Washington 60 year celebration of becoming a town

Artists responding to creative writing inspired by the town.

10 artists from Sunderland Indie collective have created varied artworks that you may enjoy as you read the short stories by local creative writers.

The exhibition is in the Washington Old Hall, a beautiful National Trust property.

Gertie

Cyanotype and fabric marker on fabric wall hanging By Jo Howell.

Jo Howell is a photographic artist in the North East of England. Female, disabled, community activist and a Sunderland lifer. Howell uses a combination of analogue photography techniques with modern digital crossovers. Often inspired by hidden female stories and botany. Howell uses an array of techniques to explore the over arching themes of self and place.

Fact, Fiction and Folklore: Washington Old Hall

Gertie

Inspired by Searching for the real Gertrude Bell, a short story by Andrea Lynn Henderson and can be found on page 31 of the publication.

Driving back to my flat from the weekly food shop. I’m wondering how Gertrude coped with travel. I’ve read somewhere on Google that she used to have an entourage that would carry her essentials, including a bed, and a bath! Across the deserts and the archeological sites of the Middle East? Really?

This artwork is called Gertie and it is an over familiarisation of Gertrude Bell’s life and the artists. Enjoying the use of very modern tropes like the plastic carrier bag and mixing it up with archive images from Newcastle University. The interplay of and resonance of the two women through time.

There are 9 other amazing artists involved. If you didn’t manage to see it in person watch the full video ❤️

You can support me on Patreon and get access to my 10 step workshop, of which there are 4 already up.

The presentation part is almost done for cyanotype on fabric. I just need to be well enough to film it! The fibromyalgia often affects my speech and I don’t want to sound drunk! Or not make any sense.