PRESS RELEASE June 2024 For immediate release
Buxton Fringe’s Visual Arts category is stronger than ever with 14 entries across a wide range of media and genres.
Audiences will have the opportunity to talk to artists, buy their work and take a peek inside some of Buxton’s iconic buildings with three large scale exhibitions taking place over the Fringe. Art at the Crescent finds Peak District Artisans showcasing an exciting exhibition of contemporary artwork including painting, prints, ceramics, jewellery, photography and textiles. This is followed by the return of the Fringe Award nominee Art in the Octagon providing an opportunity to meet artists and see demonstrations in oils, pastels, watercolours, sketching, silk painting, wood carving and lots more at over 30 stands. Visitors will also meet renowned guest artist Rob Wilson. The Great Dome Art & Design Fair hosts the region’s premier group of creatives. Art lovers will have the opportunity to buy original work from the person who made it and admire this stunning location.
Another multi-artist event, The Freedom Trail at the Green Man Gallery, offers people the chance to discover how resident artists have answered the question “What does freedom mean to you?” Visitors will also be able to view the gallery’s vibrant Summer Collection at the same time.
On a more intimate level artist, Paula Hobdey invites Fringe-goers to Paula’s Art Pad to view a selection of birds in mixed media as well as a variety of landscapes, animals, portraits and more. Last year’s visual artist winner Tracey Coverley returns in Stitched Up! (Again) featuring her amazing stitched portraits of a host of friends. Longtime Fringe performer and supporter Sam Slide shares a photo book of Fringe memories spanning ten years from his Fringe debut in 2014 in My Buxton Fringe at the Green Man Gallery. Also at the Green Man, Jeff Perks in collaboration with Michael Rosen explores the history of slavery using original linocuts and sculptures to illustrate Rosen’s poem John Bull in an exhibition including work by children from Litton Primary School.
More immersive experiences are on offer with last year’s Fringe Award Winner Hugo Edwardes working with Christopher Robinson to bring us Harmsworth's Home Doctor Cut Up where they have taken pages and illustrations from the 1920’s Harmsworth Home Doctor and rearranged them with an accompanying slideshow and soundtrack. Pots, Pans & A Splashing Machine meanwhile offers a mesmerising, dreamlike installation about life on a kidney dialysis machine. Terry Naylor, a dialysis patient himself, has created a surreal reworking of Dr Kolff’s original machine built in Nazi-occupied Holland, using sausage-skins and an old washing machine! Babbling Vagabonds offers an opportunity to embark on a captivating exploration of creativity at their uplifting exhibition, My Heart Has Wings and It Can Fly, created by their vibrant community, Meet and Makers.
For art lovers who want to participate as well, this year’s Fringe offers High Peak Photography Club’s Buxton Photo Challenge 2024 with a chance to join Buxton's own Photomarathon - a photography challenge to take six photos on six themes in six hours. Meanwhile at Sip, Sit And Sketch, the Pump Room transforms into a sketcher's haven. Buy a drink and borrow sketching and painting materials to capture the moment.
Younger art lovers are offered the challenge to find all the flowerpots on this year’s trail in Buxton Flowerpot Trail.
Fringe Marketing Officer Stephanie Billen says “Despite the closure of the Buxton Museum, the Fringe Visual Arts category has bounced back with some fine exhibitions plus a chance to get involved yourself. It is great to see a number of well-regarded returning artists and events alongside new and exciting entries.”
To find out more, Fringe-goers can pick up a programme, see www.buxtonfringe.org.uk or download the free Buxton Fringe App.
The Fringe wishes to thank High Peak Borough Council, its Fringe Friends and the town’s many Fringe supporters and venues.
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