Can you be part of dark art exhibition?

BUDDING artists could see their works of art hanging alongside that of professionals in a new exhibition - with a difference.

The special event, taking place at the Grosvenor Shopping Centre, invites children to take part in Art in the Dark - a glow in the dark art gallery.

Five top local artists are contributing sketches to help inspire the next generation and bring a touch of colour to Macclesfield’s shopping centre on Tuesday, August 13.

One unit will become an artist’s playground with paintbrushes, aprons and canvasses giving children everything they need to let their imaginations run wild from 11am to 1pm.

The unit will then be converted in to an art gallery with a twist. It will be in total darkness and illuminated only by the art created by Macclesfield’s future artists earlier that day.

Those pieces will be joined by neon sketches from the five-star painters, while adults and children from Space 4 Autism, the locally-run charity group, have also contributed their own pieces.

Ed Kennedy, centre manager at Grosvenor Shopping Centre, said: “Everybody loves to draw and paint creative pictures and we are encouraging as many local children as possible to come down and bring a splash of colour to the Grosvenor Shopping Centre this summer. I can’t wait to see the gallery packed full of glowing pictures at the end!

“We’re also very excited that five top local artists have contributed to this event and are pleased that they were so keen to support this local initiative and inspire the town’s future artists.”

The five pieces were sent in by artists Ralph McGaul, Mark Warrington, Erika Groeneveld, Jacki Clarke and Mike Thorpe, who will be on hand to observe and lend his expertise to aspiring painters on the day.

Jacki Clarke, a Fine Art graduate from Newcastle upon Tyne, added: “I was interested in taking part in Art in the Dark as the challenge of creating art that is intended for darkness rather than the light was exciting.

“The school holidays offer a less stressful time for children to be able to take part in activities and allows them the freedom to explore and experiment at their own pace to broaden their knowledge, learn new techniques and approach familiar subjects in new and interesting ways.”