Students’ stunning installation lights up Auckland Tower

A stunning installation by Bishop Auckland College art students inspired by a Salvador Dalí masterpiece is one of the centrepieces of an exhibition celebrating the Spanish surrealist artist.

Pictured (l-r) are: Liam Austin, Caitlin Shone, Daria Dziubenko, Brooke Allinson.

The students have been working with Jane Crawford from Daisy Arts on the artwork based on Dalí’s Christ of Saint John on the Cross, which illuminates Auckland Tower from the inside.

It forms part of the Dalí: Surreal Worlds interactive community event, which features larger-than-life artworks, collaborative exhibitions, a street art trail and a programme of live entertainment and creative workshops.

The community celebration was inspired by the arrival of Dalí's iconic painting, on loan from Glasgow Life Museums, at the town's Spanish Gallery earlier this year alongside El Greco’s Christ on the Cross.

A replica of Dalí's famous painting

An illuminated dome artwork in the Market Place was created by North-East artist Stuart Langley, who led sessions with 120 children from local schools along with The Auckland Project's Transformative Arts Officer Jilly Johnston.

The windows of local shops and businesses were also taken over by surreal street art created by graffiti collective Bish Vegas Legal Graff during a community ‘Big Paint’ gathering.

Eight surrealist art installations created by The Auckland Project’s Young Artists Collective People have also been on display among the 150 acres of Auckland Castle’s Deer Park.

Dalí: Surreal Worlds culminated in an afternoon-to-evening event last Friday in Bishop Auckland Market Place. which featured Latin American band Runaway Samba and comedy walkabout troupe Los Skankos.

Locally-based artist Jane came into the college to work with the Level 3 Art and Design Art Practice students for two-and-half days before the October half term on the community arts project, funded by Create North.

She said: “To have your art department connect with this project has offered so much, a way to excite young people about the study of art. It’s been a wonderful chance for me to support them in exploring the ideals of surrealism, through self, faith and consciousness.

“They’ve used their discovery of Dali’s incredible portrait of Christ and designed a piece that captures its essence through simple shapes, set within the dominance of two intersecting bars; the crucifix, whilst adding playful yet significant elements of their own.

“Art is a wonder isn’t it, and this light installation hopes to glow with their unique reflections, joy and celebration.”

Tutor Julie Scorer added: “This has been a fabulous opportunity for my students to link with external projects, work on a professional installation and have their work seen by so many.”

Dalí: Surreal Worlds has been supported by Bishop Auckland Town Council and funding from Arts Council England and the National Lottery.

The Auckland Project's Transformative Arts Officer Jilly Johnston said: “Dalí: Surreal Worlds has been developed to offer a community-wide celebration of having this iconic painting at the Spanish Gallery in Bishop Auckland.

“It has been wonderful to offer so many children and young people the chance to explore the work of Dalí and encourage them to embrace their imaginations and to look at art and life in a different way.”

• The Dalí exhibition runs until December 4. Tickets can be booked at aucklandproject.org