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Art goes to heart of industrial wasteland
By Charles Heslett.
ONCE it was used as a workshop to spray paint cars.
But a different kind of painting will be going on display at a disused warehouse in the former industrial heart of Holbeck.
Artists Vicky Lucas and Andy Broadey are busy turning the empty shell nestled under railway arches in Bath Road into a public art space.
On Friday, May 30, the pair, who met while doing an MA in Fine Art at the University of Leeds, will open their show, Separations.
The exhibition features paintings, sculptures, films, performances and working installations by nine northern artists, including Vicky and Andy.
It will run until Thursday, June 12, and is part of the re-birth of an area plagued by vice and decay in the aftermath of industrial decline.
Vicky, 27, who hails from Wakefield, said: “Andy and I are interested in the process of art production.
“We also both wanted to use a space whose original purpose wasn’t for putting art in.
“We were put in touch with Michael Canning. who’s involved with the Holbeck Urban Village management project. and he found us this warehouse.
“The council have been brilliant and have waived the rates and Network Rail are charging two-thirds of the normal rent.
“It’s still going to cost us 1,000 out of our own pocket, as we couldn’t get an Arts Council grant, but we were determined to go ahead with it.”
Alternative
Vicky, who lives in Headingley, Leeds, and teaches photography at Park Lane and Wakefield Colleges, added: “I think the North needs something like this.
“Projects like this happen in London all the time but we wanted to do something for artists living up here.”
Nick Cass and Kelly Cumberland, from Leeds, will be among those exhibiting.
Mike Ferguson, Susan Massey, Ruth Scott, Phil Slocome and Andrew Warstat make up the group which Vicky and Andy found using Leeds-based artist datebase Axis.
Andy, 30, from Barnsley, who is studying for a PhD in art processes at the University of Leeds, said: “The university has a very strong art department.
“But graduates find they come out and there’s nowhere to show their work in the city.
“So they are often forced to go to London to get some exposure.
“We wanted to offer an alternative and hopefully this will be one of a series of exhibitions in buildings like this.”
Separations is backed by small business landlord Spacia, Leeds-based arts organisation Lumen, Leeds City Council and Holbeck Urban Village.
Volunteers are still needed to help to man the show which is open from noon to 5pm,Tuesday to Saturday. Email v_a_lucas@yahoo.co.uk.
charles.heslett@ypn.co.uk
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Friday 25 May 2012
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