Exhibitions

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.

21 November to 30 January 2010
The 2009 Open Exhibition of Contemporary Art

Once again our Open exhibition returns, presenting work by artists from across the region. Anyone aged sixteen and over from North Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire or North East Lincolnshire was able to put work forward for selection, and this year's judges were sculptor Wayne Markwort, artist Lizzie Jackson and her daughter Kate Jackson, former vocalist with The Long Blondes.

As always, artists of all levels and abilities entered, and the judges chose to reflect this in their selection, picking 70 artworks from just under 300 submissions. The judges said of their selection that they wanted artworks that were 'bold in their expression' and 'reflected the spirit of Lincolnshire'.

Prizes have been donated by local businesses and winner James Usher has been given the opportunity to display his work in a solo exhibition at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre in 2011.

7 November to 27 March 2010
Susan Bowman
Lack

Shown in the courtyard at 20-21, Lack features sculptures by Norwich based artist Susan Bowman. Each piece is created from a singular item of clothing soaked in plaster or acrylic solution, retaining the form of a female human figure.

The title 'Lack' references the writings of psychoanalyst Jaques Lacan who equates lack with desire. The female subject of the exhibition is both absent and present in these sculptures. The would-be object of desire is revealed in the shapes created through clothing and contours of the material. The resulting sculptures are alluring, haunting and beautiful.

9 January to 13 March 2010
Marian Van Der Zwaan
The Last Supper

Netherlands born painter Marian Van Der Zwaan presents a multicultural 'supper' where the apostles are represented by female figures from different cultures and religions.

This international touring show will be exhibited at several venues across Europe and the USA. The exhibition will be accompanied by a soundtrack from Pauline Oliveros from the Deep Listening Institute New York.

19 December to 21 March 2010
Jim Hunter
A Short Grand Tour

In Jim Hunter's Venice studies he explores the potential of watercolour through a series of large-scale semi-abstract paintings responding to the city's historical and cultural heritage.

A Short Grand Tour is accompanied by a specially commissioned text by Professor Simon Olding who writes about Jim's newfound sense of freedom in his work and the time he spent in Venice.

A text+work touring exhibition from The Arts University College Bournemouth.

19 December to 6 March 2010
Sean Williams
Between here... and here

Pointillism is a method of creating images from individual dots of colour to form an image that appears whole from a distance. Sean has used the technique to create a series of paintings of dwelling places and urban landscapes.

Sean's paintings are a painstaking meditation on his subjects and the act of committing images to the painted surface. The resulting artworks are evocative portraits of isolated farms, housing estates and cityscapes; an exploration of the wide variety of different places we choose to live.

6 February to 20 March
Peep

Curated by Leeds based graduate Michael Burkitt, Peep is an innovative group show featuring artists from across the region who have been asked to create artworks that will be viewed by peering through peep holes.

13 February to 15 May
Culture, Alienation, Boredom and Despair

Taking its title from a lyric by Welsh rock band the Manic Street Preachers; Culture, Alienation, Boredom and Despair features contemporary artists exploring the identity of young people, within a society that is often unwilling or unable to understand their needs. The exhibition will feature paintings and installation work by some of the UK's leading artists, accompanied by work made in collaboration with young people in the region.

Artists Included: Jack Davies, Jeremy Deller, Cut Ltd., Andrew Glinka, David Hancock, Amanda Spawforth, Guy Tarrant and Steve Upton

13 March to 22 May
Lee Coleman
Memoirs of Mr Faceless

Scunthorpe based artist and illustrator Lee Coleman makes unusual and imaginative drawings exploring the dilemmas and emotional struggles of everyday life. Each drawing features a faceless character in a range of emotional or challenging scenarios or situations.

Some are a celebration of popular culture such as a group of Mods setting out to ride their motor scooters or a man poised over a drum kit, ready to play. Others concentrate on the grittier side of life, such as the awkwardness of being in the 'wrong end' at Saturdays match and portrayals of the homeless or condemned.

20 March to 5 June
Graham Underhill
The Persistent Object

Lincolnshire based artist Graham Underhill presents a new selection of paintings, sculptures, texts and videos exploring the significance and resilience of the humble everyday object. Many of the objects we use, covert, discard or collect throughout our day-to-day life remain long after we are gone.

From ancient shards of pottery in museums to abandoned burnt out cars and plastic bottles we are surrounded by objects that are no longer used, but remain significant in our culture, or at least simply remain. Using the tradition of still life painting as a point of departure, Graham explores the 'persistence' of everyday objects to endure in life and art.