The
Grundy Art Gallery has pulled off a coup by persuading an award-winning artist
to bring his latest exhibition to town.
And on
top of that they’ve got top poet Jon Hegley to come to Blackpool and perform a
two-hour set.
First
the exhibition, which is the work of the internationally-respected Matt Stokes,
winner of the Becks Futures Prize in 2006 and shortlisted for the Jarman Award
2012.
Called
Dance Swine Dance, and at the gallery from Saturday until March 29, it features
the subjects Northern Soul, Cave Raves and American punk.
Many of
the works share a strong association with Blackpool and the North West –
notably the development of Northern Soul, of which the now destroyed Blackpool
Mecca played a crucial role.
“We are
really excited about Dance Swine Dance because it has such a wide appeal,” said
Grundy curator Richard Parry.
“Stokes
is a greatly celebrated artist. Part anthropology, part tribute and part
collaboration, his work addresses enduring questions concerning how being part
of a collective shapes and influences people’s lives and identities.
“The
Grundy provides the perfect setting for this and we are looking forward to
exhibiting this work and seeing the enjoyment people get from it.”
Newcastle-based
Stokes has established a reputation for his lyrical films that focus on
subcultures.
With
Dance Swine Dance, both floors of the Grundy will be filled, revealing a
selection of artworks and projections that explore Stokes’s particular interest
in musical subcultures.
Visitors
can expect to see a range of historic and contemporary music scenes
represented, including Northern Soul, ‘Cave Raves’ from the early 90s and
American Punk in Austin, Texas.
As part
of the exhibition there are two special events planned.
Hegley,
widely known for his sung and spoken comic poetry, and who regularly sells out
at the Edinburgh Festival, will perform at Blackpool Catholic Club on Queen
Street on Friday, February 21.
Hegley
is one of the country’s most innovative poets with several best selling volumes
of poetry to his name. He is noted for his exploration of such diverse topics
as dog hair, potatoes, handkerchiefs and the misery of human existence. Hegley
will perform a specially commissioned two hour set followed by a further two
hour set of Northern Soul music from DJ David Belcher.
Tickets
are £8 or £5 concessions/students and can be booked soon via
www.visitblackpool.com
Before
that, on Saturday February 8 in the Grundy Art Gallery, top Northern Soul DJ’s
Richard Searling and Glenn Foster will discuss the history and evolution of
Northern Soul in the North West, from the 1960s through to the present day.
They
will field questions and play key records from the genre. It lasts from
8pm-midnight and is a free event but booking is essential.
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