Birds, Bugs and Botanicals of the Bluecoat: A Blue Room Exhibition

Ah, the humble urban garden, where pigeons strut like they own the place, snails slowly conduct raids on the flowerbeds, and the occasional bee reminds us that life, against all odds, does go on.

While most of us are often in a hurry and rush past some of these amazing natural phenomenons, the artists of Blue Room, the Bluecoat’s arts project, have stopped to pay proper attention. This new exhibition asks us to look again, closer, at the biodiversity that exists and thrives right under our noses.

Drawing inspiration from the Bluecoat’s grassy and green courtyard, artists celebrate the flora and fauna that quietly exist in the shadows of office blocks and cafés. Showcased are birds, bugs and blooms, all turned into an incredible exhibition of contemporary art.

The works on display range from observational drawings to screen-printed collages, made collaboratively in the Bluecoat Print Studio. A highlight is a series of tactile 3D sculptures, created from recycled clay under the guidance of local ceramic artist Olivia Rowan of Clay Workshop.

Contributors include Alfred Beesley, Amy Dykes, Susan King, Tracey Ledley, Andrew Mellor, Kayleigh Murray, William Richardson, John Rigby, Ottman Said, Jean Smith, John Steele, Jane Walsh, and Veronica Watson. Each artist brings their own lens (or magnifying glass!) to the overlooked wild things of Liverpool.

This is a great exhibition for everyone, regardless of age. Young people and adults alike will enjoy looking at the different types of art, finding out loads about urban wildlife, exploring the Bluecoat Garden and enjoying the sheer wonder that exists in the places we can sometimes forget to look. With such a big array of fascinating artwork, the experience will hopefully encourage some creativity for those younger, budding artists, too – or maybe for those adults who haven’t picked up a brush or a pencil in a while.