Barnaby Art launch hailed a great success

Visitors to Macclesfield enjoyed the first weekend of Barnaby Art 2014, as 30 venues opened their doors, offering 36 exhibitions by over 100 artists all around the town. People explored spaces and places they’d perhaps never been before, including Paradise Mill, the Gothic Savage Tower and historic Charles Roe House.

Arts Council funded exhibitions include InsideOutHouse by Hilary Jack, an intriguing installation outside the Town Hall in Market Place (built from found furniture) exploring themes of industry and sustainability. The sculpture includes a soundtrack of itself being built and smoke rising from the chimney, much to the amusement of passers-by.

Solitude, by Emily Speed, creates a place for quiet contemplation in the church of St Michael’s Gothic Savage Tower. Inspired by tales of the Macclesfield Anchoress, Dame Joan, who lived there alone during the 16th century, the space captivated smaller visitors, who imagined themselves as fairytale princes and princesses.

The Silk Museum was alive with activity, offering a taste of Macclesfield’s industrial past with a clutch of interactive and multi-media exhibitions. Owl Project artists performed acoustic demonstrations using the movement of the looms, and visitors were encouraged to learn how Jacquard looms work through a series of workshops from Gemma Latham, Michelle Stephens and Mid Conversation.  Owl Project’s Play the Jacquard Loom – sound art amongst the looms in Paradise Mill – and Charlotte Zelie Arcedeckne-Butler’s ‘garments for light-fingered weavers’ Pockets of Paradise can be seen at The Silk Museum until Sunday 29 June.

At a launch party to celebrate an exhibition of steampunk-inspired photography and artwork by Simon Brown, Steve Thornhill and Carol Hutchinson, partygoers dressed up for the occasion. Many of them will take part in the Industry-themed Barnaby Parade on Saturday 21 June at 2pm, winding their way around town with hundreds of other Maxonians in colourful fancy dress.

Barnaby Art continues throughout Barnaby Festival until Sunday 29 June. All art exhibitions and events are FREE.

For more information, and to buy tickets for some of the other programmed events, please visit www.barnabyfestival.org.uk