Exhibition is a celebration of creativity through lockdown and beyond

Babylon Gallery's All Together Now exhibition is a celebration of creativity through lockdown and beyond. (Image: Archant)

During the course of lockdown, Babylon ARTS invited the community to get involved in various projects that enabled people of all ages to get creative in their homes and take part in activities that led to exhibitions both online and in the windows of Babylon Gallery.

The projects and the exhibition are supported by funding from Arts Council England and include: Comic Book Windows with local Manga Artist Irina Richards, Together In Isolation postcard project, portraits of key workers in photographer Regina Ray’s Chapter In Our Lives, clay models made by local residents as part of Somewhere in Ely and The Library Presents’ Digital Quarantine Quilt.

With postcards made by people from six-months-old, alongside work by professional artists, the exhibition features poetry that has been transformed into comic illustrations, photography that captures key workers, pottery inspired by Ely and connection through quilting.

Babylon ARTS’ young curators Olu Taiwo and Sid White-Jones have worked with Stuart Green to curate the exhibition and install all the artworks.

Babylon Gallery's All Together Now exhibition is a celebration of creativity through lockdown and beyond. Sophie Bell with her illustrated poem for the comic book windows project. (Image: Babylon Arts)

MORE: Babylon ARTS receives ‘lifeline’ £60,000 grant from government’s culture recovery fundArtist, Irina Richards, said: “I feel fortunate to have been part of the Comic Book Windows project. It felt good to be able to work with Babylon Arts and the public - the response was fantastic. “I especially enjoyed the poetry component of the project - the poems were full of sincerity and raw emotion. “The project showed that despite the challenges and restrictions that the lockdown has brought about, the need for the arts and creativity is greater than ever.” The poetry submitted by the public, for the Comic Book Windows project, has been incorporated into a booklet that will be available to take away for a donation to Babylon ARTS. The funds raised will go towards projects including the ones showcased as part of the exhibition. Claire Somerville, chief executive, said: “Whilst this period of time has been, and continues to be, challenging, it’s also provided a wonderful opportunity for people to connect with or re-connect with their creative abilities. “From craft to poetry writing; from pottery to photography - people have been expressing their thoughts, ideas, worries and joyful moments in creative ways and sharing them with us and the artists we’re working with and we hope that it inspires you, as it has us.” All Together Now starts Friday October 16 and runs until Sunday November 15. The Babylon Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm to 4pm and entry is free.

Babylon Gallery's All Together Now exhibition is a celebration of creativity through lockdown and beyond. Artist Irina Richards is pictured with her comic book design. (Image: Babylon Arts)

Babylon Gallery's All Together Now exhibition is a celebration of creativity through lockdown and beyond. Veronique in Chapter In Our Lives Project. Picture: REGINA RAY (Image: all reserved Regina)

Babylon Gallery's All Together Now exhibition is a celebration of creativity through lockdown and beyond. The Babylon ARTS team is pictured setting up the display. Picture: AMY WORMALD (Image: Archant)

Babylon Gallery's All Together Now exhibition is a celebration of creativity through lockdown and beyond. Let's Stay Home scan by Florence Rose. (Image: Archant)

Babylon Gallery's All Together Now exhibition is a celebration of creativity through lockdown and beyond. Keep Together and Hold Hands by Marianna Kay, aged eight. (Image: Archant)

Babylon Gallery's All Together Now exhibition is a celebration of creativity through lockdown and beyond. Babylon ARTS? young curator Olu Taiwo is pictured. Picture: AMY WORMALD (Image: Archant)

Babylon Gallery's All Together Now exhibition is a celebration of creativity through lockdown and beyond. The Babylon ARTS team is pictured setting up the display. Picture: AMY WORMALD (Image: Archant)

Babylon Gallery's All Together Now exhibition is a celebration of creativity through lockdown and beyond. Gallery technician Stuart Green is pictured setting up the display. Picture: AMY WORMALD (Image: Archant)