Rochdale News | News Headlines | Friends of the Rochdale Art Gallery enjoy Touchstones latest exhibitions
Date published: April 21, 2022
Assistant Curator Bryan Beresford and members of the Friends of the Rochdale Art Gallery
The Friends of the Rochdale Art Gallery enjoyed the latest Touchstones exhibits at their recent meeting on Thursday 14th April.
Touchstones Assistant Curator Bryan Beresford guided attendees around the current exhibits:
- Gallery 1 Maud Sulter (1960-2008): The Center of the Frame, where imposing photographs represent contemporary black artists, writers, performers and activists, dressed as the nine Greek muses (until April 24).
- Gallery 2 Whose voice? Artist Simeon Barclay, poet and playwright Liz Mytton and local residents (“co-creatives”) spent time with the borough’s collections beginning in 2021. They share their responses through objects, works art, personal property and live performances (until July 3).
- Galleries 3 and 4 were devoted to the national tour of the Football Art Prize 2021. It had opened for the vernissage on March 11 and to the public from Saturday March 12. It won’t all be over when he leaves on June 26, 2022, as he will leave for Sheffield and Sunderland until February 2023.
The first 2021 winner of £5,000 was a portrait of Roy Keane by Toby Michael. The range of media and styles, from ‘naive’ to sophisticated and the variety of exhibits were impressive and fascinating and well worth revisiting.
During the proceedings, two groups of children came from the Touchstone Easter Projects downstairs. The boys and girls came out punching in the air, aiming imaginary balls and dribbling their way to final cup glory, ignited by the images of the beautiful game.
The Friends of the Rochdale Art Gallery meet the second Thursday of each month at Touchstones.
Tea, coffee and cookies are served from 1 p.m. with a guest speaker from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Everyone is welcome. The cost is £3 for members and £4 at the door for non-members.
Annual membership of the group costs just £10 and you’ll be supporting your local art gallery and benefiting from reduced rates on Friends lectures and trips and invitations to private viewings for exhibitions.
For further details please contact Jenny Buckley (Chair, Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery) on 01706 358686 or Mark Doyle (Head of Arts, Engagement and Heritage, Touchstones) on 01706 924555.
Dr. Joe Dawson
