Rook Lane Arts is a multi-displinary arts space; it is not confined to one specific art form. It is defined as a community arts centre, which this indicates the audience – but not necessarily the programme.
I love that there will might be a backdrop of oil paintings for a folk gig or modern screen prints lining the walls of the chapel as a string quartet mount the stage and hurl their passionate string arrangements through the vast space.
However, crossing all art forms – and trying to make the space open and available at all times – requires some serious coordination. Today I was asked if a talk could take place whilst an exhibition containing 3D work is on display in autumn. I recommended that the inquirer liaise with the curator of the art exhibition.
When Myrtle Pizzey and Brian Dix had their exhibition, we had to haul their huge, colourful screens to one side to free up chair space for a talk and then a concert.
Logistically it can be difficult to combine inter-disciplinary arts events. David Chandler, however – who will be putting on life-drawing classes in the chapel later this year – said he would happily take on the challenge of working within the space if there’s 3D work being exhibited in the chapel.
Stepping up to another challenge – Leander Morales is organising a ‘happening’ at Rook Lane – as the festival launch party. There will be music from Luke Concannon (Nizlopi):
Poems from Muriel Lavender:
A screening of short films from Frome College students and more music from award winning Benji Kirkpatrick (Bellowhead/Seth Lakeman) plus performances from Morales/Watts, Dizzi Dulcimer & Barbara Hunt.
This will all coincide with the preview of Giles Ford’s summer exhibition at Rook Lane…
Exciting!
