Caro Blount-Shah 

Underground Overground

Caro Blount-Shah, is a visual artist working with printmaking and photography, who has worked in arts and education running creative workshops, often using recycled materials. In the lockdown, she became interested in rubbish people were dropping along local footpaths.

The photographs look at things lost or left behind and at some of the people who clear up the mess, improving public spaces for people and wildlife, for example by reducing the amount of plastic going into local rivers.

Bev Clough

Through the Lens of Humanity: Capturing the World's Stories, Mindfulness, and Sustainability  

Does washing fluttering in the breeze make you smile? Wonder about who it belongs to? I’m sure if it could talk it would tell such a tale, next time you see some take a moment and wonder about the story behind and ahead of it.

These photographs stand as a testament to the power of everyday actions, urging us to consider the simplicity, mindfulness, and sustainable practices in our lives and the fascinating story behind it.

By repeated laundering we contribute to a world where the harmony between humanity and the earth is not only acknowledged but actively nurtured for the betterment of our collective future.

Through these images of items that have been washed, I hope we are reminded of the interconnectedness of our actions and their impact on the world. I aim to encourage the viewer to reflect on the choices we make and the responsibility we bear in ensuring the well-being of both humanity and the planet.

Ann Driver  

Just a 5k Run

"On my morning runs through lockdown, I became very aware of the litter, in the streets, in the parks and in the countryside. Because it was often brightly coloured it was hard to miss and for me was a persistent irritation, especially in green spaces. These images were taken on a 5k run around my local area, but it could been any area, even your area. The aim of my work is to highlight this modern epidemic and remind us all about how important it is to have a pleasant environment to live in and how all of us could take some responsibility for that."

Ann Driver

Abraham Emajaro  

We're Going Down The Pub

Abraham Emajaro, born in Bradford Yorkshire, is a self taught multimedia artist. His idea of employing materials he has found on travels, is an eclectic mix of domestic and commercial detritus of everyday life, and has become and all consuming passion. He produces work in a variety of media including Box Construction, Assemblage, Sculpture, Painting and Photography. Abraham sometimes employs humour alongside subjects such as memory, fetishism, ritual, iconography and fantasy to explore the surreal oddities of every day life.

In his photography work, found objects are occasionally employed as props which play a metaphorical role in the composition. Abraham has exhibited both nationally and internationally.

We're Going Down The Pub, is a digital photo essay which features and celebrates 31 popular and iconic Bradford pubs, past and present . It highlights some of the relatively new venues on the city centre scene, through to the more established and traditional pubs with their period architecture, character, and charm. For example ' Boy & Barrel ' and the 'New Beehive Inn ' , both of these pubs imbued historical ambience, and are located on Westgate at the top of town. All the photos were captured during the twilight hours, and at various locations in and around Bradford city centre and beyond, between 2019 and 2023.

We're Going Down The Pub also draws attention to the dwindling loss of Bradford's finest public houses, which form part of West Yorkshire's rich historical landscape and cultural heritage. Bradford's pubs are now declining at an alarming rate since the pandemic of 2020, and now post - pandemic, with energy and business costs skyrocketing. Some pubs are currently mothballed others have been faced with permanent closure, demolition or conversion.

"When a pub closes down, what is lost is not just a place to drink and get drunk. It is also a social space, a place for connections ,for conversations, for serendipitous meetings, for finding respite from loneliness. A place, too, that often provides a sense of belonging and attachment. A "local" is not called a local for nothing. The areas in which pubs close down are often also the areas that most need them . . . . . ."

Kenan Malik, 2020 (Full pubs are a sign of communities that work. Lets toast their return), The Guardian

Lauren Kelly

Second Hand, First Choice

I am an independent artist from Bradford. The development of my practice as it is today started in 2017 while studying at Newcastle University, where I found interest in photography and digital artists starting their careers and artists communities via social media. Influenced by the culture and aesthetic of the movement, I started working with analogue photography, collage and moving images. More recently, I work with analogue photography to create digital illustrations and collages. Through my practise I explore themes of nostalgia, rosy retrospection, and have previously explored hedonism and youth culture.

For this exhibition, I decided to explore second-hand shopping and vintage clothing. For the past couple years I have been moving away from fast fashion clothing, and more towards sustainability and conscious consumerism. I wanted to document the growing interest in vintage/retro and second-hand shopping, driving change in the fashion industry, from reducing waste to promoting sustainability. In addition to the sustainable allure of vintage fashion, I am interested in its nostalgic appeal to young people. Vintage clothing allows young people to connect with the past, even if they didn't experience those eras themselves. Nostalgia plays a significant role in fashion, and wearing second-hand clothes can evoke feelings of romanticism for a time gone by. Older styles from previous decades have resurfaced as trendy fashion choices for a new generation. I explored how the shops displayed their collections, in order to appeal to these consumers.

From charity shops and vintage boutiques to markets and independent sellers, the images illustrate the vibrant world of second-hand shopping and how it breathes new life into pre-loved clothing.

Lauren Kelly

Mark Lunn

The Relativity of Harsh Words

Relativity, the revolutionary theory proposed by Albert Einstein, transformed our understanding of the physical world and had a profound impact on various fields, including art. One artist who was particularly influenced by the concepts of relativity was the legendary painter, Pablo Picasso. Einstein's theory of relativity challenged conventional notions of space, time, and gravity. It introduced the idea that the laws of physics are the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion. This notion of interconnectedness, the blurring of boundaries, and the bending of reality fascinated Picasso and resonated with his artistic vision.

Picasso was captivated by the idea that reality could be depicted from multiple perspectives simultaneously. This inspired his groundbreaking artistic style known as Cubism, which emerged around the early 20th century. In Cubist paintings, Picasso and his contemporaries shattered traditional notions of perspective and representation. They presented fragmented and abstracted views of the subject, capturing different angles and viewpoints in a single composition.

As I embarked on this photographic project, I sought to embody the principles of relativity, allowing them to guide my creative process. Inspired by Einstein's theory, I delved into the world of rock band performances, aiming to encapsulate the fervor of the crowd and the musicians' energy on stage.

With each image, I aimed to transcend traditional boundaries and embrace multiple perspectives. By experimenting with different angles, vantage points, and focal lengths, I sought to convey the interconnectedness between the band and their audience. I wanted to capture not just the musicians but also the dynamic interaction and shared experience between them and the crowd. Drawing inspiration from the fragmented nature of Cubism, I composed each frame to showcase the raw emotions and intensity of the moment. I focused on capturing the musicians' passion-filled expressions while simultaneously highlighting the crowd's enthusiastic response. Through the fusion of these elements, my goal was to create images that told a complete story of the rock band experience, blurring the lines between performer and spectator.

Moreover, I embraced the fluidity and unpredictability of reality, waiting for those unscripted moments when the energy reached its peak., frozen in time through the click of the shutter. In doing so, I aimed to encapsulate the essence of the concert, the unbridled excitement, and the profound connection that reverberated through the crowd. In essence, by harnessing the principles of relativity, I strived to capture more than just a rock band performance. I wanted to convey the symbiotic relationship between the musicians and their audience, revealing the electric energy and shared euphoria that defines these captivating live experiences.

Cath Muldowney

If I Can Dream

I’m a Bradford based documentary photographer, with a passion for developing long term projects and working with different and diverse groups of people. But when I dipped my toe into the world of the Elvis Tribute Artist I was totally unprepared for what I would find, and had no idea that it would turn into an on- going mission to document and celebrate the phenomenon that is the ETA.

I can think of no other performer who inspires such a huge number of tribute artists, portraying all the different stages of his career. Despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that Elvis never toured outside America, his UK fan base is huge and massively supportive of the work of these guys (and the occasional gal!) Forty six years on from Elvis’ death they are going from strength to strength, with a new generation of young tribute artists now playing to fans who weren’t even born when Elvis was alive.

It’s pure, joyous, escapism at its finest, and is alive and well in venues big and small, up and down the country. I can’t say for certain, but I’m pretty sure that Elvis would approve.