OPENING TIMES

Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th July, 2021

Friday 9th - Sunday 11th July, 2021

Saddleworth artist Lucy George’s debut solo exhibition chronicles her artistic journey from childhood, school and onto her foundation course at Manchester School of Art. From September 2021 Lucy will be studying Knitwear Design at Nottingham Trent University.

INTERVIEW

“Living in Diggle and growing up amongst the Saddleworth landscape has impacted on my creative sense of shape and form. Whilst attending Saddleworth High School, I was able to embark on an overseas trip to China, to experience a contrasting landscape and culture. This trip developed my knowledge and understanding of how history and culture can influence art and design globally. I would later refer back to this experience, when exploring pattern and shape, through print making for A Level Fine Art.

During study release time at Saddleworth High School I was fortunate to be mentored by knitwear designer, Jacinta Bowie. Whilst collaborating with Jacinta, I have published crochet designs in national magazines from the age of 15. By the age of 18, in 2020,  I published my first solo garment design for Inside Crochet. This success ignited my interest in textiles and knitwear, leading to my study of GCSE Textiles and then at A Level at Xaverian College in Manchester.

The tutors at Xaverian College enriched, widened and strengthened my skills in drawing, painting, print and constructed textiles. The overseas trip to New York enabled me to view many significant works in art history which have subsequently influenced my practice as an artist, especially the works of Sarah Sze and David Tudor with their installation pieces. 

New York’s impressive skyline reignited my interest in architecture, leading to my final A Level project on Derelict mills, based on photographs taken in Delph mill and rural buildings in Northern Ireland. The neon lights, graffiti art and music scene in New York at this time, forged my interest in film, photography and digital art. My digital collages have been particularly influenced by the collaged poster art layered in the streets of Brooklyn. 

Back home, here in the UK I have visited many galleries (such as the Yorkshire Sculpture Park) and significant exhibitions to view influential artist’s and designer’s works, such as ‘House Style’ at Chatsworth’s House, Alexander McQueen, Christian Dior, Barbara Hepworth and Patrick Heron, to name but a few. 

Although 2020/21 has been an unusual time in my life, my Foundation in Art and Design course at MMU, has been a remarkably positive experience, benefiting from a body of experts in their fields of work. Sharing work virtually has enabled me to see a whole range of student’s work, critique of my own work as well as the work of others. This course has also really spurred me on to develop my own designs using a knitting machine, leading to my application to Nottingham Trent University for the degree in fashion knitwear. 

This summer I will be working on crochet and hand knit projects for Clare Gelder’s and the “dragons” Touker Suleyman and Tej Lavani’s company, Wool Couture, whose products are sold online and through retail outlets such as Harrods, John Lewis and Dunelm. Collaborations with local knitwear designer Jacinta Bowie continue for, Inside Crochet, Crochet Now and Simply Crochet national and international magazines. I will embark on my sandwich degree course in knitwear Design at Nottingham Trent University in the Autumn.”

EXHIBITION PHOTOGRAPHS