Artists highlight life in Warwickshire during pandemic - The Leamington Observer

Artists highlight life in Warwickshire during pandemic

Leamington Editorial 12th Nov, 2021   0

LIFE in Warwickshire during the pandemic is being highlighted by artists.

Warwickshire County Council’s Public Health service has commissioned local art group Arts Uplift to deliver three contemporary art exhibitions across the county called Warwickshire Pandemic Stories.

Each exhibition is designed by a different artist to capture the experiences of residents and organisations of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The three exhibition artists, Creative Solutions, Julia Snowdin and Michelle Flint, carried out arts workshops and interviews during the summer months to understand different pandemic experiences in the county.




The interviews featured new parents, older people, those medically vulnerable to Covid, volunteers, young adults, public health and NHS workers, children, and people from broad cultural backgrounds.

They covered a wide geographical area across Warwickshire including Leamington, Stratford and Warwick.


The first Warwickshire Pandemic Stories exhibition by artist Creative Solutions features audio and a bright 3D installation, and can be seen at Warwick Visitor Centre until January 16.

Michelle Flint’s colourful contemporary wall hanging ‘My Lockdown Story’ is at the former Debenhams site at Bell Court in Stratford until January 4, with Julia Snowdin’s circular light installation due to run from January 4 to March 31 in Bedworth.

Jenny Davis, director at Arts Uplift, said: “We are very excited to share these new contemporary art installations with the public.

“Having listened to some of the interviews there are some fascinating stories to listen to both sad and joyful and we are looking forward to seeing how the artists have interpreted these stories through art. It is very important to honour and mark these most difficult times that we have all lived through.”

WCC adult social care and health spokeswoman Coun Margaret Bell thanked all those who took part.

She added: “I’m so pleased to see the creative outputs involved in the Warwickshire Pandemic Stories exhibitions, and through this project you can really feel a sense of place and community as we are all coming to terms with the enormity of the pandemic-related journeys and emotions we have all experienced.”

Arts Uplift is also encouraging residents to share their views and find out more about the exhibitions on the Warwickshire Pandemic Stories Facebook page @WarwickshireArtStories and Instagram page @warwickshire_art_stories online. Several resident stories gathered as part of the project are also available to listen to in full on the Arts Uplift website www.artsuplift.co.uk or by visiting the Warwickshire Museums Archive.

 

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Leamington Observer newspaper.

Advertising

Advertise with the Leamington Observer to reach your audience

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.