Three Counties 2017

I recommend a trip to Burslem to view an excellent art exhibition in the Burslem School of Art, Queen St. It's opposite the amazing Wedgwood Institute, which is currently being renovated (see earlier post).

One of the five exhibition rooms at Burslem School of Art

The heritage building is now part of a 6th Form college, but in the holidays it's open to the public and is currently hosting the 'Three Counties Open Art Competition'. The exhibition is sponsored by Keele University (and others) and has 200 artworks in 5 rooms. The standard is mostly very high and the subject matter varied. It is well curated and entry is FREE. The Burslem School of Art is open 10-4 Tues-Sat. The exhibition runs until 31 August.

Cliff Bank Works (Michael Pritchard)

I'm including in this post some photos of paintings that impressed me - 3 of them are portraits, they are just what I found myself drawn to during a far too quick visit - the exhibition is actually very varied. I will be going back for a more leisurely view soon.

Whilst there, take a look at the amazing ceramic mosaic - in the form of a union banner - dedicated to the memory of the pottery workers of Stoke-on-Trent. SEE PREVIOUS POST

Golden Girl (Peter Davis)

Blinkered and Bridled (Helen Cartlidge)

Billy Connolly (Robert Cook)

No Villain (Amber Tyldesley)

David Bowie (Robert Cook)

The Pottery Workers Ceramic Mosaic

Here's a piece of public art that I recommend you go to see. It's a ceramic mosaic in the form of a union banner, and is currently installed in Burslem School of Art (Queen Street). The  work was created by sculptor Andy Edwards and ceramicist Philip Hardaker.

It was funded by members of the pottery trade union to chart the progress of legislation and protection for workers. The mosaic 'banner', depicts male and female workers and commemorates all those who lost their lives in the industry.

Chatterley Whitfield, bottle kilns, the Angel of Burslem and each of the Six Towns are also included in the artwork.

Although currently installed in the School of Art, a final decision has yet to be made about its permanent home.

THE WEDGWOOD INSTITUTE - Ten Windows

Here's a history of the Wedgwood Institute (Queen St, Burslem) as currently chronicled in the ten ground floor windows of the front elevation. See 'Related Links' in r/h panel for more information about this amazing building and other Burslem architecture.