Walking the Line

The University of Cumbria Institute of the Arts at Brampton Road in collaboration with the LakesInternational Comic Art Festival [LICAF] in Kendal is delighted to present an exhibition of sequential illustration, based around the theme of walking.

The exhibition, at our brand new Vallum Ditch Gallery, features the internationally acclaimed comic strip work of Oliver East (famous for his artwork for the band Elbow). Oliver is one of a new wave of comic creators with a fine art training who takes both art and comics in uncharted directions. He gets his inspiration from walking long distances, along predetermined routes and creating comics that meditate on the experience. Accompanying the exhibition is a selection of work from staff and BA Illustration students who have produced their own 'walking' creations inspired by Oliver's methodology and approach.

The exhibition showcases some of the original artwork that Oliver made for The Homesick Truant's Cumbrian Yarn [2014]. Oliver walked over 140 miles in 10 stages from Arnside train station to Carlisle train station keeping as close as possible to the 30 or so stations that form the Cumbrian Coastal Train Line. Intently observing his surroundings but without taking photos or making detailed sketches, Oliver focused on the humdrum incidentals of the landscape and human activity. Later he drew and made comics, one for each stage of the journey. The end results, in dramatic monochrome, present not documentary images but closely involve the reader in a series of painterly soundscapes.

Oliver came to the Brampton Road campus on Thursday 15th October to view the student work and officially open the exhibition (which runs until November 12)]. He was accompanied by San Francisco based artist/comic book creator and educator FrankSantoro, who gave an inspirational talk and ran a workshop with BA Graphic Design and Illustration students, more of which in another post...

Exhibition poster courtesey Mr. Vincent Walden (Year 3 Graphic Design)


Future Dave Robert (33) helps exhibition organiser Mr. Nick Dodds (33) 'achieve the perpendicular'


Nick introduces Oliver East at the exhibition opening.






Oliver showing Frank Santoro one of his pages...

  

 Charismatic illustration tutor Mr. Dwayne Bell (33)

 The exhibiting artists.