Guest Blog by Tony Wynne for Stand Up For Southport
If there’s one art exhibition you see this year make it the Sefton Open.
In fact, don’t see it once, see it twice.
Friday night’s Private View was absolutely packed with people eager to see what the exhibition offered this year; and artists also eager to see where their work was located!
The standard this year is very high and there’s also quite a diversity in the media being exhibited. This comes, in part, from the nature of the artists’ groups that are represented, and there are many.
Guests enjoyed the launch of the 2024 Sefton Open. Photo by Tony Wynne
Apart from Southport Palette Club itself, there are 13 clubs, groups and societies from all over Sefton exhibiting painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography and textile art.
Nawal Gebreel, from the Coastal Creative group, is proud of its students’ entries this year. The group is now in its tenth year and is showing examples of drawing, painting, mixed media and textiles produced by students of all ages and abilities.
Guests enjoyed the launch of the 2024 Sefton Open. Artist Frank Barnes. Photo by Tony Wynne
Artist Frank Barnes has many years of exhibiting his work and his painting ‘Sun, Dawn, Dance’ is one of his entries this year. He states that Sefton, as a borough, has a lot to offer in terms of high quality art from talented artists, and, referring to the standard in the Open, this year more than ever.
Guests enjoyed the launch of the 2024 Sefton Open. Artist Sam Cookson. Photo by Tony Wynne
Former Southport College student, Sam Cookson, who works with the Southport Contemporary Art group, is one of the artists exhibiting sculpture this year. His ceramic, wood and metal ‘As The Crow Flies’ is influenced by 1980s art. Sam describes himself as a ‘maker’ rather than an artist and his work sits proudly in one of the many glass showcases within the galleries.
Jemma Tynan, The Atkinson’s Exhibitions and Learning Officer, commented on how the evening had gone.
Guests enjoyed the launch of the 2024 Sefton Open. Photo by Tony Wynne
“There’s been a fabulous attendance; it’s been one of the busiest previews the Open has ever had. There were a very high level of entries this year and it’s nice to see different types of media being submitted, with ceramics being quite prominent now. The Sefton Open is, indeed, open to artists and groups who have a connection to Sefton. Work is submitted from all over the Borough”.
She added that she really appreciates the way people support the exhibition by not only attending but by buying the artists’ work.
The Sefton Open is at The Atkinson on Lord Street in Southport town centre from Saturday 23rd March to Saturday 4th May 2024. Admission is free.
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