Southport Contemporary Arts: Artist of the Month

2 stalwarts of Southport Contemporary Arts will be sharing the spotlight as:- 'Artist of the Month' during October 2023, at the ArtHouse in Eastbank Street. Linked by their appreciation of all things tactile, textile designer Jo Landy and ceramicist, Linda Smith, will be exhibiting distinctive examples of their craft.

Born in Yorkshire, but living in Formby for over 50 years, Jo Landy is no stranger to the art scene across the Region. Always keen to share her expertise with others, when she graduated as a mature student from Liverpool John Moores University in 1997, Jo went on to teach textiles in further and higher education.

Upon retiring from Southport College, Jo became a founder member of Southport Contemporary Arts where she still continues to pass on her knowledge in the Creative Textiles workshops she regularly delivers at the ArtsLoft in Eastbank Street.

Jo regularly takes stimulation from the distinctive backdrop on her doorstep in Sefton:- "As a local textile artist, I take inspiration from the pinewoods and coastline in the Southport area and also from my travels. Photography plays a large part in research and my garden often provides floral detail."

Jo skilfully expresses her own personal interpretation of the widening role textiles plays in contemporary art and design through her embracive approach and her all inclusive attitude to the craft. "The exploration of colour always informs my work and I express that by using mixed media, including:- painting, papers, plant material as well as fabric printing and stitch; nothing is:- 'off limits.' I love collecting used fabrics, dyeing and printing as I go and then developing imagery and colour with Collage and stitch. Free motion machine stitching and hand stitching defines shape and composition."

This freedom of expression characterizes Jo's experimentation beyond the accepted notion of representation by reconfiguring its basic components into a more subjective personal language. Trialing Collage and assemblage helps Jo to open up new and diverse avenues of exploration in her work.

Southport potter, Linda Smith, similarly likes to keep her options open when preparing to work with clay:- "Some designs require planning and sketching whereas others are instantaneous. My work is quite varied with ideas coming from life's daily surroundings. Some pots are used as a base to construct caricature animals, hopefully to bring a smile."

Linda freely admits her current appetite for all things ceramic is no overnight craving:- "I fell in love with clay in my mid twenties, after starting a night School class. The obsession had started and soon I was volunteering at the local College to help with recycling clay, mixing glazes and helping with student projects. After attending Loughborough Art College summer School, I mastered the wheel and set up my own studio in the garage. Early 1980s, as family came along, we moved to properly set up a studio and shop as it was now a business not hobby."

For the next 20 years she practiced as a fulltime potter with 2 employees operating from her East Midlands' studio base and shop in the village of Kegworth which she later transferred over to Warwick in early 2000 before finally relocating to Ince Blundell in 2015.

Always keen to share her enthusiasm with other, Linda previously undertook a course at Loughborough University to teach adults and went on to successfully run part-time night/day courses at a community College and various community hubs across Loughborough. Now, after 30 years, although:- 'officially' retired, Linda is enjoying pottery again having recently discovered Southport Contemporary Arts:- "My pottery is thrown on the wheel, then decorated using different techniques. I scratch designs:-'sgraffito' through layers of coloured slip (liquid clay) or apply paper shapes or hot wax to the pot before the slip is brushed over which eventually burns off in the kiln leaving the original base colour. After the pots are bisque fired, underglaze colours are painted on before a final glaze application. Paper and wax resist can be used in the same way using glaze instead of slip."

This exclusive showing is certainly not 1 to be missed. Jo and Linda's work will go on display at the:- ArtHouse, Eastbank Street, Southport, from:- 30 September to 28 October 2023. The gallery is open on:- Tuesday, Friday. and on Saturday.

Grassroots teams in Cheshire, East Yorkshire, Merseyside and West Yorkshire score new kit from Northern

NORTHERN has supplied grassroots rugby teams in:- Cheshire, East Yorkshire, Merseyside and West Yorkshire with new kit and equipment to help improve the training experience for young players.

It follows a competition organised by the train operator earlier this year that saw over 4,000 people apply for support for their local club.

Some of the teams to benefit from the new kit and equipment; which includes:- steeden balls and bags, bibs, tackle shields, water bottles and cones; are:-

• Capenhurst Junior Rugby (Chester, Cheshire)
   

• Halton Farnworth Hornets (Widnes, Cheshire)
   

• Beverley Braves (Beverley, East Yorkshire)
   

• West Hull (Hull, East Yorkshire)
   

• Clock Face Miners (St Helens, Merseyside)
   

• Brighouse Rangers (Brighouse, West Yorkshire)
   

• Fryston Warriors (Fryston, West Yorkshire)
   

• King Cross Park RLFC (Halifax, West Yorkshire)
   

• Stanningley AFRLC (Leeds, West Yorkshire)

Members of Stanningley AFRLC recently had the chance to meet 2 of their rugby heroes; Ash Golding from Huddersfield Giants and Sophie Robinson from Leeds Rhinos; and show off their new kit.

Stuart Taylor, Head of Commercial Development at Northern, said:- "We're always looking for ways to support the communities we serve. Rugby has a strong following among our customer base and the aim of this competition was to encourage more young people to take up the sport in their local area. Financial support for local sports groups can be tough - so for us to be able to provide them with new kit and equipment is something practical that will ensure more people have access to this great game."

The train operator has now launched a follow up competition for young people to create a piece of artwork that celebrates their favourite Super League moment.

The winning design will be displayed at the 2023 Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford in October.

For more information and details of how to get involved, visit:- NorthernRailway.Co.UK.

Northern is a long term supporter of Rugby Super League, working in partnership with rugby clubs across their network to ensure the sport is accessible for all.