Exhibition focuses on life at sea
ARTLOVERS on Teesside can enjoy a new exhibition with a seafaring flavour as part of the run-up to the Tall Ships Race.
With less than a year to go before hundreds of thousands of people descend on Teesside to see the magnificent tall ships, lots of events have been planned. One is a maritimethemed art exhibition.
When the Boat Comes In opened at the weekend at Hartlepool Art Gallery and will run until Saturday, November 5. The free exhibition features significant works of art from the collection of Hartlepool Museums Service that are rich in a maritime history spanning centuries.
On display are pieces by Charles
Napier Hemy, JW Carmichael, and William Henry Chambers amongst other artists who have been inspired by the coastline of the British Isles and the industries that grew from it.
Angela Thomas, Art Gallery Curator at Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “We’re all incredibly excited to welcome back the Tall Ships in 2023 and their return gives us an opportunity to showcase the remarkable works of art we have here in Hartlepool.
“The exhibition features some of the most significant artists from the 19th and 20th centuries and their evocative portrayals of our national maritime history.”
When the Boat Comes In explores the long held fascination artists have had with the sea. Visitors can expect to see vivid paintings of perilous storms bringing to life the untameable power of the waves, while pastoral scenes of fisherfolk demonstrate the dependency of coastal communities on the sea for their livelihoods.
Each picture tells a story of the relationship between this seafaring nation and the surrounding waters.
Organisers of the Tall Ships Race Hartlepool 2023, which will take place over four days, say excitement is building as the town continues to ramp up its preparations for hosting the event from Thursday, July 6, to Sunday, July 9.
Hartlepool Council is inviting people to consider how they might get involved. Volunteers and sponsors are needed to ensure the smooth-running of the event. Businesses
are also being invited to come forward if they wish to have a presence at the event. This may be in the form of an exhibition stand, as a stall holder, a catering concession or even as an artist.
The council is asking for expressions of interest from people by submitting an online form available at www.tallshipshartlepool2023.co.uk The Tall Ships Race Hartlepool 2023 will take place at Hartlepool Marina with the platoon of old-style boats gathering at Jackson’s Dock.
Visitors will be able to enjoy mock gun battles, trips out to sea and tours around the ships. Other fun activities like street theatre, live music, outdoor markets, as well as a whole host of education opportunities, will also form part of the festival.