11 May 2010
Underwater Weekend
Towner, the contemporary art museum
15 and 16 May 2010
Take the plunge with Towner this weekend and dive into a fascinating festival of events and activities! 'Underwater Weekend' is a celebration of all things underwater, in honour of Towner’s latestexhibition, and is an exciting opportunity to engage with the wonderful watery works of art on display. Events and activities to suit all ages will be happening across the weekend including film showings, artist-led workshops and talks from curator Angela Kingston and Senior Keeper at Brighton & Hove Museums, Stella Beddoe.
On Saturday visitors can participate in a Talk & Walk with the exhibition’s curator Angela Kingston at 12pm, attend Stella Beddoe’s talk on deep sea mythology at 2pm and drop in any time to see a series of short contemporary films being shown on a big projector screen. On Sunday visitors can drop in for a free workshop with artist Rachel Cohen to create their own watery works of art and then settle down for the afternoon screening of thrilling aquatic children’s film Finding Nemo.
The 'Underwater' exhibition, which runs at Towner until 20 June, is about the experience of total submersion, and brings together the most compelling underwater-inspired artworks of the past decade. On display are works by 10 international contemporary artists including a mesmerising video from one of the world’s leading film artists, Bill Viola, a unique underwater sound installation by Klaus Osterwald, and Cut and Scrape’s motorised submarine which lurches and flashes in response to your movement, as it fends off the attack of a giant squid!
Spokesperson Cllr Susan Morris is pleased with the plans for the weekend: “I am so proud to see Towner continually encouraging its visitors to really engage with the works they have on display in the gallery. Art and culture have a huge impact on society and Towner works so hard to ensure that art remains accessible to the local community and the wider region, not only through its award-winning education and outreach programmes, but through fun, interactive events like Underwater Weekend!
“Underwater is a fantastically varied exhibition, and the weekend looks set to be incredibly interesting, with amazing insights from Underwater's curator and Brighton & Hove Museums’ Senior Keeper and lots of hands-on activities for families and young people. I am very much looking forward to Underwater Weekend and I look forward to seeing everyone there to enjoy what Towner has to offer.”
Underwater is Towner’s first touring exhibition and will subsequently tour to Spacex in Exeter, FerensArtGallery in Hull, Bluecoat in Liverpool and Tullie House in Carlisle.
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays 10am – 6pm. Admission to Towner is free.
