Medway will host one of the country’s first new artwork exhibitions this week.

Cold War Steve Meets The Outside World will be on display at Riverside Country Park from Friday, 18 September.

The exhibition supports Medway’s aspirations to become UK City of Culture 2025 which would create a legacy of opportunities for local people and bring significant economic benefits to the area.

Back at the start of 2020 Birmingham artist Christopher Spencer, otherwise known as artist Cold War Steve, was about to set out on a nationwide tour of pubs, hairdressers, village halls, libraries, shops and front rooms as part of his unique You, Me and Cold War Steve do-it-yourself downloadable exhibition.

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit and during lockdown plans started to emerge for a new idea to leave the house and meet the outside world again.

This September and October Cold War Steve will unveil four ambitious new outdoor artworks starting in Medway.

Cold War Steve Meets The Outside World will feature 11 free to view outdoor artworks on the shoreline of Riverside Country Park in Rainham. The exhibition launches on Friday, 18 September at 2pm (high tide) and will be on display until Sunday, 27 September.

Anyone planning on visiting the exhibition is reminded to continue to follow social distancing guidelines.

Cold War Steve specialises in surreal, satirical collages originally made on his phone and iPad. Since 2016 Cold War Steve’s Twitter account, with almost daily posts, has seen his following increasing by the day. Three solo exhibitions, two books with Thames & Hudson, commissions for the National Galleries of Scotland, Whitworth in Manchester, Birmingham Museum and Gallery, a giant billboard installation at Glastonbury Festival and an international TIME magazine cover have all followed.

Cold War Steve aka Christopher Spencer, said: “I’m well excited to start the ‘Cold War Steve Meets The Outside World’ exhibition here in Medway. The Riverside Country Park is the perfect spot for this nature trail installation; the mix of beautiful shoreline, wildlife, industrial and post industrial landscape is wonderful. The 11 pieces on display are a kind of ‘CWS 2020 best of’, some of my biggest pieces from this crazy year that have never been displayed anywhere before, plus a brand piece made especially for Medway. The event has been designed to be viewed from a distance with social distancing in mind. An art trail throughout the park and on the shoreline. Bring your binoculars!”

Paul Cowell, Head of Culture and Libraries at Medway Council, said: “It is fantastic that Medway will host the first part of Cold War Steve’s national exhibition. Riverside Country Park is an ideal location for an unusual exhibition, such as this, with Cold War Steve’s satirical artwork being displayed on the picturesque shoreline. We understand how important creativity is to both our own personal wellbeing but how it can also help boost community spirits, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. It is incredibly exciting that Medway is attracting national artists to exhibit their new work here. This exhibition supports Medway’s aspirations to become UK City of Culture 2025 which is a huge opportunity to put Medway on the map and show the rest of the country what we have to offer.”

Imogen Robertson, Bid Director at Medway 2025, said: “Our Medway 2025 City of Culture bid is all about turning Medway’s green spaces, shopping centres, stadiums and public areas into venues that showcase world-class creativity for everyone. We’re proud to welcome people from across Medway and the rest of the country to Rainham to see Cold War Steve’s artworks at Riverside Country Park as we bid to be UK City of Culture in 2025.”

Riverside Country Park in Rainham is a great location for the exhibition with free on-site parking, walking trails and picnic areas for people wishing to visit the exhibition and spend the day in Medway. It is also a short drive or bus journey away Gillingham town centre and the railway station and has good motorway links with the M25 and M2 for visitors from further afield.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to continue to follow social distancing guidelines when visiting the exhibition.

 

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From: 18 September 2020 14:00 To : 27 September 2020 17:00
Location: 333 Lower Rainham Road, Rainham, Kent, ME7 2XH
Cost: FREE