A pop star turned pop artist and a curious city-wide celebration are among the June events that have caught the eye of Jayne Dwyer
Flaming June and flamin’ barbecue briquettes. The George Foreman is on standby and I have over-sized utensils at the ready.
Quite frankly, the month of May wasn’t the bouquet of loveliness I had anticipated. Drowning like Ophelia in a pond of paperwork, I have missed my life, my weekends and I have missed leisurely walks along the river banks, visiting galleries and reading books.
So, hurrah to June! The sun is shining, and as long as we have each other, a burger in a bun and Spotify filling the yard with the latest “toons”, everything will be dandy.
Usually at this time of year, we are doing our ritual binding of broken tent poles, in readiness for the festival season; this year however, Willowman will have to continue without us, we are frantically saving for our own mini festival: Wedfest.
We are on a budget but I am dreaming of a dress that will make me look ten years younger, and will transform me into a Pre-Raphaelite beauty.
Not for the first time, music and art will intertwine. I happen to be marrying a bassist, which leads me very nicely into my first recommendation for the month of June: Horace Panter, the bassist from the legendary The Specials, will be exhibiting his art at According To McGee.
On the 21st, the man himself will be at the gallery (contact the gallery for an invite to the private show).
Much of Horace’s work is “based on traditional forms of iconography, infused with pop art sensibility” and “emerge from experiences, places and people that he has met on his travels, along with his love of music”.
His paintings and collages are colourful, energetic, sometimes reflective. They ooze nostalgia and have something of that energy and attitude that the Specials brought to us in the late Seventies, early Eighties.
I will be singing those immortal lines for the foreseeable… Too much, much too young, now you’re married with a kid…
Yes, I think June will be fun.
The art to see in June
Contours – works by Janet Hayton, Chris Raw & Helen Bowes: The White Room (at Priestley’s, Bootham) June 3-28
Horace Panter, According To McGee, June 7-28. Horace will also attend an event at the gallery on June 21st – contact [email protected]
York Street Scenes, Malcolm Ludvigsen, Blossom Street Gallery, until June 15
The Banks of the Ouse, Fulford and Clifton Ings, and Walmgate Stray by Malcolm Ludvigsen, Lady Anne Middleton’s Hotel, Skeldergate until the end of June
J’adore Le Tour, collaboration of local artists, based on the Grand Depart and Le Tour de France, The Attic Gallery Cafe Bar, King’s Square, from June 9. Note, don’t be put up by the flight of stairs, the café serves wonderful coffees and hot chocolates and is host to lots of real gems of local art. The Attic Gallery is well worth a visit
Open exhibition, Mermaid and Miller, Swinegate, until the end of June. Affordable art by new, emerging and established local artists
The Incidental Bicycle, contemporary artworks, prints and posters, Janette Ray Books, Bootham, from June 20
York Curiouser, a stream of exciting events and specially commissioned artworks, from June 14 until July 7. There is a diverse and eclectic mix of things to see and do from making your own museum label at York’s Castle Museum, to leisurely Sunday walks, exploring the Curiouser installations
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>> York Curiouser are blogging for YorkMix – read their blogs here
“Le Tour” – A Yorkshire Journey Exhibition, four artists interpret Yorkshire and Le Tour route through their own eyes, Blue Tree Gallery, Bootham, June 23-August 25
No Way Back, Swampy, All Saints Church, Pavement, from Wednesday, June 4, later transferring to Starbucks, Coppergate. Swampy will be exhibiting his watercolour, which is part of the Out Of The Box project, funded by Arts Council England and supported by the charity. Check out this moving piece of work and be ready to hear more of this young man in the future
North Yorkshire Open Studios, Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8, and Saturday and Sunday, June 14-15, 10.30am–5.30pm For more information, visit the event website