In the Long Run: 30 Years of the Great North Run Great North Museum
Running from the 17th July – 17th October in Hancock UK Peter Blake RA, godfather of British Pop Art, will be exhibiting his latest collection celebrating the 2010 Bupa Great North Run. In association with Bupa Great North Run Culture and Opus Art will produce an exclusive portfolio of signed limited edition prints for In the "Long Run". The portfolio of 10 limited edition prints will be on sale via Opus Art's online store and decisively celebrate 30 years of the Great North Run as well as the UK's heritage of running.
I've managed to wangle a preview of one of the prints to give you an idea what to expect. Blake's particular style in this piece is so nostalgic it almost hurts, it reminds me a little of enamel work, the sort of thing you'd see across Britain 50 years ago, be it the livery on the side of an corner shop delivery truck or on great advertising hoardings of the time. The detail on the runners is superb. Here's something a little ironic, these illustrations remind me somewhat of antique cigarette cards, little printed cards, sometimes with a title and description, meant, I suppose, to increase brand loyalty. I have a feeling that's deliberate, this artist is renowned for his sense of playful humour.
Blake's unique images will be on display as part of In The Long Run: 30 Years of the Great North Run at the Great North Museum from 17th July – 17th October 2010. Peter Blake, if you're not familiar with the name, is one of the best-known artists of the British Pop Art movement. He was made a Royal Academician in 1981 and received a knighthood in 2002. He is most famous for creating the artwork for The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band album cover. He was the subject of a major retrospective at Tate Liverpool in 2007. I actually met a friend of his years back in Gravesend, a drunkard, a former animator for the Yellow Submarine Beatles movie, and a totally fascinating guy. All I know is he'd gone to Peter a few times for help in the past and you know what, Peter did help him. Peter Blake is a British Institution, up there with the Queen and a cuppa' tea. Good on him. I even grew up in Dartford which is Peter's old stomping ground – it's a dump now – it was then – but at least Peter, Mick Jagger (and me ha ha) survived a childhood down that way.
In the Long Run aims to explore the history of the Great North Run, as well as raise awareness of its significant role in reflecting and shaping the region’s cultural identity. Alongside memorabilia and star objects, In The Long Run will present artwork from the archives of Bupa Great North Run Culture, with paintings, films, photographs and drawings. Artists whose work will feature in In the Long Run include Claire Leona Apps, Vicki Bennett, Suky Best, Ravi Deepres and Michael Baig-Clifford, Graham Dolphin, James Edwards, Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard, Julian Germain, Jane and Louise Wilson. With interactive exhibits, special events and guest lectures, there’s plenty for everyone to see and do.
Beth Bate, Director, Bupa Great North Run Culture is quoted as saying “It’s an honour to be working with Bupa Great North Culture and Sir Peter Blake to make this project a reality and an outstanding example of two North East based companies working together on such a prestigious exhibition. The new portfolio of prints will be a great reflection of the incredible success the race has enjoyed over the past 30 years.”
Wow what a great blog, fantastic read!
The prints are all live now on the Opus website and are for sale, you can buy and view them here http://opus-art.com/artists/PeterBlake:Running
Thanks for the update Hannah