20-21 Visual Arts Centre has five gallery spaces showing inspiring work by leading contemporary artists and cutting edge craft and design makers from the UK and abroad. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre and explore the exhibitions in the spectacular former St Johns Church.
29 May to 4 September
Art With A Pulse II: Tattoo Exhibitionism
The popularity of tattooing has skyrocketed since 20-21 hosted the first Art with a Pulse exhibition back in 2001. Recent years have seen the emergence of TV reality shows based in tattoo shops, tabloids obsessing over celebrities' latest ink and Ed Hardy and Sailor Jerry becoming fashionable names to drop and wear.
The ancient art of tattooing is constantly evolving and merging with the 'fine art world' of galleries and collectors. Alongside work in a range of media by tattoo artists including Bugs, Alex Binnie, Angelique Houtkamp, Lou Molloy and Jo Harrison, Art with a Pulse II will also showcase work by those inspired by the tattoo and it's culture including stained glass, mosaic, illustration and photography of some of today's 'tattooed ladies' such as leading burlesque performers. The selection will also include historical documentation from the National Fairground Archive in Sheffield.
20-21 will be exhibiting a selection of work from the exhibition at Tattoo Jam at Doncaster Racecourse 6 to 8 August.
12 June to 18 September
James Pogson
The Ladykillers
Ladykillers takes its title from an international women's Thai kickboxing tournament in the North West of England. Due to Buddhist traditions the sport was once banned for females in Thailand. Since being introduced into the UK in 1977, the discipline has developed a following of dedicated and passionate female followers.
This powerful series of portraits features contestants at the event where they are fighting for the for the world, inter-continental and British championship titles. Born in Scunthorpe, young photographer James Pogson won the prestigious Jerwood Prize for photography in 2009. This will be the first showing of this award winning work in his hometown.
26 June to 6 October
Photographs by Alison Walker-Smith
Alison Walker smith digitally combines images with different focal depths to produce stunning hyper-real imagery. The resulting photographs are captivating and immersive, sometimes revealing the depths in an aged face or giving a magical fairytale quality to scenes of the mundane.
Visitors may remember Alison's photograph New Pink Shoes which claimed first prize in the 20-21 Open exhibition in 2008. This solo exhibition of Alison's photographs features further poignant observational studies and portraiture by the North Lincolnshire based photographer.
26 June to 4 September - Throwaway World
It is estimated that over 22 billion paper cups are used worldwide every year, with coffee bars and fast food outlets dispensing thousands every second.
For this exhibition, artists have been asked to use a single paper cup as the starting point for a new artwork. This exhibition seeks to highlight the environmental concerns surrounding the use of disposable packaging and breate new life into this humble object that would normally be carelessly tossed away.
28 August to 6 November
David Hancock
Game
Manchester based painter David Hancock is well known for his beautiful portraits, combining historical references with the emotions and environments occupied by young people in the modern world. Taking inspiration from young people’s obsessions with computer gaming and virtual worlds, David has been supported by a grant from Arts Council England to work with young people from the Base youth centre in Scunthorpe to produce new body of work investigating gaming and escapism.
Influenced by his interest in the romantic notion of fantastic and legendry journeying, the project aims to provide a platform in which the young people will become explorers, delving into video games and documenting their adventures. David will create paintings based upon these digital worlds, highlighting the connection between the hugely detailed and immersive backgrounds and similarly idealised landscapes found in Romantic painting.
11 September to 30 October
More Pieces Of Eight
The Eight Art Group is a group of adults with varying degrees of leaning and physical difficulties who meet regularly at the gallery, to make art, enjoy the exhibitions and take part in workshops and activities.
Since they have been using the centre they have become an integral part of the community at 20-21, making vibrant and inspirational work, influenced by the art and people they see and meet during their visits. More Pieces Of Eight is the second exhibition by the group and features work across a variety of mediums, styles and subjects.
18 September to 4 December
The 20-21 Open Exhibition 2010
One of the highlights of the exhibition programme, the annual 20-21 Open Exhibition of Contemporary Art and Sculpture returns. The show features work by artists from across the region selected by independent judges who will award prizes donated by local businesses.
Artists from Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire are invited to submit work for the exhibition. Handing in will take place on Thursday 2, Friday 3 and Saturday 4 September. First prize this year will be £300 plus and will include the opportunity for the artists to exhibit their work as a solo exhibition at 20-21.
For the first time, the Open exhibition is happening earlier; from September to December to coincide with the Insight Open Studios event, which showcases the work of artists from across North Lincolnshire.
25 September to 27 November
Paula Chambers
Bird
Paula Chamber’s unsettling and work uses objects nostalgically associated with mothering and child rearing, subverted by their manifestation in unsuitable or culturally significant materials. For Bird she uses, digital imaging, model making skills and dolls house accessories to create a series of contemporary dioramas.
These unsettling sculptures reference the Victorian art of Anthropomorphic Taxidermy, in which stuffed animals are dressed as people or displayed as if engaged in human activities. Housed in individual glass cases, native British birds dressed up Beatrix Potter style inhabit scenes of a disturbing nature in which they seem to play an ambiguous role, hinting at darker undertones.
From 9 October to 29 January 2011
Andy Goodall
Downtown
Bradford based photographer Andy Goodall presents an examination of the urban environment of European cities, including Berlin, Rome, Barcelona, Lille, Strasbourg, Pisa and Sienna. Others images feature cities closer to home such as Leeds and Bradford, and like most urban environments reveal a vibrant blend of shapes, patterns, styles and cultures. Many show atmospheric images of the trademark architecture of European cities, while others concentrate details often, overlooked by tourists and locals alike.
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