'Drawing With Coal' a solo exhibition by Jordan L Rodgers

KEEN eyed Regional aficionados of contemporary art will already be familiar with the arresting gestural drama that characterise Jordan L Rodgers' brutalist landscapes.

Jordan's highly individual work bridges the cultural heritage of the UK and Poland and is driven by his deep fascination with industrial history and its preservation. Through bold compositions of line, tone and form, Jordan skillfully captures the raw energy of these landscapes by transforming their historical significance into visual narratives, each piece becoming a story in itself.

Originally from Liverpool, Jordan, who is known in Poland as Węglowy Artysta, exploits his bravura technique to push the boundaries of traditional drawing through his innovative exploration of using coal as an artistic medium.

The modernist architecture and industrial landscapes of Poland have become key ingredients in Jordan's output:- "As someone who has found a home in both countries, I am drawn to the parallels between their histories. My time spent walking the coalfields of Upper Silesia, sketching the structures of collieries and immersing myself in these industrial environments has deepened my connection to Poland's mining heritage. At the same time, I continue my work across the UK, documenting sites that reflect the country's past."

A 2012 graduate in Fine Art at Lancaster University, Jordan's distinctive mark-making has recently been exhibited at the Editions Gallery in Liverpool and is included in this year's Sefton Open now on at The Atkinson in Southport.

Previously showcased in both solo and group exhibitions, Jordan's drawings have gained national and international recognition including:- the Aesthetica Art Prize, the 100 Contemporary Artists Anthology and Jerwood Drawing Prize.

Jordan is now gearing up for his latest solo exhibition at:- The ArtHouse, in Southport:- "Drawing With Coal: UK; Poland is a personal exhibition that interprets my journey through the industrial landscapes of both the UK and Poland. Through charcoal drawings created on-site, I explore the rich history of coal mining and shipbuilding, 2 industries that have shaped communities, economies and identities. This exhibition serves as both a tribute and a dialogue, honouring the resilience of workers and the lasting impact of industry on our cultural heritage."

Key locations in Jordan's investigations in the UK included the:- Lancashire Mining Museum, at Astley Green and South Wales' Cefn Coed Colliery Museum. In Poland Jordan also visited the historic Zabytkowa Kopalnia Ignacy, in Rybnik and Park Tradycji, in Siemianowice Śląskie:- "Many of these former industrial sites are now protected as museums or Scheduled Monuments, preserving their cultural and historical significance for future generations. The Gdansk Shipyard, known for its pivotal role in Poland's industrial heritage and its connection to global events like the Solidarity movement, offers a fascinating contrast to the history of Liverpool's docks and port. These connections between 2 nations, shaped by coal, steel and the sea, resonate throughout my work".

By combining historical, architectural and cultural influences within a single composition, Jordan's treatment of multiple perspectives and manipulation of geometric shapes provides a flattened picture plane reminiscent of the linear Cubist mannerisms of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.

As well as capturing the artistic exchange between:- 2 historically and culturally rich Regions, Jordan intends:- 'Drawing With Coal' will offer more than the sum of its parts:- "Beyond history, this exhibition is also about community. With an established Polish community in Southport and Liverpool, I hope to create a space where shared heritage can be reflected upon, remembered, and reimagined through art".

Drawing With Coal: UK; Poland will be on display:- 17 June; 5 July 2025, at:- The ArtHouse, 65 Eastbank Street, Southport.

Dovecot dreams inspire psychedelic mural

FROM a horse in space to an Edward Lear inspired long legged fish, Liverpool's most surreal mural by renowned street artist John Culshaw has been unveiled at Dovecot Parade.

Drawing inspiration from the fantastical world of sleep, the public artwork was designed in collaboration with the Dovecot and Knotty Ash community.

Commissioned by Culture Liverpool and supported by the UK's Shared Prosperity Fund and Councillor Harry Doyle's Local Neighbourhood Fund, the mural was born out of a series of workshops run by Dovecot Dreamkeeping Society; a fictional organisation dedicated to preserving the memories and dreams of the people of Dovecot and Knotty Ash.

John Culshaw, who was born and bred in the area, is behind some of the City's best known public artworks including:- 1 dedicated to Nelson Mandela in L8 and his take on the Liver Bird on the side of The Wedding House, on Great George place,

Artist John Culshaw commented:- "As an artist working on home turf, this project has been particularly special. I've really enjoyed working at grass roots level with the community to capture their dreams and aspirations. Through the power of drama and art, the workshops unlocked some amazing ideas to enable me to shape the mural. This wall depicts strange and changing landscapes to show how in dreams we find ourselves moving from 1 place to another without ever knowing we are moving and also represents how our surroundings can feel strange and familiar at the same time. I've incorporated the current landscape into the design so for example the arches provide the perfect frame to use as windows into the residents dreams and there is a fantastic ornate door that I've kept as a feature, which gives the mural a wonderful 3D effect."

Working alongside performance artist Izzie Major and theatre producer Sonia Chapman, John embedded himself into the community, delivering workshops to Schools and community organisations including:- Dovecot Primary, Knotty Ash Primary, Brookside Retirement Home and Deaf Active. John also ran an outdoor workshop which gave residents the opportunity to paint their design ideas straight onto the wall.

Fai McCabe, a local artist who took part in the mural workshop, said:- "I'm delighted that the team has decided to keep the Rubick's cube mural I painted during the workshop, which was a fantastic day. What a great opportunity to share my work with such a welcoming community. Collaborating on the mural with John and learning from his workshop has already sparked new interest in my work from clients—and given my artwork the step up it needed. I couldn't be more grateful that this project came together so well—I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. It's brilliant to see arts and culture expanding outside the City Centre into our communities and I've had some lovely feedback from residents who've said it's brought life to the area."

Phase 2 of the project, coming soon, will include:- a:- 'Jam Butty Mine;' a nod to Knotty Ash's most whimsical son Ken Dodd; and a train hurtling towards a psychedelic vortex.

Dovecot Dreamkeeping Society was commissioned by Liverpool City Council's Culture Liverpool team as part of its Creative Neighborhoods programme, an ongoing programme of collaborative projects and creative interventions that engage with communities and neighbourhoods throughout Liverpool, and include artistic residencies, development of public art, events and creative engagement workshops. Other projects include the award winning Flower Street murals, in Kirkdale.

Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:- "John has done an incredible job of tapping into the creative imaginations of our community and bringing the dreams of residents to life. I want to thank everybody who took part in the workshops and were so willing to open up and share their personal memories, hopes and dreams. Already, people in our community are appreciating and talking about the murals on Dovecot Parade that were created during 1 of John's workshops. Public artwork in communities not only brightens up an area, it also uplifts the spirits of the local people who live there. I know these murals will have such a positive impact in our area."

The Dovecot Dreamkeeping Society project culminated with:- 'Dovecot Day of Dreams,' a family fun day which saw walkabout performances and performance trails featuring weird and wonderful characters created in collaboration with over 300 community members. For more information, watch the video on:- Vimeo.Com.