Georgie Wheeler going all Yellow…

Meet Georgie Wheeler, the YELLOW curator

Georgie Wheeler is curating a show called YELLOW at the Stade. Georgie Wheeler, aka G_wizz_wheeler is an active Hastings illustrator/artist whose work is well known, popping up on murals, posters, and electricity boxes. She has recently designed the programme and marketing materials for the Hastings Comedy Festival. Jude Montague interviewed her for Hastings Online Times.

This is the second year you have curated a group of local artists at the Stade Hall. Last year the theme was ‘Great Escapes’ – this year the theme is ‘Yellow’ – Why YELLOW?
I chose yellow as a theme because of the positive connotations with sunshine and Summer but also because I thought it would invite a broad range of responses, some literal and some off the wall. It was this spectrum of creativity I was pursuing through the loose exhibition concept.

Why the particular artists who are taking part? What do they have in common or what do you look for when selecting participants?
I originally approached 13 local artists in 2022, due to a bright and feel-good element to their work, either stylistically or colour palette wise. Many of the original artists are exhibiting again as part of the collective, so I hope we will capture a similar colourful and bold aesthetic when it all comes together.

Humour is really important in your art. Can you tell me a little about that. What makes a work of art effective and/or funny?
I enjoy making myself smile through lightweight puns and concepts and I hope to engage an audience on the same feel-good level through character interplay, over the top emotional narrative and nostalgic imagery. I think there is a lot out there to make people feel anxious and bogged down, and I hope that my work offers light relief from this.

What can we expect from this ‘yellow’ exhibition?
I anticipate Yellow to be an eclectic, engaging, varied and memorable combination of painting, graphics, sculpture, installation and film. Hopefully the audience will enjoy analysing the many deviations and interpretations on the theme.

YELLOW opens for the private view, at the Stade from 6.30 on Friday 16 June, and is open between 10–5pm on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June. It is an eclectic group show, featuring 15 local artists, curated by Georgie Wheeler. The work is a response to the starting theme of yellow, and artists have explored a range of mediums to capture their own interpretation of this theme.

You can follow Georgie on Instagram or check out her website.

You can read more about the Hastings Comedy Festival by following this link.

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