Currently running at The Civic, Barnsley until 16th November 2022 is Art of Ping Pong, the latest exhibition of ping pong paddles from the eponymous organisation, hand crafted by a selection of contemporary and well-loved artists – including Jamie Reid and Fiona Stephenson.
Side by side with the exhibition which opened 10th September, is an online auction to raise money for The Civic and Choose Love, an international charity which supports refugees and displaced people across the world.
The exhibition includes artworks from established greats like Jamie Reid – best known for his décollage cover of the Sex Pistols’ albums Never Mind the Bollocks – Gavin Turk and Dame Zandra Rhodes.
Also featured is work by well-loved artists of the moment like Jeremy Deller, Kate Gibb, Fiona Stephenson, Sam Shendi , and Morag Myerscough, along with today’s freshest talent like The Fandangoe Kid, Marylou Faure and Kris Andrew Small.
Today, Fiona Stephenson paints 1950s-style retro pin-up paintings traditionally in oil on canvas to keep that authentic feel and she works mostly for advertising and packaging companies. But downthetubes fans will recognise her as a comic letterer and colourist for DC Comics, 2000AD and Warhammer 40,000.
Fiona still has links with comics. One of her pin-ups was on the cover of DC Vertigo’s first issue of Bodies, written by Si Spencer and a pin-up version of Black Hammer (for Dark Horse) was a variant cover for the comic of the same name.
Get along and check out the exhibition, and, most importantly, make a bid in the auction to win a unique artwork!
Art of Ping Pong sits at the nexus of art and play. Fusing art with functional design, they create vibrant objects of art to populate our living spaces. These objects also have a real life, dual, purpose: to bring joy and a connection to others through play.
They are also on a mission to become the most spirited art and play brand on the planet, so they have a strong focus on supporting good causes. Since their inception, they have raised over £25k for charity.
The Civic exists to provide Barnsley and the surrounding communities with a culturally significant voice.
Their aim is to present a progressive programme of festivals, exhibitions performance and events that relate to the area, social, economic and political attitudes whilst also entertaining and encouraging debate.
The team are passionate about people of all ages and backgrounds having access to the best possible arts and cultural experiences on their own doorstep.
Choose Love does whatever it takes to provide refugees and displaced people with everything from lifesaving rescue boats to food and legal advice. Their work has reached over 3.5 million people and supported over 380 fast-acting community organisations across Europe, the Middle East and along the US-Mexico border.
Everything they do is powered by a vision of a world that chooses love and justice every day, for everyone.
• Art of Ping Pong The Civic, Barnsley | Web: www.theartofpingpong.co.uk | Art of Ping Pong Official Site
• To make a bid head straight to the auction website here: app.galabid.com/aoppcivic
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: downthetubes News, Events, Exhibitions
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