Exhibitions & Art, Sculpture.
A new major sculpture commission from emerging artist Alice Irwin will turn the iconic grand piazza in Halifax's Piece Hall into a playground for the artists cast of distinctive characters from 28 February - 1 June 2020. People Play is the first outdoor installation by Irwin, who graduated in Printmaking from the Royal College of Art in 2018. Using this background, Irwin pushes the boundaries of what traditional print processes can be, expanding into a world of the three dimensional. Commissioned by The Piece Hall Trust in partnership with The Artworks, Arts Charity Dean Clough and Yorkshire Sculpture Park [YSP] and funded by Arts Council England through its National Lottery Project Grants programme, Irwin has created a new body of work based on her bold, colourful and distinctive printed characters, with a reference to the former mill town's textile heritage. Stepping off the page, this ambitious installation features nine individual sculptures ranging from 5-9ft tall that take over the courtyard of the former cloth hall, with a further two on display at Dean Clough and The Artworks, encouraging visitors to further explore. An accompanying exhibition in the Gallery will feature new and related screenprints, etchings and wall-based sculpture by Irwin, curated by YSP's Damon Jackson-Waldock. A complementary events and activities programme for all ages will run concurrently, including bespoke sculpture and print workshops for schools, families and community groups.
