The Power of Neon - Now and Then - Light Up the North Conference Session
Event Information
About this Event
This session will take you on a magical tour starting with an introduction to the history of neon, particularly in relation to Blackpool, presented by Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Chair in Early Film and Popular Culture, University of Sheffield.
We will then transport you to the Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool, home of the world famous Illuminations to experience the gallery’s latest contemporary light art exhibition ‘The Lights’ which features neon works by artists such as Tracy Emin, Joseph Kosuth and Tony Heaton OBE. Grundy Curator, Paulette Terry Brien, and Tom Ireland, Operations Officer at the Grundy and co-curator of ‘The Lights’ will talk about the organisation’s recent focus to build a contemporary light based art collection, about the challenges of installing and showing light works ending with a Q&A.
Completing the session will be Gemma Saunders, Programme Producer for Quays Culture in conversation with neon artist Jonathan Lang who creates unpredictable one-off artworks that invite playful interaction; he will be talking about his passion for neon and his new work being shown this December at Salford Quays; we will end with Jonathan answering questions from the audience.
This session will be of interest to artists, festival producers, curators and anyone who loves neon and wants to understand its development and how neon is being used by contemporary artists today.
You will learn some amazing facts you never knew about neon and see a range of exciting work from international artists working in the medium…it will also make you want to book that visit in person to Blackpool to see the work in reality both inside the gallery and outside on the promenade! (subject to COVID-19 restrictions).
This session is part of Why Light – The Future of Light Festivals. Join us for the third Light Up the North conference being held online on Weds 9 and Thurs 10 December.
If you’re a festival producer, event manager, artist, practitioner, curator, local authority, funder or other organisation interested in light art festivals then this conference is for you.We will send you instructions and a link to join in the week prior to the event.
