The winners of the Dickens 150 print exhibition have been announced.
The competition invited printmakers from across Medway and beyond to create special Dickens themed prints for a commemorative exhibition at Rochester Art Gallery to celebrate Dickens 150.
The project is the flagship event of the popular Medway Print Festival, now in its fifth year, which was poised to offer 47 events across 15 Medway venues this June before lockdown forced the team to take the festival online.
Although the gallery exhibition has been postponed the winners have been announced following a week of virtual celebrations to mark 150 years since the death of Charles Dickens.
The winning prints were created by Neil Mattingly, Gloria Holden, Adam Hanson, Heather Haythornthwaite, Paul Jerome and Matilda Flood.
A panel of expert judges had an extremely difficult task selecting and scoring all 100 exhibition entries and they were very impressed by the high standard of works submitted, the range of print techniques used and the ideas and varying approaches to the themes. All the work submitted will feature in the much awaited 'Last Dream of my Soul' exhibition at the gallery which is currently being rescheduled. The winners each receive a £100 prize.
In the meantime Medway Print Festival #mpf20lockdown is offering a packed online programme thanks to support from Medway Council. Talented Medway artists and the MPF team have been busy creating video demos, features and conversations encompassing all things print.
There is something for everyone, from printing with kitchen cupboard items and family activities, to discussions with artists, features on makers, a guide to a host of print techniques and a look at forthcoming and past print shows including entries to the Dickens 150 Print Open Call.
Finding innovative ways to bring communities together
Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: “In these unusual times it’s very important that we find innovative ways to bring communities together and I am pleased that a virtual Medway Print Festival has been able to go ahead. Thank you to all of Medway’s creatives for rising to the challenge and I would encourage residents of all ages to visit www.medwayprintfestival.com to find out more information and take part in the festival. Congratulations to all of the open call winners, and everyone who took part in the competition and I am pleased that the standard of entries was very high. I look forward to seeing the work on display once the exhibition has been rescheduled.”