For two months, Louise led an exciting project in Bolton titled Showing How It Is, and visitors to the final show in a pop-up gallery within a charity shop were treated to a unique experience.

The exhibition was the culmination of a series of workshops with people from the community connected to the Bolton Nice foodbank and charity. Participants explored the town’s artistic heritage, including a trip to the priceless Barbara Hepworth sculpture, Two Forms, chats about the town’s current zeitgeist and walks around the centre which culminated in the creation of a Bolton colour palette, ranging from Demolition Gates Green to Bolton Wanderers Shorts Blue/Black.

Along the way, there were also prints taken from the town’s grids and re-imagined onto t-shirts and a preview of artworks created by the participants which were paraded through the town centre and displayed on the steps of the Town Hall and Bolton Art Gallery (which has an almost two year waiting list to host exhibitions).

The main event was a three-hour exhibition showcasing huge pop-art canvases expressing in words, pictures and paint people’s feelings on the town… ‘What Happened?’…’From Iconic to Chronic’… ‘But It’s Home’…

“Bolton is a town of extremes, and I loved working with Bolton Nice food bank and charity…..” says Louise “We created bold dynamic canvases and tshirts different to anything they’d ever done before ….”

The exhibition was featured in the Bolton News and on That’s TV Manchester, which included an interview with Louise wearing one of much sought after ‘grid t-shirts’…

Comments from participants underlined the success of the project…

“Thoroughly enjoyed these sessions, learnt so much and I’m so proud of everybody’s artwork. A brilliant group of people”

“Fabulous project, love all the artwork, met lots of brilliant people. We need more like this!”

The catalogue for the exhibition gives lots more details of the artworks and the explanations behind them. It can be viewed here… https://online.fliphtml5.com/ayyvi/bowm/#p=1