Barrow-based ArtWorks – ArtForAll is appealing to artists and writers to contribute to a fun new project, Return to Sender, aiming to raise money for veterans. All you have to do is create a postcard that will feature in an exhibition – and then be auctioned for charity.
Creative souls – both artists and writers – are being asked to create a piece of artwork the size of a standard 6” x 4” postcard, and send it to ArtForAll, to arrive no later than 15th May 2023. It could be anything you can fit on it – a comic, a painting, a poem, a limerick, an illustrated haiku, a photograph, a sketch, a knitted piece, or be made of textile, jewellery, glass, ceramic, felt, crochet, printmaking – the options are wide open!
“Your work needs to fit, fold, roll, to the size of a postcard,” explains organiser Sharon Tait. “You can design a book, map, pop up but it has to be postcard size.
”It can be anything you like. But if you need inspiration – look to Elvis!
Or the mail. You could design your own stamp, too.”
Your art could even be thought-provoking, inspired by work of the veterans, the soldiers who this project hopes to raise money to support.
ArtForAll will hold an exhibition of submitted work in Barrow, in June. They will then hold a silent auction, and all money raised will go to a veterans group working in Barrow and Furness area.
ArtWorks is a volunteer-led organisation, created to raise money for smaller local charities in Cumbria, who provide support for mental health and well-being, to help raise awareness and the profile of the charities they work with, and raise the profile of local artists that join in ArtWorks activities; and to work with other community organisations who want to decorate parts of their buildings with original artwork. These places can only afford the cost of materials. ArtWorks can provide an artist to work collaboratively with them.
To date, they have worked with the Dova Unit, Dane Garth, creating numerous murals, Dalton Leisure Centre, Brisbane Park Infants School! George Romney Junior School, and, the charity, SAFA, which aims to help people who self harm.
All their projects place arts at its core, aiming to create events that involve people regardless of if they consider themselves to be “no good at art, I can’t draw a stickman” through to “I’ve exhibited my work regularly”.
Their projects aim to get communities making their own art to fundraise, to challenge artists to create new works and promote mental health and to create new environments where art can be created.
Over 100 artists continue to support their aims, and new artists join regularly.
Some people and groups – local schools, youth clubs, art organisations and others – have received a direct invitation to apply to join in with the Return to Sender project, which is supported by another Barrow-based arts organisation, BarrowFull, and supermarket chain Asda.
“But everyone is invited! Anyone!” Sharon enthuses. “A group or individual. You don’t have to be an ‘artist or craftsperson’. Every piece we receive will be exhibited.”
Well, what are you waiting for? As Elvis said himself now “A little less conversation a little more action please…”
• Send in your completed Return to Sender postcards by 15th May 2023 to ArtWorks – Art4All, c/o Sharon Tait, Lakeland House, Abbey Road, Barrow in Furness LA14 1XL
Please include the following information with your postcard: your name or group name, postcode, age and a title for your artwork, the medium used, and a very brief description about you (or your group) and what you do
• Join the Art4All group on Facebook here
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.
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