Fylde artist Kate homes in on museum exhibition

Kate is a multi-disciplinary artist based in St Annes specialising in making three-dimensional storytelling works.

Earlier this year she was commissioned to make an ‘Insect Hotel’ while being artist in residence within the Beauty and the Beasts: Falling In Love With Insects exhibition at Manchester Museum at the University of Manchester.

The residency at the museum was scheduled to run two days a week for six weeks beginning at the end of February, but because of the pandemic, Kate was unable to complete her artwork in Manchester.

So now she is asking the public to come to her to see the work in a socially-distanced way!

Visitors will be able to go to Kate’s studio in Heeley Road, St Annes, and watch her work through the large windows there, starting on Friday (October 9).

“The artwork is being constructed using a vintage grandfather clock case,” said Kate, who has exhibited across the world over 20 years as an artist.

“It was serendipitous that I sourced a case that was decorated with carved leaves and flowers which now comes to symbolise the natural world.

“The top section of the clock houses a piece of a barometer case that represents climate change and forecasting changes in the weather as it sinks into time itself.

“The bottom section of the clock case is to be filled with bamboo sticks and other natural materials to encourage insects to settle in when it is finally installed outside at a location yet to be determined.

“I was proud to have the opportunity to be involved at Manchester Museum and it was disappointing it was interrupted by lockdown.

“But it is great to have this chance to put it on display at my studio these several months on and I hope lots of people come along and take a look.”

The opportunity to see how the artwork develops and say hello to Kate is available on Fridays and Saturdays only starting tomorrow and running through to October 24, between 11am and 4pm.

The address is the Eggwirtz Studio at 172 Heeley Road, St Annes, FY8 2HR.

The exhibition is also available to explore at www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/