ICM - Leeds Design Agency

I couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to get time to visit The Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield. It had been on my ‘to do list’ since it opened and I have to say it was worth the wait.

The gallery itself is located on the river, which isn’t only stunning to look at, but also creates renewable energy for the heating and cooling of the gallery. The building is constructed of pigmented concrete which gives it a very sculpted looked and complements the work within perfectly.

I took my two year old daughter with me and I was surprised how well kids are catered for at The Hepworth. The outside play area is fantastic and inside there are many activities and events designed to get kids being more creative.

The gallery inside is very light and has so many pieces of well known works that I haven’t seen anything like outside of London. I used a Mondrian to teach my 2 year old colours and showed her one of my favourite works, a sculpture by Barbara Hepworth, entitled ‘Mother and Child’ where I asked her what it was and she said ‘Baby’. I was very proud.

When we Looked at Eva Rothschild’s work my little girl pointed out the snakes. It was wonderful seeing the work though the eyes of a two year old. She was spotting things I would never have noticed.

The Hepworth. has also been shortlisted for the 2011 British Design Award – Best Architectural Achievement. Fingers crossed for them.

…

Read the rest...

I have written before about my love of Leeds although I’m not originally from the city (or even Yorkshire) I could never imagine living or working anywhere else. Last year I discovered Leeds Light Night, which has been running since 2005. Unfortunately I missed it, but this year I will be there.

Leeds Light Night evening is a massive free arts event over around 40 venues and up to 75 different events, gives visitors free access to art and venues that they might not normally see. The event stretches across the city centre, from the University to the river and offers a unique chance to rediscover Leeds.

This year’s event, which takes place on Friday 7th October, will again see venues all over the city centre staying open unusually late and transformed to offer all manner of colourful and fascinating entertainment.

Coordinated by Leeds City Council’s Arts and Regeneration team; contributions from many different Leeds-based organisations such as internationally-renowned touring companies to small community groups, further and higher education establishments, arts collectives and individuals, including both professional and amateur artists, students and other members of the general public.

Leeds was the first UK city to host a Light Night event back in 2005. Its success in Leeds has led many other UK cities to follow suit and start running their own event…

Read the rest...

I first moved to Yorkshire at the age of 18 to study Graphic Design and decided after my studies that I liked it so much I didn’t want to leave.

I was brought up in a small town called Chatteris in the East Anglian Fens, with limited assess to public transport and the city choices to visit were Peterborough (27 miles away) or Cambridge (25 miles away). As lovely as these Cities are they are not exactly bustling metropolis. I remember my first visit to Leeds city centre. It was busy, so many people and just a sea of heads, the train station was huge and confusing, and all of the buildings were so tall and imposing. I was slightly intimidated but ultimately impressed having spent very little time in large cities before. Leeds is the third biggest city in the UK after London and Birmingham. I still find Leeds a beautiful and fascinating city even after being here for 16 years next month (please feel free to do the maths for my current age). At this stage in my life I can never see why I would want to leave. Leeds is my first love of Yorkshire but it has so much to offer, from the stunning North Yorkshire Dales, to the East Coast and the beautiful cities.

This post is to encourage anyone that may have been brought up in Leeds, or who may have just become a little ‘shop blind’ (Leeds has come to be known as the Knightsbridge of the North as it has the largest ranges of shops in the UK.) to look up and notice some of the architecture that makes this city so visually stunning. Whether you prefer the very modern buildings, of which Leeds has excellent examples of many, or something more historic.

The Leeds building that is the closest to my heart is Leeds Town Hall as I was married there in May 2008. I will always connect that with the best day on my life, getting married in the centre of a city I love and to a true ‘Loiner’.

So next time you’re in Leeds just take a minute to look up. You may be surprised what you may have missed before, no matter how many years you have been visiting…

Read the rest...