Last week saw the opening of the Emergence exhibition, organised by Fulwood-based art group the Garden Walk Artists to celebrate the gradual return to normality post-Covid.
The exhibition opened on Tuesday 10 May. Hosted at the Lytham Heritage Centre, it is set to run through to the Sunday 29 May.
Blog Preston was on the scene for the launch. Upon entry through the sturdy 19th century wooden vestibule and deftly avoiding the donations box, I was greeted with what can only be described as a bustle; works adorning every wall and installation depicting architecture, pastoral scenes both florid and dramatic, still life and a surprisingly evocative rendering of a kitchen tap.
As artists fluttered between their works and patrons, I gamely discussed skilful frottage, bold use of negative space and accelerated perspective of some of the pieces, but I quickly burned through my repertoire of artistic terminology and retreated to the snack table.
Amongst all the activity I was briefly able to separate exhibition organiser and unofficial Garden Walk Artists leader Lynn Pyatt for a little background on the exhibition and the group.
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Lynn said: “My degree was in fine art. I used to teach in various colleges around Lancashire, which I enjoyed very much, then someone at a folk club asked for lessons and the group blossomed from there.
“We’ve now been meeting at my house for around ten years, with me teaching mainly watercolour. We then decided it wouldn’t be a teaching group… But as people painted I just couldn’t keep my mouth shut.
“We meet once a fortnight over a coffee and share and paint things we find interesting and if anyone asks me then I’m still happy to put my oar in. It’s a closed group now and the dynamics work perfectly.”
I ask Lynn where the inspiration for the exhibition came from.
“We were going to have an exhibition with Sandra and Jack – two of the groups more established artists – then we thought it would be really nice for other members who haven’t exhibited their work previously to contribute some pieces, too.”
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Had this idea been percolating throughout the Covid lockdowns?
“Yes, it had. Once we had a date and we’d started meeting again it really made everyone appreciate their work; getting pieces framed and pricing them up.
“I think we’ve all felt a bit isolated. We’ve texted and emailed throughout but getting to meet up again and putting this exhibition on has felt very special. That’s why we called it Emergence –there’s no overriding theme as such, it’s simply a celebration of everyone’s hard work.
“We’ve been really excited as there’s the been a massive turnout and a lot of interest.”
It’s a busy night for Lynn, so I thank her for time and mingle once more. While I’m more familiar with acrylic painting and glitter glue – this being the format of choice of my 4-year-old daughters – I must concede that the Garden Walk Artists have managed to put on a picturesque and pastoral delight.
You can catch the exhibition at Lytham Heritage Centre on Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 4pm, until Sunday 29 May.
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