New Gallery Space Opens
in Northwich
The Lightfoot Letters
Sat 9 Feb to Fri 15 March 2013
VAC Gallery, 97 Witton Street, Northwich CW9 5DR
Next to Northwich Library in Brunner Court.
11.00am - 4.00pm daily (closed Wednesdays and Sundays). Admission is free.
An unusual and thought-provoking exhibition, featuring recently unearthed, personal letters. The exhibition, a fusion of textile art, poetry and social history by Warrington artist Maria Walker and Northwich poet Angela Topping, has been inspired by a bundle of old letters which were discovered by chance in a Cheshire antiques shop.Maria Walker purchased the letters on a whim and five years later she met the poet Angela Topping, only to discover the strangest of coincidences - the letters were written by Angela’s grandparents. Inspired by this amazing coincidence Maria and Angela decided to collaborate artistically and stage an exciting exhibition of textiles, art and poetry.
The letters were written during 1923/4 by members of the Lightfoot family, living near Widnes, to their daughter, Frances, who had gone to live in Manchester with an Aunt. The letters portray an intimate picture of the life of a working class family.
Maria Walker’s textile artwork explores the narrative contained in these letters, using a combination of ephemera, photographs, letters, books, garments and drawings. Each of her pieces tells a story, using lines from the letters or lines from Angela’s poetry. Angela used her own childhood memories in her poetry, along with the new stories she has discovered in the letters.
the artists
Maria Walker is a textile artist living in Warrington. She has been exhibiting regularly both as a member of Textile 21 and as a solo artist. Her work has been published in books and magazines and some of her work is on permanent display in galleries across the country.
Angela Topping is a widely published poet living in Northwich. She has performed and been poet in residence in a wide range of venues and is the author of five full length poetry collections and four chapbooks, one of which accompanies the exhibition.
Visual Arts Cheshire Website