A NINE-week art exhibition, which aims to spark conversations around the representation of women in a changing world, has been unveiled at The Bowes Museum.
Blimey! Lucretia is the work of a Darlington-based female-led artist collective called “blimey” – made up of core artists Amanda Marshall, Nicola Golightly, Vicky Holbrough and Carol Sommer – and funded by Arts Council England.
The exhibition looks at the way women have been portrayed in classical and contemporary culture.
Using 16th century artist Guido Reni’s famous work, The Death of Lucretia, as a focal point, they created textile patches and then in a series of sessions the public were also asked to create stitched art. The sessions were held around a specially commissioned triangular table featuring Lucretia’s image. More than 500 patches were then carefully sewn onto denim jackets. The jackets are being displayed using dozens of mannequins in the museum’s gallery of religious art.
Ms Holbrough said: “We came up with the concept of the patches and sewing as Lucretia was considered virtuous because of sewing and we thought of using this as a ‘badge of honour’ with individuals’ response on them.”
Enlarged versions of the patches have also replaced permanent paintings for the duration of the exhibition, which runs until Sunday, May 10. The artists will be giving an insight to the project and sharing their thoughts on the work and have arrange several talks on April 8 and April 15 from 2.15pm until 2.30pm.
