Visual art exhibitions and events with a platform for critical writing
Various locations, Cumbria
30 September – 15 October
Reviewed by: Bryan Eccleshall
Covering the whole of Cumbria for the first two weeks in October with all sorts of non-gallery work (it was on hills, in business centres, restaurants, fields and by lakes and pathways), ‘Fred’ is marketed as an art invasion, but it’s a benign, entertaining kind of assault, bringing smiles to the faces of those who stumble across it.
This is the third annual ‘Fred’ and it goes from strength to strength. There may not have been anyone with a reputation like Jenny Holzer (who was included last year), but the work shown reached out to the public in all sorts of ways.
With sixty or so artists showing at over forty locations it’s difficult to single out particular pieces in such a diverse event, but Graham Martin’s View (made up of exquisitely-produced medical cabinets containing bottles of views and viewpoints distilled into capsules and tonics, coupled with well-written and witty prescriptions – “May induce feelings of the sublime”) stands out as ambitious and original in its approach to the issue of land use and our attitude towards that use. On a lighter note Kate Brundrett replaced part of a dry stone wall with kitchen utensils and accessories, providing a new take on the readymade.
In Ambleside, Margaret James-Barber’s scented suitcases evoked memories of holidays and times past and a gold leaf covered shed (Russell Mills and Ian Walton), drew on the spirit of Schwitters who died in Ambleside just after receiving British citizenship. On the backs of local buses Sally Barker’s recreation of the iconic view up Wasdale in roast lamb from sheep that grazed within that same view turned heads and asked questions about where we get what we eat. Very ‘Fred’.
Richard Box’s Shake Pole was the highest profile piece, attracting media attention from all over the north of England. Consisting of hundreds of fluorescent strip lights planted under pylons on Hardendale Fell, it attracted a fascinated audience who waited each evening as dusk fell and as the electricity leaked from the wires overhead it caused the lights to glow, creating a work that seemed to come alive as you watched it.
The last piece I saw was at the Stainmore Café above Brough. Artist Jana had handed out cameras to truck drivers and encouraged them to take pictures on their journeys around the country. The pick of these were then shown back at the café on a wall converted onto a gallery. It all looked pretty good with a big mug of tea on a Sunday morning.
So that’s ‘Fred’ for 2006. Reaching out by being out there, not afraid to have some fun, but happy to be serious.
Writer detail:
Bryan Eccleshall is an artist, arts administrator and writer.
bryan.eccleshall@virgin.net |
www.bryaneccleshall.co.uk
Venue detail:
FRED
3 Walton's Yard, Market Square, Kirkby Stephen CA17 4QT
No one has commented on this article yet, why not be the first?
To post a comment you need to login
Back to top