Southport Contemporary Arts Artist of the Month:- "Kate Tidmarsh"

OVER 29 April to 27 May 2023 Kate Tidmarsh will be Southport Contemporary Arts' Artist of the Month. No stranger to Southport, experimental printmaker, Kate Tidmarsh, has been selected as:- Artist of the Month, during May, at the ArtHouse Gallery in Eastbank Street.

Kate began her artistic journey many years ago working as a freelance woven textile designer, designing and selling to the contract furnishing fabric trade. Fast forward (through several careers) to a point in her life when she was eventually able to devote more time to doing what she liked best:- "creating images through exploration and innovative printmaking."

The challenges of her craft persistently provide Kate with the stimulus to push against the boundaries of conventional procedures. Undeterred by any technical applications involved, Kate always rises to each new challenge with her customary enthusiasm for the media:- "Printing has a lot of problem solving and practical considerations running alongside constructing and creating. I'm particularly drawn to the experimental (and slightly unpredictable!) aspects of printing, using unusual materials and starting points to develop interpretations of the world around me. I enjoy the process of developing concepts or ideas, exploring variations and producing work in a series, which printing allows me to do easily. Documenting this journey of exploration is an important part of my work."

Although Kate's individually inked handmade prints exploit a wide range of printing techniques such as:- monoprint, drypoint, lino print and collagraph printing, she always welcomes the serendipidy of the big reveal when pealing back the plates:- "I'm most happy combining these technical skills with a:- 'what would happen if' approach, resulting in unique exciting investigations and outcomes, and while I often work on a series or theme, each finished piece is individual and a 1 off piece of art."

Working from her canal side studio in West Lancashire, Kate draws upon her location to feed her imagination:- "My current work is grounded in my immediate canalside environment, which feeds into both my more traditionally produced handprinted works (printed on my etching press), and my current wider explorations which now include:- 3D and folded / layered works of art. This currently includes works in plaster, acetate collage work and folded paper forms."

Certainly not 1 to be missed, this latest showing by Kate Tidmarsh will be on display at the:- ArtHouse, Eastbank Street, Southport, from:- 29 April to 27 May 2023.

For more information about Kate Tidmarsh, you can visit:- KateTidmarsh.WixSite.Com, and you can buy her work from:- ETSY.Com, or follow her on:- Instagram.

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine:- "125 Years of Impact."
Report by L Trollope.

125 years ago, the Liverpool School Of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) opened. It was the 1st institutions of its kind in the world. 1 of Liverpool's many pioneering achievements. On the back of the anniversary, on 13 April 2023, the 1st of 3 evenings of talks were delivered, in a very comfortable, well appointed lecture room within the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine's Continued Learning Hub, and what an interesting evening it was. Like many, I had thought of LSTM in terms of academic studies of exotic pathogens and unfamiliar diseases but the topics of that evening were very different.

The 1st talk was very competently given by LSTM’s Archives expert, Information Governance and Compliance Officer, Karen Blower, and, alongside colleagues, is the custodian of the institute’s archives. The title of her talk was about:- "The Influence and Legacy of Mary Kingsley on the LSTM."

Miss Kingsley was the daughter of a Doctor who worked in Africa. Whilst her parents were alive, she lived the, probably stultifying, life of a young woman from an affluent background. She had an enquiring mind and made good use of her father's books and papers to acquire a fair degree of knowledge. Once her parents died however, she did the almost unthinkable for a woman in her situation; she took her self off to Africa to continue her father's work. She sought funds from people she knew, including shipping magnates like Holt, who appreciated that a healthier work force meant more profit. Miss Kingsley died at the age of 38. LSMT’s Museum holds items of interest.

Ms Blower commented on Mary’s contributions, but also on how perspectives and opinions have altered over the years and how things need to evolve.

This led on nicely to the 2nd talk by Amina Ismael, LSTM’s Senior Community Mobiliser. who rapidly gained our interest in another pioneering venture which has gained momentum because of Covid pandemic! This is LSTM’s decision to reach out into the community to better engage the residents in their own future. The areas concerned are amongst the most deprived in the country and uptake of the Covid19 vaccine was very low. So began interviews with locals, seeking their opinions and views of the situation. These were published, attributed and matched with photographs. Feedback of responses to their comments were given and an ongoing dialogue created. This is strengthening and is being extended to other issues of public health.

Interestingly, some guidance has been received from Africa were similar enterprises have been very successful and are now part of health service. We are accustomed to:- "sending" to Africa... Its good to acknowledge that we can also receive good advise.

There are 2 further lectures to come in the near future. Treat yourselves to an interesting evening or 2.

In celebration, LSTM has planned many other events and activities. To find out more, go to:- LSTMed.AC.UK. You can also You can find out more about where the next LSTM Past, Present, and Future events by following LSTM on:- Twitter, Facebook, along with LinkedIn,  and also learn more on the LSTM's YouTube Channel.

LSTM have told us that they would like to thank National Lottery players for their support, in enabling LSTM Past, Present, and Future to go ahead.