Visual feast for festival goers – in town or from comfort of your sofa
WIRKSWORTH Festival organisers have announced a programme of performances and exhibitions for the September event, which will see a mix of online and live attractions.
The festival’s main exhibition will see a return of Wirksworth artists, Johnny White and Amanda Wray as their touring exhibition Human Machines comes home, with its collection of kinetic sculptures that will take over The Maltings, in the heart of town from Saturday, September 11 until Sunday, September 19.
Over the same weekend, visitors will also find a work in progress exhibition from artist in residence Liane Lang called The Monumental Landscape as well as Mónica Alcázarduarte’s indigenous Mexican view of the moor and Ilam-based folk artist
Sue Prince’s Isolation Chronicles.
Headlining a performance and talks programme on Tuesday, September 14 will be alt-folk band, Ranagri, who will appear alongside the Wirksworth Novelists, An Audience with Pat Shenstone, The Chorus Crew with Andy Martin and “Judas! When Dylan Went Electric” with John Lindley.
The festival has also commissioned a new short film - with artist in residence, Liane Lang teaming up with up-and-coming Derbyshire-based filmmaker Tom Dwyer to explore the local landscape. Liane has also made a short film documenting the London-based artist’s time living and working in Wirksworth.
Oganisers have decided not to host their much-loved Art and Architecture Trail, which would normally see 150 artists show their work in around 70 venues throughout the town.
However, following on from the huge success of last year’s Online Festival, they are running their first Online Art Prize sponsored by Longcliffe Community Fund, which provides a digital gallery and shop bringing artists and audiences together from the comfort of their own sofas to exhibit, browse, vote for and buy art from August until September.
Wirksworth Festival chairman Carol Taylor said: “Earlier in the year we had all hoped the pandemic would have slowed down enough for us to run the 2021 festival in its usual way, however we heard from our local community that running the Art and Architecture Trail which involves over 70 private venues opening their doors to thousands of visitors, wasn’t a favourable option. “However, despite initial disappointment for the second year in a row, we are now really excited to launch a number of exhibitions and performance events over the festival weekend and into the following week. “On top of this, we will share our online film commission following our artist in residence, Liane Lang, plus we are delighted with the response we’ve had so far to our first Online Art Prize and can’t wait for the next stage of this, which will see the People’s Prize vote, more prize winners and selling art through the online gallery and shop.”
The Wirksworth Festival programme starts with the online release of the Festival Film commission on Friday, September 10 from 7.30pm and exhibitions run on Saturday and Sunday, September 11 and 12 - with the exception of Human Machines which runs until Sunday, September 19. Performances and talks are programmed from Friday, September 10 until Tuesday, September 14.
The Online Art Prize gallery and people’s vote opened last week and winners will be announced when the online shop opens on Monday, September 6.
To find out more, visit www.wirksworthfestival.co.uk
Running theart and Architecture trail, which involves over 70 private venues opening their doors to thousands of visitors, wasn’t a favourable option.
15th-century painter Francesco del Cossa.
The historical section tells the story of Francesco, who is actually a woman. Her father realises that her artistic talent will never been fully realised unless she binds her breasts and pretends to be a man. The painter returns from heaven to Earth as a spirit to watch over George.
Reviews of the novel have been very mixed, which was reflected in our discussion. A Washington Post critic writes “playfully brilliant… gender-blending, genre-blurring story, which bounces across centuries, tossing off profound reflections on art and grief ”.
Both sections are written in a stream of consciousness style. The novel is multi-layered, jumping back and forth between memories, school projects, friendship and parental relationships.
The reader needs to be alert as to how a choice of song, poem or situation illustrates the narrative, exploring specific themes. (Look at the lyrics of Wrecking Ball).
Smith, speaking through George’s mother, explains “I subscribe to the belief…that language is a living, growing changing organism.” The evolution of language and style can be compared to that of art through the ages.
Look out for subtle references to gender fluidity, life and death, and grimness and beauty.
Trevor’s detailed analysis of the book helped the group to look beyond the complicated narrative, and I will be returning to it for a second read. Details of the frescoes can be found on the Web Gallery of Art, created by Emil Karen and Daniel Marx.
On September 6 we will be discussing The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes.
THE Rotary Club of Ashbourne revived the Annual Charity Horse Ride on August 8 at Carsington.
Over 170 riders braved the poor weather to enjoy an 11-mile ride from Owslow Farm overlooking Carsington Water onto the hills over to Brassington and back on a circular route.
Members of the club ensured that all road crossings were safe and all gates were open when riders approached so allowing an uninterrupted ride, a feature hugely appreciated by the participants.
One rider fell and was recovered from the hills by the Derbyshire Mountain Rescue group and taken to hospital for a check over.
Food and drink was provided at the base for hungry riders and helpers, together with muchneeded warm drinks.
The Rotary club hopes to have raised approximately £4,000, from which a substantial donation will be made to Riding for the Disabled at Scropton.
The organisation is bringing new horses into its activities as it rebuilds after the pandemic.
The Rotary Club of Ashbourne is very grateful to Rotarian Peter Oldfield, from whose land the ride began, and to all the landowners over which the riders passed for their generosity and cooperation, without which the ride could not take place.
Charity riders make light of poor weather Rotary Club of Ashbourne