Launch Night – North: Identity, Photography
Thursday 5 January 2017 / 6pm-9pm
Speeches at 6:15pm from:
Simon Mellor
Deputy Chief Executive, Arts & Culture, Arts Council England
Cllr Wendy Simon
Assistant Mayor & Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism & Events, Liverpool Labour
Sarah Fisher
Executive Director, Open Eye Gallery
Lou Stoppard
Curator, North: Fashion, Photography, Identity & Editor at SHOWstudio
Over the past 40 years, Open Eye Gallery has exhibited some of the world’s most inspiring and insightful photographers. We have championed the agency of photography as art, as social and historical document, and as integral to the cultural impact of music, fashion, architecture and many other disciplines.
We will be unveiling a brand new Wall Work featuring snapshot-quotes from 40 people who have shaped and grown the organisation, reflecting upon their experience of Open Eye Gallery.
We are delighted to launch our 40th birthday year with a brand new exhibition exploring the influence of the North of England on fashion and visual culture, North: Identity, Photography, Fashion.
The exhibition features work from some of fashion’s most notable image-makers. Early photography by Jamie Hawkesworth and Alasdair McLellan, dating back to the first years of their careers, is shown alongside historic prints from Glen Luchford and Nick Knight. Original prints from Luchford’s first ever shoot, a session with The Stone Roses for The Face in 1989, will be on display. Additionally, work by contemporary artists such as Turner Prize winners Mark Leckey and Jeremy Deller will be exhibited.
Co-curated by Lou Stoppard and Adam Murray.
Featured artists are Alasdair McLellan, Glen Luchford, Corinne Day, David Sims, Jamie Hawkesworth, Jason Evans, Alice Hawkins, Mark Leckey, Jeremy Deller, Raf Simons, Paul Smith, Virgil Abloh, New Power Studio, adidas, Elaine Constantine, Christopher Shannon, Maxwell Sterling, Simon Foxton, Ben Kelly, Stephen Jones, Gareth Pugh, Nick Knight, Peter Saville, John Bulmer, Peter Mitchell, Nik Hartley, Claire Barrow, Humphrey Spender, Thom Murphy, Ewen Spencer, Brett Dee, Humphrey Jennings, Dave Turner, Rob Williams, David Ellison, Scott King, Shirley Baker, Greg Leach, John Davies, John Stoddart, Martin Roberts, Michael Robinson, Michelle Sank, Paul O’Donnell, Stephen McCoy, Tom Wood, John Skelton.
Kindly supported by adidas.
Exhibition continues 6 January – 19 March 2017.
