ICONIC local buildings will be celebrated on Bradford’s big screen over the coming weeks as artwork inspired by the likes of City Hall, Cartwright Hall and Salts Mill goes on display.
It is part of the ongoing Not Just Hockney project, collated by Colin Neville, to showcase the work of local artists.
The artwork is being featured on the City Park screen in a daily presentation throughout January and February.
Mr Neville, who set up the project and the Not Just Hockney website, said: “In the Bradford district we have some great buildings worth celebrating. Some are great because of the iconic architecture, like Cartwright Hall, Bradford City Hall, Salts Mill and other Saltaire buildings, and, of course, the Bradford Odeon.
“Others are great for what they mean today in human story or economic terms for the district, like the Bradford Royal Infirmary, as shown in Jane Fielder’s work, or in Ping Kelly’s series of paintings on the rise of the Broadway Centre.
“Many buildings, probably most, although not architecturally distinguished, are worth celebrating because of what they mean or meant for the district - like the now demolished B&B building at Bingley, and others like it. The B&B building, for example, wasn’t much to look at, but was important in the lives of the people who worked there, giving them regular employment, security, friendships, and a sense of belonging.
“On the Big Screen then, we have five local professional artists each with their own distinctive take on the buildings of the district. We also have some examples of artwork from, hopefully, some future local artists, in the form of artwork by year 9 pupils from the Belle Vue Girl’s Academy in Bradford.
“The girls caught the Judges’ attention in the 2019 Young Open Art Competition at Cartwright Hall with their images of local mills, as well as with their beautiful mixed media collage of Cartwright Hall.”
The six artists involved in this next presentation are:
The Year 9 students of Belle Vue Girls’ Academy who gained commendation in the Bradford 2019 Young Open art competition for their artwork of local mills and for their winning collage of Cartwright Hall. The Cartwright Hall design was adopted by Friends of Bradford Art Galleries and Museums and is now used as a design on greeting cards sold at the museum.
Clare Caulfield is an artist and printmaker, based in Saltaire. She creates mixed-media paintings, original handmade prints, limited edition prints and art cards of architectural subjects, based on her extensive travels around the world. Her illustrations have featured in travel books and her prints and paintings have been widely exhibited throughout the UK in both solo and group shows, and are sold in many UK galleries.
Jane Fielder is a painter and printer and was the former owner of The Bingley Gallery. Her work has been exhibited across the UK and overseas, including solo exhibitions at Bradford Cathedral and in Shanghai. Two of Jane’s paintings were shortlisted for a Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, and a novel by Sophie Hannah, The Other Half Lives, was inspired by and dedicated to Jane and her work.
Ping Kelly is a Bradford artist who applies the ancient art of Chinese brush painting in oils, water-colour and acrylics to a range of subjects, including portraits, abstracts, banners, landscapes and architecture. Ping’s work has been exhibited around the region, including at the Art in the Garden exhibition at Sheffield; St James’ Hospital, Leeds; and both the Delius Arts Centre and at the Fabric Gallery in Bradford.
Simon Sugden is a photographer from Shipley, specialising in architectural photographs. He has a particular interest in documenting Bradford buildings and industrial features of the city, including the restoration of iconic local architecture, such as the Bradford Odeon.
Nick Tankard is a graphic design and illustrator. He lives in Saltaire, which has inspired many of his prints and book illustrations. Nick created the Salt/Saltaire Series of signed limited edition prints and greetings cards and has illustrated a range of children’s books.
David Wilson, director of Bradford UNESCO City of Film, which runs the big screen, said: "Bradford’s buildings are a real testament to the fantastic heritage of this place and of course one of the key reasons why the district attracts so much film and TV production.
"I think we all have to remind ourselves to look up a little more, especially in the City centre as there are still surprises, even when you have spent all your life in the city.
"It’s the buildings and the people who live and work in them and their stories which make up a city and it will be a real treat to see these represented on the Bradford Big Screen."
The Not Just Hockney exhibition runs every day at 12.30pm.
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