The Williamson Art Gallery and Museum has been national competition to secure a exhibition by internationally renowned artists Davy and Kristin McGuire.
The winning bid means the venue will invite the McGuires to use two marble statues, ‘Pauline’ and ‘Love’ to create a series of grottos. Using projections, lighting, textures, sound and print, the gallery will be transformed into an enchanted garden animating a narrative imagined and developed with staff and visitors. As well as the exhibition, the Williamson team and Friends of the Williamson will create a special ticketed gala evening around the theme of the McGuire’s artwork and hope it will be as successful as the BAFTA gala held earlier this year.
The competition was part of the Museums at Night festival, of which last week’s Light Night was a part. The bi-annual UK-wide festival attracts visitors into museums, galleries and heritage sites by throwing their doors open after hours and putting on special evening events. Co-ordinated by non-profit cultural publishing organisation Culture24, Museums at Night is an opportunity for the cultural and heritage sector to come together around a single, simple campaign that is attractive to venues, audiences and the media.
Jo McGuire, development manager at the Williamson Art Gallery said of the news:
“This is so exciting for the Williamson and will give us a great opportunity to show two of our wonderful marble statues in an original setting. Thank you to everyone for your support”.