Corby - Art Town II

Art has literally exploded over Corby Town in recent months. Big Art in the shape of Bill Drummond's 'The 25 Paintings' touring concept, Art with a Message in the shape of the Knife Angel, and perhaps best of all, Local and Accessible Art brought to you by the HNC students at Tresham College, and the rolling revues at Corby's very own venue for the arts, the Rooftop Arts Centre.

Now that Corby's Arts Centre has come down from the lofty heights of its original Rooftop hideaway, settling into a much easier to find ground level venue on New Post Office Square, art can literally not be missed in the town. Which can only be a good thing, particularly given that the UK City of Culture award has now been democratised to include 'Local Areas' from 2025. I believe Corby Town stands poised as the odds-on favourite to take the coveted title in 2030 (perhaps in tandem with Kettering nr Corby if they ever get their own terrific Alfred East Art Gallery open again), you heard it here first...

The latest art jamboree to spring up at the Arts Centre is the 2022 Abstract Exhibition, a particular favourite sub-genre of mine, in fact the more abstracty the better for my taste. The exhibition runs until the 22nd of October (Wed - Sat), so you've plenty of time to have a look. But just in case you can't, I had a look for you, extending the abstraction of the day to take in a few of Corby's lesser-known pieces of street art on the way.

The Spirit of Corby (right) is a steel sculpture located in New Post Office Square, rescued from oblivion by a group led by former steel worker Dennis Taylor some 20 years ago. It originally stood in Queens Square as part of a larger series of works including an attractive pond and fountain, and what appears to have been a 'rocket' style sculpture (whatever happened to that!). I've searched long and hard for the name of the Royal Society artist who designed these, sadly without success as yet.

Also rescued from the ignominy of demolition is this portico (below) from the old Stewarts & Lloyds Steelworks offices. Perhaps grim art at best, but an important relic of the towns industrial past preserved for posterity.

Brutalist art fans probably travel miles to see what is surely one of the finest examples of an Electricity Sub-Station in this or any town called Corby. Located just off the square near Everest Lane, this correctly impenetrable squareform edifice pays homage to the local ironstone that characterises much of the area with a bold stone frontage, and solid industrial square ...err, form.

Municipal art and design are frequently overlooked in town centres like Corby. My advice is catch it whilst you can, because in this age of austerity and never-ending cuts to local budgets, they're disappearing fast, and no expense is likely to be spent on any replacements. These central reservation flower planters once characterised the whole of the commercial centre of Corby Town, back in the days when motor vehicles were welcome to travel along the now pedestrianised Corporation Street. Examples survive at the top and bottom of the town though, decorated with an attractive Tudor Rose heraldic device, an historic symbol of English unification, so what they're doing in Corby is anyone's guess...

Which brings me nicely to 11 O'clock opening at The Candle Arts Centre, so here's some of my personal favourites from the Abstract Art Exhibition. Do go and find your own favourites, some of the pieces are even for sale.