AN EXHIBITION exploring the frontiers of parenthood during lockdown has gone on display at a historic mill.

Lullabies in Lockdown is a group exhibition showcasing the work of several local, national and international artists who became parents during the Covid pandemic.

It runs at the Sunny Bank Mills Art Gallery in Farsley until the end of the month.

The show has been curated by illustrator and Leeds-based creative academic Beth Duggleby and is one of stories of parenthood, or birth, of babies born and lost, of adoption and of children some people chose not to have.

Explaining the inspiration behind the exhibition, Beth said: “I was led by curiosity. What else had people been making? What other sketches, poems, images and stories had the illustrators been producing during their isolation? I was also curious to see how jobbing illustrators – who maybe don’t talk about their lives so much – had translated their own lived experience and through which different methods.”

“The exhibition is a celebration of being able to bring people back into a room and back together. It is interesting bringing toddlers into a gallery, of course. But it’s been great; I’ve never seen so many babies and families in a gallery.”

Beth approached a number of artists with whose work she was already familiar. However, it was important to open up the conversation to as broad an audience as possible. So an open call was posted on Curator Space, which led to further exhibitors, the majority of whom were birthing mothers.

Jane Kay, curator and arts director at Sunny Bank Mills, who has collaborated with Beth in hosting the exhibition, added: “We designed an engagement programme for this exhibition which we are delighted to say is supported by funding from Leeds Inspired. This has enabled us to deliver workshops, including family ones in half term, and events at an affordable price for all, supporting both the artists that deliver them and the general public to access them at a time when it is needed more than ever.”

A play space has been created, incorporating play into the gallery, including fitting a Wendy house doorway and window frame directly into the exhibition walls, together with a range of activity boxes and soft play furnishings, inspired by stories in the show.

Lullabies In Lockdown features work from Nele Anders, Jenna Lee Alldread, Ruth Batham, Pia Bramley, Lizzie Bhushan, Charlotte Dryden-Kelsey, Beth Duggleby, Isabel Greenberg, Jessika Green, Matthew Hodson, Kim Jihyun, Lorna Johnstone, Sabba Khan, Benjamin Mills, Kate Pankhurst, Bryony Pritchard, Alice Socal, Joanna Spicer and Lilly Williams.

It runs until Sunday, October 30. Entry is free.

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