"FACING NORTH AT MAIDEN BRIDGE"
22-23 and 28-30 September, 5-7 October 2007
11am to 5pm

This unique exhibition and project features fifty professional artists from the North of England. Each artist has been commissioned to produce two works - a self-portrait and an example of their more usual work. This collection will be published in a full colour book, celebrating the wonderful diversity of talent in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria in 2007.

Maiden Bridge Arts Centre has commissioned the project and will host the opening exhibition together with the book launch.

In addition to the professional artist project, the children of the local Tatham Fells primary School are participating and have each produced a self-portrait and landscape painting to show the young talent in the area.

The artists' normal work will be for sale, providing the public with a wonderful opportunity to view and collect the work from fifty of the region's prominent artists.

Artists:

BOB ARMITAGE, MICHAEL ATKIN, GILL BARRON, DAVID BERESFORD, MICHAEL BILTON, PAUL BLACKWELL, PATRICK BURKE, HILARY CARR, HALIMA CASSEL,L ANDREW CHEETHAM, FIONA CLUCAS, DAVID COOK, DAVID DAVIES, ZUNYA HANNAH DAVIES, PAT ELLACOTT, JUDITH ELLIS, JANE FIELDER, SALLY GATIE, BRIDGET GILLESPIE, FRANK GORDON, LESLEY GORE, DAVID GREENWOOD, DAVID HALL, DAVID HARTNUP, PATRICIA HASKEY-KNOWLES, JOHN HATTON, BRENDAN HESMONDHALGH, KATHARINE HOLMES, ANNIE HUDSON, ANDREA HUNTER, SUE KIRK, GRAHAM LOWE, JOHN McCLENAGHEN, MOIRA McTAGUE, ROSEMARY MORISON, ROBERT NICHOLLS, DEBORAH NICKOLLS, NIGEL OVERTON, NEIL PALLISER, SUSAN PARKER, DANIEL PAULO, TIM PAVEY, INA PICKARD, TONY ROBERTS, DORIE SCHRECKER, HANNAH SMEDS-DAVIES, MARI TAKAFUJI, DAVID THOMAS, ANNE THORNHILL, SIU LING TSUI, PAULA VELARDE, CATHY WILSON, PENNY WOOD.

The project is supported by the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The gallery can be opened weekdays and at other times by appointment. Please phone and we will open!

Maiden Bridge hosts first UK exhibition
of works by Bauhaus artist, Anni Albers

In June 2003, Maiden Bridge Arts Centre became the first gallery in Britain to show a comprehensive collection of print works by the renowned Bauhaus artist and printmaker, Anni Albers. The exhibition ran for three weeks.

Considered to be one of the foremost textile artists of the twentieth century, Anni Albers was a true pioneer in the art world as well as a prolific writer and an accomplished teacher. She was one of the last surviving artists of the famous Bauhaus School, which she entered in 1922 and where she associated with artists such as Paul Klee, Vassily Kandinsky and her husband to be, Josef Albers.

In 1933, she left the political situation in Germany to live and work in America, and in 1949, became the first ever textile artist to be given a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. She continued to live in the USA until her death in 1994.

The exhibition at Maiden Bridge Arts Centre constituted a celebration of her life, work and sheer innovative energy. Many of her works were shown and visitors got the chance to learn more about her life - as well as to buy some of her screenprints, photo-offsets and etchings.

"This exhibition has been a real coup for the Arts Centre," said Hannah Smeds-Davies - herself a successful international textile artist. "Anni Albers was a highly acclaimed designer who made a real contribution to the art world at a pivotal time in history. We are proud to have hosted the UK's first exhibition of her work ."

More information about the life and work of Anni Albers can be found here.

View a large image of Maiden Bridge Arts Centre here. (Jpeg format - 493K.)

38 Lancashire Artists Exhibit at Maiden Bridge

In September 2003, Maiden Bridge Arts Centre hosted an exhibition of works by 38 Lancashire artists. The event featured painters, sculptors, glass makers, textile designers, ceramicists and jewellers - all of whom are participants in the Artech programme, which Maiden Bridge supports.

The exhibition was officially opened on Friday 12th September by Lancashire County Council's Chairman, County Councillor Vali Patel. The event attracted many visitors and considerable media interest - setting the trend for continued public interest throughout the exhibition's two week run.

Pictured, left to right: Alison Ferguson (Artech programme officer); County Councillor Niki Penney, Chairman of Lancashire County Developments Ltd.; Hanna Smeds-Davies and David Davies (Maiden Bridge); and Lancashire County Council Chairman, County Councillor Vali Patel.