DARLINGTON'S Crown Street Art Gallery is set to reopen on Monday after more than a year of closure due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The Mayor, councillor Cyndi Hughes was invited to mark the occasion and officially re-launch a solo exhibition by local artist Jonny Lancaster which was put on hold when the first lockdown began.
Inspired by vintage travel posters of the early to mid 20th century, Jonny designs fresh, contemporary prints based on locations in the North East. He aims to capture the beauty of the places on our own doorstep and have fun with local landmarks and sayings.
Two of his most popular prints – available through The Poster Parlour – are his ‘Monte Darlo’ and ‘Meet me under the town clock’ designs, which feature in the exhibition as well as preparatory paintings and drawings.
Cllr Hughes said: “It’s great news that we can once again welcome visitors to the gallery, and what better way than to start with a fabulous exhibition from a local artist featuring some of Darlington’s best loved landmarks.”
Jonny added: “I’m delighted that my exhibition will be reopening and that Crown Street Art Gallery, an important landmark in Darlington’s cultural landscape, will once again play host to regular exhibitions of local artists’ work.
“I dare say I might be in the record books for the longest running exhibition ever at the gallery, but not for the reasons I’d have hoped however! The digital world has been a great comfort and an important tool for the arts during the past year or so, but it’s going to be wonderful to actually stand in front of a picture again.”
Read more: Keep the Loco in Darlo poster appears in Coronation Street
The Jonny Lancaster exhibition will run until Thursday 29 July. To find out more about his work follow The Poster Parlour on Instagram and Facebook.
Exhibitions at Crown Street Art Gallery are coordinated by Creative Darlington, for more information visit www.darlington.gov.uk/creativedarlington
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