Peninsula in poetry and paint
An exploration of landscape and memory kicks off the autumn season of exhibitions at The Dukes gallery in Lancaster.
Peninsula is a combination of the talents of painter and printmaker, John M. Morrison from Blackpool and poet Ron Scowcroft from Garstang who both met while teaching at Blackpool Sixth Form College more than 15 years ago.
Now both retired, this is the pair’s first exhibition together and also their Lancaster debut.
John, the former head of art at Blackpool Sixth Form College and artist in residence at UCLAN’s printmaking department in Preston, discovered both he and Ron, a former head of literature, were both working on similar themes and decided to collaborate.
Ron’s poem, Peninsula, provided the inspiration for John’s work. He wrote it two years ago and it was published by Lancaster-based Flax in their online anthology last year.
From there it was picked up by a Lancaster University student who based a short film on it and now it has inspired the pair’s first exhibition in the city.
“Initially, I thought the poem was about wishing to be somewhere else – a magical, peaceful place – and had based it on a place I know in Portugal. But often a reader’s imagination can take them somewhere else,” said Ron who is a Lancaster University graduate and a member of April Poets who have readings at The Storey.
Peninsula runs from August 15-31 at The Dukes gallery which is open from 10am to 11pm, Monday to Saturday. Please call the box office on 01524 598500 to check opening times if you’re making a special journey as occasionally the space is closed to the public.
Venue: The Dukes, Moor Lane, Lancaster
Date: 15-31 August
Tickets: Free entry
Box Office: 01524 598500
