Artist Jane Samuels launches 'The Abandoned Shop of Curiosities' in Blackburn

As part of the successful Liberating Empty Terrain (LET) Project, British artist Jane Samuels will launch her newest work: “The Abandoned Shop of Curiosities” in the Blackburn LET Shop, 65 King William St, Blackburn.

The show sees Jane creating her most ambitious and interactive exhibition to date, in which Blackburn's LET shop will be transformed into an abandoned Victorian  Curiosity Shop. The public are invited to explore the shop: open doors and drawers, and climb through wardrobes, to discover glimpses into other abandoned buildings around the world.  

Jane will be holding an open studio throughout the residency, and inviting visitors to contribute to the production and development of new work. The interactive exhibition also invites visitors to share their memories of Blackburn’s now lost or abandoned places, using maps, written notes, drawings or by bringing in objects or photographs.
Manchester's Psychogeography group “The Loiterers Resistance Movement” will be making several appearances throughout the residency, exploring the relationship between Blackburn’s official histories, and the personal histories of the people who live there. The LRM will be running mapping workshops from the shop, and using the information gained to create two walking tours of the town.

Jane Samuels explains that: “This is an exciting opportunity to bring some of the exciting art that is currently happening in Manchester and London, back to the places where I grew up. People should be able to enjoy this type of art regardless of whether they live in the bigger cities or not, for free, and right at the heart of their communities. LET is providing that opportunity.”

All activities are free of charge. Work is available for sale.

THURS 13th JANUARY 2011, 7PM. PREVIEW NIGHT: Join us on opening night for a Victorian Tea Party. Explore the shop, meet some of the characters from “The abandoned Buildings Project”, and share your memories of Blackburn.

EXHIBITION AND OPEN STUDIO (13th JAN-5th Feb): THURS, FRI, SAT 10am-5pm throughout residency.

SAT 15th AND 22ndJANUARY 2011: Free personal mapping workshop with the Loiterers Resistance Movement, invites people of all ages to come and create their own history of Blackburn.

SAT 29th JANUARY , SAT 5th FEBRUARY  2011: Free Personal Histories Walk with the LRM.

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Notes to editors

For further information, contact Jane Samuels.  07991916398.  jane.samuels@gmail.com

Originally from Salford, Jane Samuels grew up in and around Pendle and Blackburn, and now lives and works in Manchester. She gained her MA in Contemporary Fine Art in 2007, and continues to exhibit and curate. She is a tutor at the two Manchester Universities, and pursues the belief that art work should be accessible for all.
In 2008 culture magazine “24 Hour Museum” voted her work for “The Abandoned Buildings Project”  amongst the top 12 UK exhibitions of the year.

Website: Jane-Samuels.com

LET Project
Inspired by the TO LET signs outside empty shops, the LET Project by Creativity Works wants to provide local creative industries opportunities to develop, explore and celebrate their creativity and innovation. The project is being delivered under three strands across Pennine Lancashire authorities: Branding  – a joint promotional campaign, Business Development – using empty shops to promote creative industries, and En-gagement – town centre events, activities and installations. The project is funded by Arts Council Grants for the Arts, Lancashire County Council and Creativity Works' district partners. Blackburn’s LET Shop is based at 65 King William Street and has been the venue for a wide variety of work and activity from artists Doorstep Collective, Julia Swarbrick, The Art of Distraction, Collective Encounters and now Jane Samuels.

Creativity Works
Creativity Works is an initiative co-ordinated by the arts and cultural officers of the six Pennine Lancashire districts (Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale), Arts Council England, Curious Minds, Lancashire County Council and Regenerate Pennine Lancashire. The purpose of Creativity Works is to raise the profile of, and engagement with, the arts in Pennine Lancashire. It does this by working collaboratively, placing art and culture as central to the regeneration of the region and by impacting the lives of people who live in, work in and visit Pennine Lancashire.