Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery enjoy Touchstones’ latest exhibitions

Assistant curator Bryan Beresford and Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery members

The Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery enjoyed Touchstones’ latest exhibitions at their recent meeting on Thursday (14 April).

Touchstones’ assistant curator Bryan Beresford led attendees round the current shows:

• Gallery 1 Maud Sulter (1960-2008): The Centre of the Frame, where imposing photographs depict contemporary Black women artists, writers, performers and activists, dressed as the nine Greek Muses (until 24 April).
• Gallery 2 Whose Voice? Artist Simeon Barclay, poet and playwright Liz Mytton and local residents (‘co-creatives’) spent time with the borough’s collections from 2021. They share their responses through objects, artwork, personal possessions and live performance (until 3 July).
• Galleries 3 and 4 were given over to the national tour of the Football Art Prize 2021. This had opened with a private view on 11 March and to the public from Saturday 12 March. It will not be all over when it leaves on 26 June 2022 as it moves off to Sheffield and Sunderland until Feb 2023.
  The 2021 first prize-winner of £5,000 was a portrait of Roy Keane by Toby Michael. The range of media and styles, from the ‘naïve’ to the sophisticated and the variety of exhibits was impressive and fascinating and worth revisiting.

During the proceedings, two groups of children came through from Touchstone’s Easter projects downstairs. Boys and girls came out punching the air, heading imaginary balls, and dribbling to cup final glory, fired up by images of the beautiful game.

The Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery meet on the second Thursday of each month at Touchstones.

Tea, coffee & biscuits are served from 1pm with a guest speaker from 1.30pm - 2.30pm.

Everyone is welcome. The cost is £3 for members and £4 on the door for non-members.

Annual membership of the group only costs £10 and you will be supporting your local art gallery and get discounted rates on talks and trips organised by the Friends and invitations to private views for exhibitions.

For further details please contact Jenny Buckley (chair, Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery) on 01706 358686 or Mark Doyle (head of arts, engagement and heritage, Touchstones) on 01706 924555.

Dr Joe Dawson