Social enterprise Eazl Arts has partnered with PledgeMusic for its Art In A Corner charity fundraising project.
The project features new paintings from musical acts, commemorating the 50th anniversary of The Beatles only collaborative painting, Images Of A Woman.
With the project endorsed by Sir Paul McCartney, the likes of Elvis Costello, Brian Wilson, Imagine Dragons, Years & Years, The Libertines, Florence & The Machine have created their own original Images Of… artworks to be auctioned later in the year to support Youth Music and Children & the Arts.
Other participating artists include John Illsley (Dire Straits), Wolf Alice, Jerry Dammers (The Specials), Boy George, Circa Waves, The Wombats, Level 42, The Right Hand Lovers, The Bootleg Beatles, The Pretty Things, and Jann Haworth, co-creator of the revered Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.
Superfans can get advance access to limited edition prints of the artworks via PledgeMusic - also up for grabs is special project experiences and other band-related material.
In addition to the activity on PledgeMusic, the project artwork will go on display in series of exhibitions across the UK, throughout September and October, to be held in special exhibition spaces operated by Cass Art and Pretty Green. Exhibited work will include backstage photos of The Beatles on tour in Japan in 1996 by renowned British photographer Robert Whitaker. The original paintings will then be sold via an online auction in October, with the proceeds going to the two charities.
Richard Unwin, creative director, Eazl Arts, who’s been co-ordinating the project, said: “It’s been a huge amount of fun putting the project together, but also a lot of work. Challenges have involved liaising with so many different partners and participants and keeping everyone on the same page, not to mention fitting things in with the schedules of bands and performers who are literally flying around the world at any given moment. We’re really proud of what has been achieved and can’t wait to see it all come together for the exhibitions.”
Paul Aspell, founder, Eazl, added: “This past year we’ve been blown away by the amount of support that’s been afforded to the project. From the likes of Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr supporting, to the beautiful and rare artwork created by some of today’s most important artists. Enabling Youth Music and Children & the Arts to carry on the great work they’re doing, we hope that fans dig deep, making a difference to the children and young people who depend on these wonderful charities, and getting their hands on a remarkable piece of music history.”
Youth Music CEO Matt Griffiths said: “We’re thrilled to hear that so many revered musicians and bands have been putting time and effort into creating paintings that will support our work using music to transform the lives of young people in challenging circumstances. We’re hugely grateful to all those taking part and, of course, to Eazl for creating such an original fundraising project.“
Sir Paul McCartney, commented: “We painted Images Of A Woman because we had nowhere to go, locked down in our room amid a national controversy and with 35,000 police officers assigned to protect us. Fifty years later, the painting has become a piece of art and music history. I’ve been looking forward to seeing how the Art in a Corner bands express themselves in paint. It’s a great opportunity to record something that can live on alongside the music.”
Cass Art has also donated art materials closely matching those used by The Beatles in 1966, while Arqadia has agreed to frame and mount the finished artworks. International parcel delivery company ParcelHero will ship the painting kits and the finished artworks around the world while Fencor provided the necessary materials for transporting them safely.
When The Beatles completed their painting Images Of A Woman in 1966, a circular lamp was in place in the middle of the canvas and the blank circle created by it was where George, Ringo, John and Paul signed the painting. To recreate the same element, Eazl brought together lighting specialists Shine Lighting and Heathfield to provide lamps to the artists taking part.
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