A dazzling cocktail of Hollywood, a modern choir, a D.J troupe and art collections from four Liverpool artists heralded the arrival of Liverpool Art Month at Camp and Furnace.
THE ART SHOW Spring/Summer 2012 blasted out of the furnace with fire, passion and energy, masterminded by artist Matt Ford and Liverpool’s Dot Art.
If Liverpool sophistication was a currency it would have to be Millie Dollar. Although not performing at this Art Show (Millie stunned the crowd at the Autumn/Winter spectacle with her Burlesque charm), Millie floated around the venue like a star from 1930’s film noir, with a slick sensuality.
Actor Alan Cummings was on hand to interview the participants for an up and coming show about regional culture, to be broadcast this Autumn on Sky Atlantic.
Sense of Sound heightened the atmosphere with a set of soul lifting tunes, followed by the melodic mesh of Cantmix,Wontmix,Shdntmix,Dontmix to energise the crowd and really get the cultural bash booming.
Matt Ford showcased two new catalogues of work: The LIVERPOOL Collection and The BRUISE Collection.
With the Liverpool Collection, Ford boldly separated the Three Graces into a triptych, the norm is to package the three individual jewels in the Liverpool Waterfront crown all together in one canvas.
By isolating the pieces of Architecture, Ford focuses on the individual splendour and beauty of each of the iconic buildings.
The highlight of the collection has to be the eye piercing image of the Cathedral, looking like it belongs to a medieval archive.
The BRUISE collection takes inspiration from a new local play of the same title on the subject of domestic violence.
The works highlights Ford’s exploration of taking inspiration from one medium (fringe theatre) and see what happens when the two synergise.
The signature piece based on the Psychological Ink blot test was snapped up within the first hour of the exhibition by celebrated International dress designer Philip Armstrong.
As Armstrong designs for the likes of Lady Gaga, this piece of art may well end up in one of her videos.
BLACKSOUP’s surreal comic book images of Liverpool being attacked by giant robots are executed with technical skill and humour.
JOHN WHITELAW’s pieces on Liverpool consist of words surreptitiously hidden in the composition, reminding the viewer of the wealth of talent and excellence that makes up the pool of life.
DANIEL JOHN’s take on Liverpool breathes life into the new buildings cropping up in the metropolis.
A calm collective of colour littering the canvas in an experimental style. All four artists succeeded in offering a new vision of the Liverpool landscape.
The Camp and Furnace venue was the ideal choice, as it is distinctively a part of at Liverpool’s historical heritage, but not afraid to embrace the new.
The whole evening epitomised the current position of Liverpool, rising Phoenix style out of the ashes, this little port is ready to again take its place back at the head of the world stage.
Art, Music and mirth, my kind of night! and not a pantomime dame on acid like Scouse girl in sight.