Echoes Exhibition Lytham Hall

A new contemporary art exhibition is set to open at Lytham Hall this Half Term. Commissioned by Lytham based arts organisation, Fable Arts CIC, ECHOES is a place-making project on display throughout the historic rooms of the house from Wednesday 28th October until Sunday 15th November 2015. It forms part of Lytham Hall’s activity programme, which encourages new ways of engaging with the Hall and celebrates connections between past and present.

Created by Fable Arts founder and writer, Alexandra O’Toole and visual artists, Tina Dempsey and Ellie Kidsley, ECHOES explores the effect that the residents of Lytham Hall have had upon the form and feel of the place through a series of four site specific installations which reveal not only how private passions and frustrations and struggles for visibility and recognition continue to haunt the hall and but also how they have contributed to its present position.

Alex O’Toole said,

“Much of Fable’s work to date has centred on using stories to create a sense of place and as a both a resident and business owner in Lytham, I’m interested in knowing more about the area which has made such a contribution to my own story. The Clifton family left an indelible mark on Lytham St. Annes. As residents we live our lives on streets named after them, in buildings they commissioned and in parks they gifted to us, yet so many of their personal stories remain relatively unknown. By focusing on a handful of these personal worlds, ECHOES suggests how the Clifton’s have individually impacted, and continue to impact, on Lytham Hall’s built and natural landscape specifically, whilst hinting at a spirit world still present.”

Clifton Family of Lytham Hall

The title piece of the exhibition, however, is a unique piece of sound art to be installed in the Gold Room by Blackpool based artist, Tina Dempsey, which celebrates the present as well as the past using recorded memories of celebrations contributed by members of the public.

Along with Fashion design student and artist, Ellie Kidsley, who has been delving into the love story between Violet and John Talbot Clifton to create a striking paper based installation in Violet and John’s bedroom. Speaking of the couple behind her inspiration, Ellie, said, “Their common love of travel and natural curiosity about life led the couple to achieve astonishing things, both individually and separately.”

Echoes Exhibition Lytham Hall2

Alex and Ellie have also collaborated on a piece of visual poetry, a response to the personal letters of the enigmatic Eleanor Cicely Lowther Clifton, entitled, ‘My Dear Mr Fair’.

The multi faceted exhibition runs has just added two more dates, two sessions at 12 and at 2.00 on Sunday 22nd and 29th

A must for any history buff or local resident to see how today’s Lytham has been shaped by the past

More info on Fable Arts