

Martin Downie, Director of the School of Art and Design, said:- “Art school is about doing the things you don't have a chance to do in the real world and some of what you'll see in the degree shows will make you stop and re-evaluate your preconceptions of what constitutes art. 

This year’s shows promise to be even better than ever thanks to the University’s partnership with the Albert Dock Company.

For many of our students this will be the first time that they have exhibited their work in a major exhibition space but I have no doubt that they will rise to challenge in terms of their professionalism and creative ability. 

Some great reputations have been launched at these shows in the past and this year visitors will be treated to some of the best new work in the region.

So, if you want to see the tomorrow’s stars of the art world today, come down to the Albert Dock.”

Graham Cook, Director of the Albert Dock Company said:- “We are very proud to be hosting some of Liverpool’s most exciting new creative work at the Albert Dock.

Our aim is to constantly improve the visitor experience here and we believe that LJMU’s Degree Shows will bring a vibrancy and ‘buzz’ that will entertain and inspire visitors.  In line with our focus on tourism and leisure, the visual arts offer at the Albert Dock is getting stronger and stronger.

In addition to LJMU’s Degree Shows, Site gallery and Tate Liverpool, we are hosting a number of exhibitions by local artists throughout the year and the art shops at the Dock continue to go from strength to strength.”

The Degree Shows will showcase work by students in:-

* Interior Design, with exhibitions in the Grand Hall, The Colonnades

* Architecture in the Grand Hall, The Colonnades

* Product Design in the Grand Hall, The Colonnades

* Multimedia, in LJMU’s Site Gallery, Britannia Pavilion

* Fashion in Unit B2 of the Britannia Pavilion

* Textiles in the Grand Hall, The Colonnades

* Graphic Arts, including illustration, design, animation, in Site Gallery, Britannia Pavilion

* Fine Art in the Site Gallery, Britannia Pavilion and also LJMU’s Myrtle Street building.

Final year fashion students will also hold two catwalk shows at the Albert Dock on:-

31 May 2007, starting at 5pm and 8.30pm. 

The Degree Shows will open to the public on Friday 1 June 2007, from 10am to 4pm daily, closing on Sunday 17 June 2007.

Entrance is free.

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