LiberationArts Exhibition

The Exhibition

It’s been a busy few days, travelling to and from Bristol for the LiberationArts Exhibition. Hosted at the Paintworks, the exhibition brought together an inspiring selection of painting, sculpture, and photography. Combined with a number of animal welfare themed stalls, craft activities, and vegan food and drink offerings, the exhibition drew a wide audience.

The organisers pitched this event extremely well. The artwork was an eclectic selection, designed to attract a broad range of visitors. The tone of the exhibition was both uplifting and educational, with a unifying thread of compassion throughout.

I’ve attended a few vegan events as a stall holder, and it’s always a pleasure to meet people at these. Showing my work feels very different though. Exhibiting offers the chance to discuss the pieces on display, and reflect on their background. Not just my own pictures, but the creations of others.

The Environment

This was the perfect environment in which to feel creative, and over the course of the few days, I began to form ideas for future projects. Being away from my usual workspace, and surrounded by other creatives, it was an immersive environment.

People were generous with their time and thoughts. The unifying factor of animal welfare drew enthusiastic discussion from exhibitors and visitors alike. The selection of vegan food on offer kept us fuelled while we looked ahead to future events.

It’s not always easy to come up with ideas. Some are stumbled upon, others develop over time. A change of environment and lively conversation can be the catalysts which create foundations to build on. I certainly came away from the event with a variety of cornerstones.

The challenge is in maintaining momentum. Returning to life away from the exhibition, it’s easy to fall back into routine and overlook the importance of setting aside time to create. I hope as spring approaches and the hours of daylight are longer, I will find more time to create, while continuing to manage life outside the business.