Sir Peter Blake recreates his famous Sgt Pepper cover artwork with staff, friends and volunteers of Holburne Museum © Holburne Museum
Sir Peter Blake has recreated his most famous artwork to help kick-start a £300,000 fund-raising campaign at the Holburne Museum in Bath.
The father of British Pop Art was at the museum on November 12 to unveil a living reconstruction of his iconic Sergeant Pepper Beatles album cover artwork – with a little help from the museum’s friends and supporters.
The new artwork is being used to launch the Holburne Challenge, which aims to add £300,000 towards the final £2 million needed to complete the museum’s ambitious development project. £11.7m has already been spent on the transformation of the galleries and comprehensive re-installation of the collection.
A major exhibition exploring Peter Blake’s personal collections of artwork and ephemera will be the revamped museum's inuagral show when it opens its doors on May 14 2011.
Blake’s bizarre and eclectic collections include works by his artist-friends together with pop ephemera, collage and folk art, showbiz memorabilia and marching troupes of toy elephants. Revealing his enduring obsessions, the collections also inform his own work, a number of which will be featured.
“We are thrilled that Sir Peter will be the first artist to be shown when we re-open next May and that he has joined us to launch our appeal,” said Holburne Museum Director, Alexander Sturgis.
“In the picture you will find our Friends, volunteers, patrons, trustees, staff, students, business partners, our neighbours from Bath Rugby, colleagues from Bath University and many of those who attend our art workshops including the group of homeless men and women who come to us every week and have just produced wonderful short films that will be screened at the Bath Film Festival.”
Museum trustees have already pledged almost £30,000 - the first 10% of the target - and members of the public are now being encouraged to either make a donation, arrange a fundraising event or take part in one of the events the museum has planned over the next six months. The Holburne Challenge also includes the Big Arts Give, the Bath Half Marathon and other community events and activities.
http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/art312783