University of Bolton lecturers stage While We Can

While We Can has opened at the Hive Gallery in Market Place Centreand features the work of 15 lectures at the University of Bolton's School of Arts and Creative Technology.

The eclectic show is made up of photographs, embroidery, installation, sculpture, design to illustration.

A special launch took place on Friday - and the exhibition will remain open into October.

Neil Greenhalgh, exhibition curator and lecturer on BA (Hons) Fine Art, said:“This exhibition reflects the wide diversity of creative work made by colleagues across different disciplines in the university.

Picture of Charlotte Wood with her work by Tyler Duncan

"The timing of this exhibition is particularly significant because of the way which the creative industries, and the way in which we teach, in transforming to more cross-disciplinary working, so it’s great to see such a wide range of working methods being displayed in the same show.

"As tutors and technicians, it is vital for students to see us as research informed practitioners, so having the opportunity to show in the centre of Bolton is perfect for us.”

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Dr Steve Speed, programme leader in digital media and content creation, said:"It is great to be part of the exhibition and for us to be able to show the diversity of practices we have in the school. So many of us have either worked or lived in Bolton for a longtime and so have a connection with the town.

Bea Lowe with her work. Picture by Tyler Duncan

"I have been photographing people and events in and around the town for over 10 years, so it means a lot to be able to do something like this here. I think its good for our students to see what we do and to get a sense of our own creativity"

Artists showing their work are Liam Ainscough, Sue Brown, Emma Fazackerly, Neil Greenhalgh, Paula Gregorio, Rob Kirby, Bea Lowe, Melodie Neesom, Faye Power-Griggs, Andy Smith, Rachel Smith, Steven Speed, Tom Sutton, Charlotte Wood and Ged Young.

Ged, programme leader in fine art, said: "It's a great privilege to be exhibiting alongside fellow colleagues in the School of Arts and Creative Technology.

"It's satisfying to see how the creativity of the staff team from different disciplines have come together so well. We are really looking forward to hearing students views about the works in the exhibition."

The exhibition will be open every Friday and Saturday until October 5th and the artists will be around throughout.

Thanks to Tyler Duncan for the photographs of the opening of the exhibition

Picture by Tyler Duncan of Faye

Exhibition highlights

Highlights including intriguing work documenting a recording of every step made along the same path over a six-month period by Faye, a sculptural floor lamp made from cast concrete, powder-coated steel tube and flat bar, glass washing machine door, dichroic halogen bulbs by Tim Sutton.

Charlotte's embroidery blends old and new techniques to create something that speaks to the essence of human growth in a rapidly changing world with a vivid depiction of personal transformation in the pursuit of happiness.

Steve's depicts 'Struggle for Space' through a series of four photographs from his time working as a photojournalist that reflect on how, why and by who space is controlled and how this affects people’s lives.

Emma Fazackerley’s, portrays A Sense of Touch through her work.

Andy's Happy and Glorious and The Real Thing explores the power of symbols, words and images and examines their influence by recontextualising traditional themes.

Paula's work uses an approach of craft and design that strengthens and enhances knowledge, providing new forms of cultural and aesthetic expression contributing to each one's subsistence, valorisation and distinction.

Ged's work that is generated from experiments in printmaking which are then mediated into sculptural objects that play with the spaces not traditionally used in exhibitions.

Liam’s paintings and sculptures which are created as a means of investigating social control and the pervasive nature of surveillance in our day to day lives experimenting with the manipulation of imagery and scale.

Ged Young. Picture by Tyler Duncan

Neil's Study for a Landscape is a series of paintings that explore a sense of longing for fragments of time and place that are just beyond reach.

Sue's work, whose current creative practice focuses on printing methods and experimenting with warm glass processes.

Rob's video work is a representation of a degrading memory of a time gone by; a memory of a loved one now passed; a place you cannot return to.