Ian Pepper | A Feast of Beeston | May 2016

A Feast of Beeston is a project by Ian Pepper that will construct a portrait of a South Leeds community. Using a variety of techniques including interviews, photographs, drawing, painting and music this exhibition will present work created during an extended period of engagement with the public in early 2016.

A Feast of Beeston aims to create an honest portrait of a community that lives on the geographical fringe of the city as well as at the fringe of mainstream culture; a society that is both proud and protective of heritage and identity.

PREVIEW | PERFORMANCE: The Creatures of Habit
Friday 6th May | 7.30pm – 9.30pm

Exhibition Open
Saturday 7th May | 2pm – 4pm
Sunday 8th May | 2pm – 4pm
Monday 9th May | 11am – 2pm
Saturday 14th May | 2pm – 4pm
Sunday 15th May | 2pm – 4pm
Monday 16th May | 11am – 2pm

Exhibition Also Open By Appointment

Photos / Video: Bruce Davies

In January 2016 artist Ian Pepper began a project, commissioned by BasementArtsProject and supported by Leeds Inspired, to realise an exhibition that had at its core life in South Leeds. Between January and April, Pepper walked the streets of South Leeds photographing and interviewing people whilst documenting the area more generally. The images were then turned into a series of portraits in pencil, pen and ink, with a smaller number done in paint on board, while the documentation formed a large series of digital collages and an audio work. It was this body of work that formed the exhibition ‘A Feast of Beeston’ at BasementArtsProject in Beeston between 6thand 16thMay. 

From this experience the project expanded into two one day workshops in September and October based at the nearby Vale Circles on Tunstall Road. The workshops involved members of the art groups that already exist within the centre alongside people from the surrounding community in South Leeds. The workshops were designed to accommodate those who may have never before considered picking up a pen or pencil, or engaging in an activity such as collage, along with those who may be seasoned artists already.

As a result of these two workshops Ian Pepper will be returning to Beeston’s BasementArtsProject for one final time this year for an exhibition entitled ‘Welcome to My World’. This exhibition will involve work produced between the end of ‘A Feast of Beeston’ in May and now. This time his work will be placed alongside that of those who participated in the workshops. Come and join Ian and the other participants for the opening of this exhibition at BasementArtsProject on the evening of Thursday 24thNovember between 7.30 and 9.30pm, and celebrate the creative life of the South Leeds Community.

A big thank you to Paul Digby, Will Morris and all of the other staff who welcomed the project with open arms at Vale Circles.

Welcome to My World | An exhibition of new work by Ian Pepper and the community of South Leeds.

PREVIEW NIGHT 

Thursday 24thNovember | 7.30 – 9.30pm

Supported by Leeds Inspired