The Art Gallery of Northumberland (AGN) invites the public to view solo-exhibition by local artist Kelly Kirkham | Sight Seer.
In this exhibition, the viewer is invited to follow a trail of figurines and puppets through an otherworldly carnival installation.
Animal puppets descend from the ceiling, making their way towards a ring that contains what they’ve all come to see—a garden where strange figures romp over rocks and hide behind trees.
Balanced on slender legs, their feathered heads emerging from horse-like bodies while the sounds of a summer fair surround them, a sight to be seen. There are a lot of puppets, big and small.
Why puppets?
Kirkham is interested in the many ways something can be a puppet.
Puppets can get away with saying things and behaving in ways that we can’t or won’t.
She likes their connection to story, show and performance.
They can be different and strange looking while at the same time mirroring our own human emotions, mannerisms, and behavior.
Watching and being watched runs throughout this exhibit, with ambiguity around the motives of the watchers, both big and small.
A variety of materials and techniques, including painted-on cloth and papier maché, armatures, mold making and plaster.
Kirkham’s love of colour, pattern and contrast, especially between pale and saturated, smooth and rough becomes a colour story of the installation which is inspired by small town carnivals, with their flashing lights and garish colour.
Also on view is an intimate exhibition by Fiona Crangel | [en]shroud.
Here the artist, explores our coming of age as a transition exacted by the pandemic, the idea of the reframed self, rewritten social contrasts and how we perceive the world.
Exhibiting paintings, drawing and photographs presenting the intimate physical sensations evoked by the boundary setting protocols of the pandemic.
This exhibition invites the viewer to explore an intimate space within the Gallery, lined with Tyvek; a material typically used as a protective layer for our homes.
A Tyvek constructed boilersuit references the effects of the pandemic on the artists body, while transparent photographs placed in the same material cover the window, acting as both invitation and barrier to the outside world.
Both exhibitions are on view until April 23, current gallery hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.
As Northumberland County’s largest public art gallery, the AGN plays a leading role on local, regional and national stages through exceptional exhibitions, programs and collaborations.
It strives to be an inspiring institution that serves as an educational resource, a hub of artistic and cultural energies for local citizens, and a tourist attraction for all audiences.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
