Cockermouth 2008-2010
Cumbrian artist Derek Eland has volunteered to help the town of Cockermouth in its regeneration and resurgence after the devastating floods of November 2010 by becoming its artist in residence.
Works
The artist will work with the town’s Chamber of Commerce, the Council and the people of Cockermouth to create an artwork which will be used as an image for the town. The original artwork will then be auctioned with the proceeds going to the Cockermouth relief fund.
Derek Eland has regularly exhibited at Cockermouth’s Neo’s Gallery since it opened 5 years ago and had a large number of paintings in the gallery at the time of the floods. He will now use the empty space at Neo’s as a base for the project. As artist in residence Derek will be spending a number of days a week in the town up to the end of July 2010 and will be based at Neo’s Gallery on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm. In the gallery space people of the town will be able to see work in progress, contribute ideas about what makes Cockermouth on to a giant canvas and discuss how the town has responded to the floods. The art works will involve drawing and painting, film and photography.
Derek Eland was born in Penrith and has family roots in the Cockermouth and Blindcrake area and said “I have always known that Cockermouth is a very special place; this was the case before the floods and is more so now. I desperately want to try and help with the recovery and support the tremendous work which is going on. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve spent time wandering around Cockermouth looking and seeing – there is an amazing energy and spirit about the place and I want to use my creative skills to harness and build on this spirit. I really hope I can help”.
Derek has just completed an art residency with Carlisle City Council where he was based in the city for 18 months and created “Love Carlisle” as a project to challenge and question culture and attitudes.