News

Don’t Suffer For Your Art: Exhibition at BLANKSPACE

0 230
Picture from Blank Media Collective
Words by Gabriella Granata
The Title Art Prize 2013 is a competition open to emerging artists working within any medium, concept or scale from across the UK to win a solo exhibition and a £500 cash prize, supported by Blank Media Collectivea non-profit arts organisation that ‘strives to support emerging creativity by providing platforms and opportunities’.

After an overwhelmingly positive response to the call-out to artists for entries, they are delighted to reveal the 23 shortlisted artists’ work to the public at the exhibition launch on 7th November from 6 to 9pm at BLANKSPACE, their exhibition area at 43 Hulme Street.

Among those shortlisted is Bella Leonard, a recent First Class Honours graduate of Embroidery from the Manchester School of Art. Historic textiles and Manchester’s urban environment inspires Bella’s work. She explained,

“The Embroidered Archway intends to be a ceremonial, celebratory piece – welcoming the public to walk through and in-between the suspended layers. Inspired by Manchester’s diverse mixture of architecture, the archway aims to embellish its surrounding textures without interrupting it. Taking inspiration from decorative tiled Islamic archways, the hand stitched patterns of the arch layer over industrial interior and exterior backgrounds. The clear acrylic allows the sculpture to be hung in a variety of environments, exhibiting hand embroidery in new contexts”.

The winners will be announced at a special prize-giving event on 22nd November. Winners will be chosen by the carefully selected judging panel including Kate Farrell from The Lowry, Sarah Perks from Cornerhouse, Maurice Carlin – artist and director at Islington Mill, Manchester-based artist Anthony Hall and Helen Wewiora from the England Arts Council. Blank Media director, John Leyland, said,

Blank Space

“It’s fitting that we’re revisiting the Title Art Prize as our last ever exhibition at BLANKSPACE, and of course we are sad to be leaving the building which has been our creative hub and afforded us so many excellent opportunities to showcase brilliant new work for almost three years. The exhibition will be a vibrant farewell to the space, and we’re extremely excited to announce the shortlist after a long and hard decision-making process.”

The award ceremony will coincide with a special Video Jam on the 22nd November. The arts organisation will move out of the building upon the exhibition’s end on 1st December, to allow for redevelopment of the site.
Gabriella Granata is a Marketing student in Manchester. Follow her on Twitter @GabyGranata.

About the author / 

aAh!

aAh! Magazine is Manchester Metropolitan University's arts and culture magazine.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More News Stories:

  • Harry is Home: From the BRITs to a Manchester one-night-only show – everything to know about Harry Styles’ return

    Featured image: Evangeline Causton  Local lad Harry Styles will take to the stage at Manchester’s Co-op Live for the city’s first-ever Brit Awards, before returning for his one-night-only show on March 6 to celebrate the arrival of his fourth album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. When cryptic billboards bearing the words “WE BELONG TOGETHER” appeared across Manchester city…

  • Society Spotlight: Fashion Society – the creatives redefining Manchester’s fashion scene

    Featured image: Molly Goble and Anna Comerford aAh! Magazine fashion editor Imogen Burgess meets the Manchester fashion creatives rewriting the rules of the industry. Fashion has long been defined by its connection to exclusivity and elitism – an industry where “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” rings true. This phrase, also a…

  • Opinion: “There’s no replacement for third spaces”

    Featured image: Ciara Reynolds and Charle Mooney Every Tuesday, 91-year-old Joan walks from her flat to Turncroft Lane in Stockport to set up for the weekly ballroom dancing. Joan, a dedicated member of Woodbank Community Centre, has been attending ballroom classes for more than 20 years – and she has no plans to slow down anytime…

  • 5 places to live in Greater Manchester after you graduate

    Featured image: Aigerim Zhumabay Life comes at you fast once you leave uni. One of the biggest decisions you’ll make post-degree is where to set up home. If you plan on staying in Manchester, there’s so much more to the city’s suburbs than Chorlton or the familiar sights around the Oxford Road/Wilmslow Road corridor. Greater…