[S]ignal Film and Media have announced the launch of Year 2 of it’s digital arts program with PLATFORM next month by welcoming Blackpool-born artist Will Kendrick to kick start events with the premiere of his exciting Viking-inspiredcontemporary exhibition.
On Wednesday 11th July, Signal will throw open its doors at Cooke’s Studios, 104 Abbey Road for a special preview exhibition opening and program launch night from 6.00 – 9.00pm where they are keen to welcome anyone interested in Arts, Culture and Local History to see the launch of his exciting digital artwork That Hall is Woven of Serpent’s Spines.
The exhibition then stays open from 12th July until 3rd August from Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11am-6pm (late night access available until 7pm on Thursdays).
Free creative workshops for both young people and adults will also be taking place, drawing inspiration from the exhibition, led by the guest artist and Cumbrian-based artist Julia Parks. Members of the public are advised to book a place via the Signal website for these all-day workshops taking place Saturday 14th & 21st July, which will cover skills such as studio photography and making sculptures inspired by the local landscape.
There will also be a series of free family-friendly, drop-in workshops to take part in, every Saturday from 11am-5pm during the exhibition run, where all ages can have fun getting hands-on with being creative whilst enjoying free refreshments.
That Hall is Woven of Serpent’s Spines is an immersive exhibition commissioned especially for digital arts program Platform, & will take place in a darkened, derelict space at Cooke’s Studios. It will feature large-scale sculpture, video projection and sound, mixing together references of both the natural and man-made world. There will also be chance to hear about all the exciting free activities we have coming up this year to take part in addition to free refreshments and a talk with Will Kendrick about the creation of his show.
Project Manager Joanna Roy said: “We are really excited to be launching this year’s digital arts programme. Will Kendrick’s work blends the historical roots of this region of Cumbria with the technology of the digital age and we can’t wait to welcome the public to see the show as there will be something for everyone to enjoy. We are also offering even more hands-on workshops this year to take part in, which are perfect for the summer holidays, covering everything from sculpture to photography and welcome total beginners as well as those who are keen artists!”
As the first commissioned artist for Platform, Will Kendrick’s work often blends the digital or virtual world with the natural, historical or ‘human’ world. His new exhibition considers how Barrow is linked to Nordic vikings, through artefacts recently unearthed that suggest vikings at least came ashore, if not had settlements in the region.
This link lead him to explore Nordic mythology, specifically the story of the serpent that eats at the tree of life and to consider what true history means. Taking viking-inspiration that myths can become intertwined in the modern world, as historical information is increasingly spread, translated and reinterpreted through online platforms, asking us to think about authenticity and how our perceptions of what is ‘true’ and authentic might be altered.
Signal have also partnered with the Dock Museum to do a trail between the two venues, giving visitors the chance to see the real viking artefacts that inspired the show!
