News: Rotherham town centre artwork refreshed
A new collection of artwork is being added to the open air art gallery in Rotherham town centre.
Curators are updating and replacing the large-scale artwork to make way for new pieces that the local community and visitors to Rotherham can enjoy in a unique way.
By the end of June 2012, Gallery Town will consist of over 90 pieces of artwork from local artists and schoolchildren and famous masterpieces from the National Gallery, all on the seasonal themes of families, holidays, and water.
They have been reproduced on a large scale and are being installed on key sites across the town including, pubs, shops and council buildings.
The innovative Gallery Town project was officially launched in September 2011 with an initial collection of 60 huge pieces of artwork.
An art trail has been produced that guides visitors around the town, pointing out the location and details of a selection of the art, with many more pieces to be discovered along the way.
The aim of Gallery Town is to help regenerate Rotherham town centre and increase the number of visitors.
The idea came from a group of local business people working alongside the local strategic partnership and town centre team looking at ways to regenerate and encourage more shoppers and visitors into Rotherham, in order to drive the local economy.
Nick Cragg, local entrepreneur and member of the Rotherham LSP Board, who is spearheading the project, said: "There is a definite link between art, culture and regeneration. This is an exciting time for the Gallery Town project and for Rotherham town centre with recent figures showing a continued increase in footfall.
"Along with new shops and high profile events, I'm confident that the artwork has played a part in bringing more people in, improving the town's vibrancy and economic vitality.
"With nearly 100 pieces of art on display, Rotherham really is Gallery Town."
One piece being installed this week is "For Mum" by Rotherham artist, Rachael Caddy. It is a large-scale reproduction of a pencil crayon portrait of the artist and her sister Jenny, and as the name suggests it was a gift for her Mother. It captures the close relationship of the sisters and also how much fun they have together, capturing a moment when they weren't taking themselves too seriously.
Rachael, a former student at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology, said: "The Gallery Town project is a brilliant idea. It is fantastic that my art will be on display in my home town and it will be a unique showcase for me as I have recently set up in business as a professional artist.
"It is really important to me when creating a portrait to draw something that shows a person for who they are in a moment in time rather than something that is heavily posed and looks forced. Colour and composition are also very important for me as they can vastly alter the mood of a piece.
"I hope people enjoy it."
Bathers at Asnières, the masterpiece by French Post-Impressionist painter, Georges Seurat (pictured), has been installed in a prominent position after it was chosen as the favourite by visitors and residents in a recent ballot.
The spring / summer 2012 Gallery Town art trail is due to be officially launched today by Chris Rea, managing director of AESSEAL, one of the project's sponsors.
Details of artwork and artists are featured on the Gallery Town website and pupils from three Primary Schools in Rotherham have recorded their thoughts on the new National Gallery pieces.
Gallery Town website
Images: Gallery Town
Curators are updating and replacing the large-scale artwork to make way for new pieces that the local community and visitors to Rotherham can enjoy in a unique way.
By the end of June 2012, Gallery Town will consist of over 90 pieces of artwork from local artists and schoolchildren and famous masterpieces from the National Gallery, all on the seasonal themes of families, holidays, and water.
They have been reproduced on a large scale and are being installed on key sites across the town including, pubs, shops and council buildings.
The innovative Gallery Town project was officially launched in September 2011 with an initial collection of 60 huge pieces of artwork.
An art trail has been produced that guides visitors around the town, pointing out the location and details of a selection of the art, with many more pieces to be discovered along the way.
The aim of Gallery Town is to help regenerate Rotherham town centre and increase the number of visitors.
The idea came from a group of local business people working alongside the local strategic partnership and town centre team looking at ways to regenerate and encourage more shoppers and visitors into Rotherham, in order to drive the local economy.
Nick Cragg, local entrepreneur and member of the Rotherham LSP Board, who is spearheading the project, said: "There is a definite link between art, culture and regeneration. This is an exciting time for the Gallery Town project and for Rotherham town centre with recent figures showing a continued increase in footfall.
"Along with new shops and high profile events, I'm confident that the artwork has played a part in bringing more people in, improving the town's vibrancy and economic vitality.
"With nearly 100 pieces of art on display, Rotherham really is Gallery Town."
One piece being installed this week is "For Mum" by Rotherham artist, Rachael Caddy. It is a large-scale reproduction of a pencil crayon portrait of the artist and her sister Jenny, and as the name suggests it was a gift for her Mother. It captures the close relationship of the sisters and also how much fun they have together, capturing a moment when they weren't taking themselves too seriously.
Rachael, a former student at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology, said: "The Gallery Town project is a brilliant idea. It is fantastic that my art will be on display in my home town and it will be a unique showcase for me as I have recently set up in business as a professional artist.
"It is really important to me when creating a portrait to draw something that shows a person for who they are in a moment in time rather than something that is heavily posed and looks forced. Colour and composition are also very important for me as they can vastly alter the mood of a piece.
"I hope people enjoy it."
Bathers at Asnières, the masterpiece by French Post-Impressionist painter, Georges Seurat (pictured), has been installed in a prominent position after it was chosen as the favourite by visitors and residents in a recent ballot.
The spring / summer 2012 Gallery Town art trail is due to be officially launched today by Chris Rea, managing director of AESSEAL, one of the project's sponsors.
Details of artwork and artists are featured on the Gallery Town website and pupils from three Primary Schools in Rotherham have recorded their thoughts on the new National Gallery pieces.
Gallery Town website
Images: Gallery Town
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