Emergence is a new exhibition at Selby Abbey by artists Helen Brook and Mandy Keating featuring large-scale works inspired by the environment, sustainability, and our impact on the natural world. Open 10am-4pm every day from 24 April to 2 May. Read more below!
Opening Hours
10:00 - 16:00
Now Then! artists Helen Brook and Mandy Keating are coming to the end of their Selby-based residency Emergence, focusing on environment, sustainability and our impact on the natural world, with an exhibition at Selby Abbey.
The Emergence exhibition features large-scale artworks in Selby Abbey from the artists. Helen’s work will be on show from 24 April to 2 May, and Mandy’s from 3 to 13 May. The Abbey is open every day from 10am to 4pm.
Helen is creating a sculptural installation created with discarded book pages from Selby Library, which will offer a large-scale interpretation of nature’s intricate forms, magnifying the hidden qualities of the natural world, drawing on natural materials from the Abbey grounds.
Mandy’s work is inspired by the stained glass windows of the Abbey, with all of the materials sourced from within and around the Abbey building, including discarded plastics and fabrics and waste aluminium candle holders. The natural inks are made from the Abbey’s used coffee grounds and other natural or waste materials.
Over the past three months, the artists have spent time at Selby Abbey and Selby Library, working with our partners Our Zero Selby and Selby College. Their project aimed to work with materials they found in and around the buildings they were based in, resulting in some brilliant research and development: inks made of old coffee grounds from the Abbey, intricate papercuts from old magazines destined for recycling, and artworks made of lichen twigs from the Abbey grounds.
Members of the public joined in a series of workshops, creating artworks for display and also to take home, all of which can ultimately be recycled or composted. Sessions included papercutting, flower pressing, fabric painting, and cardboard construction, with some of the participants’ creations being temporarily installed as part of displays and exhibitions along with the artists’ works.
This event is free and no booking is required.
For accessibility information please click here.
For bus, train and car park information, click here.
Now Then! is a new creative programme for Selby, Tadcaster and Sherburn in Elmet. There will be two years of free, family-friendly events, from workshops to performances. To stay up to date, subscribe to the newsletter.
