Plymouth Art Weekender

The following information was provided by the organisers of this fantastic project. For full details, click here.

Now in its 4th year, Plymouth Art Weekender is a city-wide celebration of art, showcasing talent from the city and beyond with a diverse range of events from exhibitions, performances, screenings and interventions to workshops, guided walks and parties!

The Art Weekender promotes Plymouth as an exciting contemporary art destination and, through its inclusive approach, offers a wide and diverse range of activity for all ages including a large array of events and exhibitions throughout the city by artists working in Plymouth and further afield.

This year Plymouth-based artist Laura Denning has been selected for the Local Engagement Commission. Laura, who wowed audiences with her independent project “Benthic Caress” at last year’s Weekender, combines collaboration, curation and, field notes; resulting in film works, soundwalks and other forms of ‘experimental geography’, as well as installations that audiences can take part in. For the Local Engagement Commission, Laura will be working with a series of professional vocalists and she hopes to collaborate with Plymouth’s deaf community to create a sign language choir.

Devon based Go Happen, which has previously developed intriguing journeying works for the Fal River Festival, Inland Art Festival and Stockholm International Fringe Festival, will take on the Open Brief. Go Happen develops expeditions and platforms for new stories.

Cornwall-based Bridgette Ashton has been selected for The History Commission, which has been commissioned in partnership with The Box, an exciting new cultural and heritage centre on the site of the former Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Central Library and St Luke’s Church buildings, which is set to open in 2020 as the flagship building for Plymouth’s Mayflower 400 commemoration. Bridgette is best known for her work with caves, follies and grottoes including the poetic and poignant “Lost Cave Requiem”, which commemorated the demolished Porth Banqueting Hall Cavern. Bridgette has a multifaceted practice encompassing sculpture, print, drawing, installation and publications and previously developed commissions for b-side Festival and Inland Art Festival. For the Weekender she will be working with The Box to develop new work inspired by the discovery of Plymouth’s Cattedown Caves and their connection to the destruction and further reconstruction of Plymouth.

Photo credit: Rod Gonzalez and Field Notes