Top UK street artists at York Minster
Illuminating York, 30 October – 2 November 2013
York Minster has revealed more information about a bold new art showcase taking place as part of its York Minster Nights event, when street artists will bring their skills into the Nave of the gothic cathedral for four nights of live art.
Artists from Leeds-based art co-operative, Black Rose, will be joined by world-renowned street artist, Inkie to create a number of specially-commissioned artworks that use York Minster, its architecture and its own artworks – including statues and stained glass - for inspiration.
The live art event, which is part of Illuminating York 2013, will take place in the Nave of York Minster, with artists working on a number of individual pieces. Four light boxes will be covered with intricate designs, whilst one giant work will be created across four large hoarding boards by the artistic team.
Joy Gilleard, artist and co-founder of Black Rose, has been co-ordinating the creative team behind the event. “It is both a huge challenge and an immense privilege to undertake a commission like this – we are much more accustomed to working in modern, contemporary urban settings than in a gothic cathedral, but you couldn’t ask for a better place to find all kinds of inspiration for the designs,” she says.
Her thoughts are echoed by co-founder of Black Rose and fellow event co-ordinator and artist Neil Parkinson. “Art is about trying to find answers and beauty, so whatever the age and style of the artist, ancient or modern, it is all part of the same thing,” he explained.
“I am a big fan of Gothic architecture and to paint in the Nave of a building like this using the interior details as inspiration is a dream come true,” adds Inkie, whose recent accolades include being named as one of Timeout’s Top 100 Creatives, life painting in the Houses of Parliament and working for CocaCola at the 2012 Olympics. His works are popular amongst celebrity collectors, and he has been described as ‘Banksy’s right-hand man’ following a number of collaborations.
For the light boxes, the Black Rose team will be working on Perspex with low-odour and non-toxic spray paints, glass paints and acrylic pens, which bring with them their own challenges, as the way that the layers of paint work together is very different from a wall surface. “This also means you can try out new techniques – layering paint up to increase opacity or scraping paint off to allow light through in clean, sharp lines,” adds Joy.
“Illuminating York is all about people seeing familiar places in a whole new light, and we are hoping that this is exactly what happens for visitors to York Minster this year,” Helen Moore, Community Engagement Officer at York Minster, explained. “We are really hoping that young people who might not think that they have any connection with this ancient building come and see that as well as a place of religion and worship, it is a gallery of art and architecture and a truly spiritual place for people of any faith or none at all.”
The artists will draw inspiration from the cathedral’s historic graffiti and medieval stained-glass, including restored panels from the Great East Window currently on display in the Orb. “When I first saw the panels from the window in the Orb, I thought that they were just prints of the designs, rather than the actual 600-year old stained glass panels,” comments Joy. “When I realised they were the genuine article, I was surprised by the detail in some of the features, and indeed, the lack of detail in others, as well as the cheeky bits and pieces that the artists incorporated into the designs. As street artists, in many ways we are their modern counterparts – we continue to bend the rules and leave our mark through our own works.”
The four principal artists are also creating two printing screens for the events, which visitors will be able to use to create their own limited-edition print to take home. “We’re limiting this to just 50 posters per evening, so these will be very limited editions and each will be unique,” adds Joy.
The live art will join a host of other things to see and do in York Minster during the city-wide Illuminating York festival. This includes the chance to light a candle of remembrance as part of a giant spiral of light in the Chapter House – part of the Minster’s All Saints and All Souls celebrations – wander around the cavernous empty Nave, stripped of all chairs, and add their own mark to another large artwork. There will also be refreshments in a pop-up café within the Minster hosted by the National Trust.
York Minster Nights runs from 6.00pm on 30 and 31 October and 7.00pm on 1 & 2 November, with last admissions at 8.30pm. Admission is £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. Ticketholders also receive 50% discount off daytime admission to the Minster.
Tickets are available online at www.yorkminster.org, by calling the Box Office on 01904 557208 or from the York Minster admissions desks.
For more details, visit www.yorkminster.org.
ENDS
For further media information, please contact:
Jay Commins – Pyper York Limited
Tel: 01904 500698
Mob: 07810 546567
Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk
