Art in Lancashire: June 2016

A definite highlight this month in Lancashire shows is in Blackpool with The Grundy’s new exhibition of Mark Leckey ahead of his participation in Liverpool Biennial. This Kolossal Kat, That Massive MOG explores Leckey’s obsession with Felix the Cat, who first appeared in a Paramount Pictures silent short in 1919, and includes new commission for the Arts Council Collection and existing work such as Inflatable Felix (2013) which pretty much does what it says on the tin. To get a taster of the show, here's Leckey’s 2008 film Flix:

Running alongside the Mark Leckey show is Louise Giovanni’s From Here to Here: Part One which is an exhibition, as indicated, in two parts. Part One presents Manchester School of Art grad Giovanni’s selection of paintings from the Grundy’s permanent collection (till 18 June) and Part Two (2 July – 13 August) will exhibit Giovanni’s new versions of these paintings in which she highlights details that pertain to their history and parallel histories of the artists' invention.

Degree shows

To get a taste of some of the work being produced by the students on the courses at the Blackpool & the Flyde School of Creative Arts & Digital Industries check out their degree shows which are being held in Manchester at the Old Granada Studios on 7 June (12 – 9pm) and 8 June (9 – 12pm).

Over at UCLAN, meanwhile, you can catch the 2016 Fine Art, Design, Fashion and Fine Art degree shows from 11 June to 17 June with a private view on 10 June from 3 – 8pm.

Absurdity and giant eggs

Head to the Harris double-quick as (at the time of writing) there are just a few days left to catch their exhibition Nothing Happens, Twice: Artists Explore Absurdity, which includes a stellar cast of artists including Nathaniel Mellors, who takes Preston Bus Station as the inspiration for his new film commission and Sally O’Reilly whose talking shoe converses with the neighbouring artworks. The Harris have had a great programme over the last couple of years but this is one of the best shows we’ve seen there in ages. Closes 4 June.

Finally, keep your eye out around Burnley and the Leeds-Liverpool canal route from Blackburn to Pendle for the projects and commissions run by Super Slow Way, which launched last month. The organisation is inviting local and international artists to work with community groups along the route to produce artworks, writing and events that have a longer, slower and more embedded pace. You can currently catch The Exbury Egg: a giant wooden egg made by artist Stephen Turner that looks a little like a DIY version of the spaceship in Flight of the Navigator, at Finsbury Gate Wharf in Burnley. Turner, who lived in the egg for a while, is spending the summer conducting environmental, creative and historical investigations into this particular section of the canal and surrounding area.