A new exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of one of Stoke-on-Trent’s most iconic artists opens in Burslem this weekend.
A Sense of Place will run from Saturday, 9 August, to Saturday, 21 September, at Barewall Studio in Market Place as part of the Arthur Berry 100 centenary programme.
It invites visitors to step into the world of the Smallthorne-born painter, poet and playwright through rarely seen archive photographs, sound recordings of his voice and excerpts from his writings.
The exhibition explores the locations that shaped Berry’s creative legacy, and is being hosted at Barewall Studio in the former PMT and café building, a site recalled in Berry’s autobiography A Three and Sevenpence Halfpenny Man.
Entry is free and the exhibition is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. A specially curated selection of artworks and items from the Arthur Berry Estate will also be available to purchase from Barewall Art Gallery.
Alongside the exhibition, a series of free summer walking tours led by local historian and author Mervyn Edwards will take place across three weekends, retracing Berry’s footsteps through the Potteries.
The guided tours will take place on:
- Sunday, 10 August: Smallthorne to the Moorland Inn (meet at Ford Green Hall Café, 10.30am for 11am start)
- Sunday, 17 August: Burslem to Middleport (meet at Barewall Gallery, 10.30am for 11am start – part of the Burslem Chartist Festival)
- Saturday, 23 August: Middleport to Wolstanton (meet at Middleport Pottery, 10.30am for 11am start)
Each walk lasts around an hour, with no booking required. Sturdy footwear is recommended.
Self-guided versions of the walking tours will also be available to download here, making them accessible throughout the centenary year.
Amanda Bromley, director of Barewall Art Gallery & Studio, said: “Arthur Berry’s legacy is rooted in the lived experience of everyday people and places. With support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we’re thrilled to unveil this exhibition and series of walking tours, giving audiences new and meaningful ways to connect with his work.
“Whether you’re rediscovering Berry or discovering him for the first time, A Sense of Place offers a powerful and personal insight into the world he captured so vividly.”
The Arthur Berry 100 programme forms part of the wider Stoke-on-Trent centenary celebrations, commemorating 100 years of the city’s status, and is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is being delivered in partnership by Barewall Gallery, the New Vic Theatre, the Arthur Berry Estate, Victoria Theatre Archive, Claybody Theatre, Keele University, Staffordshire Film Archive, Three Counties Open Art Exhibition and Appetite Stoke.
Volunteers are also being sought to support the exhibition. Anyone interested can contact Amanda Bromley on amanda@barewall.co.uk or 07932 717718.
