Art in the city

Date of Event: 19/02/2009 - 02/03/2009

/sLab in the city

Shop windows in the Bridges and Sunderland city centre will come alive with film, sound, sculpture and performance, in a bid to bring contemporary art to street level.

Funded by Sunderland City Council, Sunderland’s digital media lab, /sLab, will present a variety of work by a selection of artists, in shops and public sites throughout the Bridges and Joplings department store.

The art works focus on various themes, including northern culture and familiar city sights and sounds. Entitled ‘/sLab in the City’, the project will run during normal shop opening times from February 19 to March 2.

Councilor Mel Speding, portfolio holder for culture and leisure at Sunderland City Council, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this project, bringing contemporary art into the public domain. The pieces are intended to have an element of surprise with people walking by the Bridges and Joplings are not places people usually expect to encounter art, so the project will allow people a chance to see art on their doorstep.”

The project involves a mix of emerging and established artists who are currently based in the North East region and is supported by the University of Sunderland, Debenhams, HMV, the Bridges, Joplings and Sunderland Football Club.

Sunderland based curator, Victoria Maddison, said: “It is about inciting diversion and surprise for the passer-by in situations where people do not necessarily expect or invite an artistic encounter.

“/sLab has been doing some great work with international residencies, but for this project we wanted to be able to give it more of a local focus and link the university with local businesses and the general public.”

A preview event, which will include a tour of the work, will take place on Thursday February 19 at 5pm outside Debenhams.