A Site of No Special Interest – The Rea Garden Exhibition
From Press office on 02 September 2010
For the past few years the West Midlands has had its very own Secret Garden and now its story is coming to Solihull in a new exhibition.
‘A site of no special interest – a brief history so far of the Rea Garden artist project space’, which runs at Solihull Gallery from 9 September – 9 October, gives an insight into the recent transformation of the outdoor artist space in Digbeth, Birmingham.
Situated adjacent to the River Rea and close to the Custard Factory, the previously burnt out factory space had been sealed off for more than 15 years and nature had turned it into an overgrown wilderness.
However, in autumn 2007 the site was re-entered and developed by artist group Behind Closed Doors for their inaugural project The Secret Garden.
The site was subsequently renamed The Rea Garden and has since hosted a varied Artist in Residence program, both supported by Arts Council England and National Lottery.
This exhibition is part archive and visual history of the changes to the site over the past three years, and part a document of the creative process and the art work it has hosted - some of which will be on display in the gallery.
This show will be a chance to celebrate some of the art that has already taken up residence in the Rea Garden, as well as discovering more about one of the region’s most unusual spaces for art.
There will be a launch party the exhibition on Thursday 9 September from 6pm-7.30pm. Members of the public are welcome and refreshments will be served.
For media enquiries only, please contact Dave Musson on 0121 704 6136
Email: dmusson@solihull.gov.uk