Exhibition opens Friday 4th June 2021 – Saturday 25th September 2021

Gallery opening hours:
Wed – Sat – 10.30-3pm

Presenting ‘IN SHIPSHAPE’ Exhibition and Summer Events Programme

Raven staging recreates 1980’s iconic large-scale props from the Titanic, Chinatown and Paris Thornton parties. Re-live life at South Square through the years.

Following an eight-month capital renovation and international pandemic South Square Centre has been preened and polished and is in shipshape and ready to set sail. One of the largest investments South Square has seen from National Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council amongst others, will ensure that this valuable community asset stays sea-worthy for the next 99 years.

Our inaugural exhibition and summer activity programme takes inspiration from South Square’s roots as a DIY, community-led arts space born in 1982. Originally renovated by unemployed graduates on a Manpower services scheme, South Square Centre’s early years were defined by three eventful parties with distinct themes; Paris Thornton, Chinatown and Titanic – being the event which sticks in most revellers’ memories. Large-scale props such as a giant iceberg, lighthouse and ships funnel hoped that the maiden voyage of South Square would not end in a similar fate to the infamous ship.

Nearly 40 years later, we revisit these personal stories recollecting early memories of South Square as an arts centre presented as audio mixes set against a backdrop of recreated party props. We also present audio recordings from former cottage residents, exploring South Square’s long heritage as a home for working families in Thornton. Heritage Activities Officer Alice Withers uncovered these intriguing accounts of life at South Square, whilst working with volunteers trained in oral history collection throughout 2020. You’ll hear about the family connections and strong community bonds, laughter and friendship, which have become the lifeblood of South Square today. Listen in to conversations from yesteryear of Thornton, a meeting of friends, the starting of something new.

Full length audio works featured in the exhibition will be, for the first time, available to take away and listen to at home.

A summer events programme of workshops, wellbeing activities and music to follow.

South Square Centre
Thornton Road
BD13 3LD
01274834747
southsquarecentre.co.uk

Dionne Hood
Exhibition opens Friday 2nd July – Sunday 29th August 2021
Exhibiting in Plenty at the Square Cafe

No booking necessary to view the artworks.

Dionne Hood identifies as a mixed media artist, who’s paintings combine embroidery, paper clay, precious metal clay, paper, watercolour, ink and found objects to create colourful assemblages. Displayed as a collection in South Square’s Plenty at the Square Café, Dionne’s paintings present a visual vocabulary. The lines of thread being objects in themselves, representing a movement, an action – not just as a means of creating colour or texture to sit on the surface of work. Individual words also acting as objects with their own easily accessible meaning and interpretation as well as their line, colour, space and feelings evoked.

Dionne’s work has always been a response to very personal responses to the happenings of life. Objects and images are used to describe very personal reactions to life experiences, and may not offer the possibility of a coherent ‘story’

Dionne is currently studying at Bradford Art School for a MA in Visual Arts. Dionne also work as a Library Development Officer bringing literature, culture and creativity to the people of Bradford. Many of the works displayed have been created in the last 18months and form a body of work which will be included in Dionne’s MA studies.

Raven staging recreates iconic large-scale 1980’s props in our garden and courtyard spaces. Interact with our Titanic themed props including the ships wheel, lifeboat, and lighthouse.

Play the part in a photo-opportunity backdrop which pays homage to South Square’s famous Titanic party which took place in 1982.

Drop-in garden activities throughout our normal opening hours. Refreshments available from Plenty at the Square and The Watchmaker available to enjoy in our garden and courtyard. Exhibitions also open during these times.

No booking required.

The majority of work in this exhibition was produced during the travel restrictions of lockdown. Restrictions which prevented me from walking and recording Pennine paths and trails.

It was during this time that I came across an article on the painter Degas, in it he said ‘It is better to draw what you cannot see any more but in your memory. It allows a transformation in which memory and imagination work together’.

His advice could not have been more appropriate given the situation. Therefore the main body of the work on show, originates from a mixture of memory, imagination and reminiscences over the past twelve months.

Gallery will be open for viewing 10.30am – 3.00pm Wednesday to Saturday.

Exhibition opens Friday 4th June 2021 – Saturday 25th September 2021

Gallery opening hours:
Wed – Sat – 10.30-3pm

Presenting ‘IN SHIPSHAPE’ Exhibition and Summer Events Programme

Raven staging recreates 1980’s iconic large-scale props from the Titanic, Chinatown and Paris Thornton parties. Re-live life at South Square through the years.

Following an eight-month capital renovation and international pandemic South Square Centre has been preened and polished and is in shipshape and ready to set sail. One of the largest investments South Square has seen from National Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council amongst others, will ensure that this valuable community asset stays sea-worthy for the next 99 years.

Our inaugural exhibition and summer activity programme takes inspiration from South Square’s roots as a DIY, community-led arts space born in 1982. Originally renovated by unemployed graduates on a Manpower services scheme, South Square Centre’s early years were defined by three eventful parties with distinct themes; Paris Thornton, Chinatown and Titanic – being the event which sticks in most revellers’ memories. Large-scale props such as a giant iceberg, lighthouse and ships funnel hoped that the maiden voyage of South Square would not end in a similar fate to the infamous ship.

Nearly 40 years later, we revisit these personal stories recollecting early memories of South Square as an arts centre presented as audio mixes set against a backdrop of recreated party props. We also present audio recordings from former cottage residents, exploring South Square’s long heritage as a home for working families in Thornton. Heritage Activities Officer Alice Withers uncovered these intriguing accounts of life at South Square, whilst working with volunteers trained in oral history collection throughout 2020. You’ll hear about the family connections and strong community bonds, laughter and friendship, which have become the lifeblood of South Square today. Listen in to conversations from yesteryear of Thornton, a meeting of friends, the starting of something new.

Full length audio works featured in the exhibition will be, for the first time, available to take away and listen to at home.

A summer events programme of workshops, wellbeing activities and music to follow.

South Square Centre
Thornton Road
BD13 3LD
01274834747
southsquarecentre.co.uk

Raven staging recreates iconic large-scale 1980’s props in our garden and courtyard spaces. Interact with our Titanic themed props including the ships wheel, lifeboat, and lighthouse.

Play the part in a photo-opportunity backdrop which pays homage to South Square’s famous Titanic party which took place in 1982.

Drop-in garden activities throughout our normal opening hours. Refreshments available from Plenty at the Square and The Watchmaker available to enjoy in our garden and courtyard. Exhibitions also open during these times.

No booking required.