Yahoo News Open-air gallery featuring Lemn Sissay, Rob Rinder and Jeanette Winterson to launch as part of huge festival
A brand new open air gallery of celebratory art has launched today. The city-wide open-air exhibition spanning 130 sites features work in collaboration with Jeanette Winterson, Lemn Sissay and Rob Rinder.
Taking inspiration from the people's time at The University of Manchester, the exhibition marks the run up to the Universally Manchester Festival - a four-day festival to mark the University’s 200th birthday. Taking place between the 6-9 June, the festival will feature speakers and performers including Professor Brian Cox, GRRRL, Ed O’Brien and Professor Daniela Delneri.
Organisers say the artworks are a 'fusion of creativity', and are each designed by different Manchester illustrators. The inspiring quotes from the colourful personalities have been given new life and can be found in venues including Mayfield Park, St Peter’s Square Metrolink, and on over 130 digital billboards and poster sites across the city.
Contributors include award-winning author and Professor of Creative Writing Jeanette Winterson, and poet and former Chancellor Lemn Sissay. Their quotes will appear alongside those of alumni and drag performer Cheddar Gorgeous, comedian Josh Widdicombe, actor Mathew Horne and barrister and broadcaster Rob Rinder.
The Josh Widdicombe artwork was created by Ellie Thomas, Lemn Sissay by John Owens, Rob Rinder and Mathew Horne by Beth Wilkinson and Cheddar Gorgeous by Louise Hardman.
Speaking about creating a visual representation of the Cheddar Gorgeous’ quote, which has been painted as a mural by Open Minds, in Mayfield Park, Louise Hardman said: "Drag performer, producer, academic, and visual artist – Cheddar Gorgeous is a Manchester powerhouse.
"For this piece, I was deeply inspired by Cheddar’s playful and unapologetic approach to their art and activism; exhibited by the vivid colours, bold type, and whimsical patterns within the design.
“Through the incorporation of illustrated theatrical iconography, the artwork spotlights Cheddar’s impressive lifelong career in the performing arts, in addition to their conceptual approach to storytelling and self-expression. It’s been an utter honour to have had the opportunity to help visualise Cheddar’s beautiful words."
A mural of Rob Rinder’s words, illustrated by Beth Wilkinson, will also be painted live, by Open Minds at Mayfield Park on Thursday, 9 May, to coincide with the release of hundreds of free tickets for Universally Manchester Festival, which are available on the University website.
Welcoming over 60,000 people, Universally Manchester Festival will encompass everything from poetry to physics, music to medicine, and computing to creative writing. Events will pop up in labs, concert theatres, outdoor spaces and the University’s well-known cultural spaces including The Whitworth Art Gallery and Manchester Museum.
Appearing on the lineup will be Professor Brian Cox, Professor David Olusoga, CBeebies presenter and Down’s Syndrome ambassador George Webster, Radiohead's Ed O’Brien, international supergroup GRRRL, Dr Sarah Crowther, immunologist Professor Sheena Cruikshank, director of Jodrell Bank Professor Tim O’Brien, exonerated postmaster Tom Hedges and many more.
Free ticketed events will be available to book from Thursday 9 May, with early access available for those that sign up for information on the Universally Manchester Festival website.
