Amongst the newcomers are a Kevin Crozier, a blacksmith new to the trade, who produced metal art pieces in metal especially for the exhibition, Dora Freer, painter and ‘Steampunk goddess,’ Jonny Swift who crafts mixed media pictures and Carla Butler who has created a series of prints entitled ‘The Victorian Exotics.’
Shaun Du Val, known for his ethereal local landscapes and Pippa Barrow who has moved to stoneware ‘Hybrid Bugs’ and produced a very Steampunk caterpillar, will also be displaying their creations.
The exhibition will also include silver jewellery from Lisa Le Brocq, paintings from Drena Collins, textiles from Ros Varrie, prints from Jools Holt, new artists Janet Meise, Helena Mundy, Pauline Taylor, Steve Beal, photographers Gary Power and Gina Socrates, tree ring prints by Neil Harvey, Maria Tarrant and many more. Eleanor Balston who has had a change of style to fit in with the title, will present her ‘Steampunk Fish,’ amongst other Steampunk heavily beaded textile panels.
Pictured: Pippa Barrow’s Steampunk caterpillar.
Also exhibiting are Anne Kelly, a textile artist from the UK, and Alison Hulme, who will be running workshops on 23, 24 and 25 February and 24, 25 and 26 February respectively.
To mark the start of the exhibition, the Gallery is hosting a ‘Steampunk circus’ event on 22 February. Starting from 19:00, the evening will include live performances by Parish 13 and the Jersey Ukulele Band, magic tricks with Royston South as well as a photo booth, a peephole board, popcorn machine, drinks and a buffet. Fancy dress is not mandatory but highly recommended – dress to impress says the invitation – as champagne prizes will be given out to the best dressed.
Pat Robson explained: “To start off a very exciting year for The Harbour Gallery and the local not for profit charity that runs it, Art in the Frame Foundation, we thought that we needed an exhibition with a difference, a big difference, not only with the normal drinks and speech opening! It needed to be joyous and fun and running until 18th March.”