Exhibition to bring Bolton and Paderborn artists together

The Lines in the Sand exhibition will bring together artists, painters and sculptors from Bolton and its twin town Paderborn at Bolton Museum.

German artists will make their way to the town for a special celebratory event on the exhibition’s opening day.

Bolton Council executive cabinet member for culture Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said: “It’s fantastic to see such artistic partnership working with friends from hundreds of miles away in our twin town, Paderborn.

“As we welcome them to Bolton, I am looking forward to seeing the incredible work of the artists, especially those that attended the University of Bolton.

Solid Air series, 2023 Andy Smith Oil on canvas (Image: Bolton Council)

“Exhibitions like this enhance the towns cultural offer and bring something new, educational and exciting for our residents and visitors.”

Bolton was first twinned with Paderborn after Mayor Cllr Jack Foster, travelled to Germany for an official signing ceremony in July 1975.

The town also held its own ceremonial signing ceremony in April 1976.

Riemekepark 1, 2023 Olav Schiedel Broken rooftiles (Image: Bolton Council)

Now nearly half a century on the Lines in the Sand exhibition has been organised by the Standard Collective, made up of former students and tutors from the University of Bolton.

The group was formed in 2016 while they were at university together with this set to be their seventh show.

Gold Rim Set, 2023 Svenja Langer Coffee set; fragments of Euro banknotes (Image: Bolton Council)

The exhibition will feature a mix of artistic styles and processes and will explore a range of subjects, from the “mundane to the monumental.”

One of the works, Riemekepark, 2023, is made from the broken shards of roof tiles and other traces left by the tornado Emmelinde as it tore through Paderborn on May 20, 2022.

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The artist, Olav Schiedel, recalls the chaotic aftermath of the storm, as roof tiles lay smashed on the streets, fallen trees blocked the paths and windows were destroyed.

Artists from Bolton will include Liam Ainscough, Rob Gittins, Andy Smith, Alison Timmins, Denis Whiteside, and John Wineyard.

 The artists representing Paderborn’s contemporary art scene include Svenja Langer, Wolfgang Safer, Mona Schäfer, Olav Schiedel, and Simone Schindler-Wieners.

The exhibition will be launched at 2pm on Saturday, February 17 and will run until Sunday, March 31.