Art exhibitions at the Henderson Hub
We stage a number of art exhibitions throughout the year and we also have a community art wall in Elvira’s Coffee Shop where you can display your work.
Lydia harris art exhibition
free entry, 20-27 april
We’re delighted to be hosting local up and coming artist Lydia Harris in her debut exhibition.
Lydia Harris (LYD THE PAINTER) is an independent mixed-media artist, her pieces are not just canvases but also light boxes and fabric. Lydia’s paintings are a celebration of colour, form and movement, which explore different aspects of the ‘Mind and Body’.
She was born on the 21st June (Summer Solstice) 1997, grew up in Abbots Langley and still lives here. As soon as she was able to hold a crayon, Lydia was scribbling, doodling then drawing, sometimes on paper, sometimes on her bedroom wall, sometimes even on herself.
Lydia’s artwork merges colour theory with both traditional and contemporary techniques. Though most of her artworks are visually striking and pleasing, there are aspects of some that address the more profound issues of mental health, world events, music and more.
In this collection, colour is the main ingredient. Colour surrounds us, though do we take time to consider it? As children, we are asked ‘what is your favourite colour?’ Our perceptions of colour are personal and may vary… is the red I see the same ‘’red’’ that you see?
Lydia’s interest in colour theory and issues surrounding mental health developed whilst studying Fine Art at Loughborough University (2015-2019). After researching into the psychology of ‘ink-blot’ tests, developed by Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach in 1921, Lydia used ‘light-boxes’ to display her own ink-blot experiments as if they were brain scans.
Following her own mental health experiences, and combined with leaving university, she found it difficult to remain creative. Surprisingly, it was the clouds of Covid and the limitations of lockdown which proved to be the silver lining for Lydia to rediscover her love of making art. This became her very own therapeutic outlet. Lydia started by painting directly onto clothes to repurpose forgotten second-hand garments. This led on to further creativity in planning out canvas pieces and utilising art for her own peace of mind. Lydia has continued to build a portfolio, culminating in this exhibition at the Henderson Hub.
creative canvas challenge
Time to get creative and support the Hub - by creating your very own canvas art work to put on show. You may even get it sold.
Our Creative Canvas Challenge invites all artists - no matter your level or style - to use the same sized canvas to create an original piece of art. It'll then be part of an exhibition open to the public, where people can buy what they see.
You can get your canvas and registration form from Elvira's Coffee Shop at the Henderson Hub (£2.50, max 2 per artist).
You then need to hand in your artwork on 16 June between 10am-12noon.
The exhibition and sale will run from 19-29 June and form part of the Abbots Langley Festival..