Lockdown art is now on show online

Portraits, pictures and the deeply poignant all feature in Tameside Culture's new online exhibition 'apART'.

'apART' - which has been launched to mark a year since the start of the first UK lockdown - celebrates the creativity people have embraced to keep themselves occupied and aid their well-being during the long months of restrictions when mixing with friends and family has been severely curtailed.

More than 200 submissions by 84 Tameside artists and makers are now available to view. They cover a wide variety of expressions and subjects, ranging from train sets to paintings of local scenes and photographs of wildlife.

Some are extremely poignant. One is a memory item put together from personal belongings made to help with grief at a time when social contact was restricted and attendance at funerals limited.

Another is by a man who started painting after his wife died. He now takes on commissions and sells them to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and provide physical, emotional and financial help for people diagnosed with cancer.

There are also some very uplifting pieces, like one by a 10-year-old girl which gained a retweet from comedian Noel Fielding who co-presents ‘The Great British Bake-off.’ 

It is in the style of David Hockney and was created in response to a challenge from Noel’s virtual art club to showcase a favourite artist.

Another is by a woman who started a new business painting commissioned pet portraits after the first lockdown led to her losing her job as a riding instructor.

'apART' is available to view at www.tameside.gov.uk/apart and will be on show at Astley Cheetham Art Gallery in Stalybridge when Covid restrictions are lifted. 

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