Launch Pad

18 March - 1 May 2005

The Black Dogs, Amelia Crouch, Pippa Hale, Kerry Harker, Simon Lewandowski, WalkerHill, Amy Wilson

From left to right: Vitrine launch at the old Odeon cinema in the Merrion Centre, Pippa Hale at Riley's, Simon Lewandowski at the Merrion Centre and Amelia Crouch at the Merrion Centre

Launchpad was the first in a two-part survey of Leeds and Yorkshire talent. We wanted to showcase some of the artists living and working here, who don't always get the opportunities or recognition they deserve. In this case, all the artists either lived or worked in Leeds, and many had links with the University. The work ranged from flashing lightbulbs warning the public to 'shop or die' to screenprinted vinyl banners mimicking closed shop shutters.

We made a film about the artists and their work, which was shown to 200 guests at the official Vitrine launch in the disused Odeon

inside the Merrion Centre on Thursday 28th April. Doug Sandle, Chair of the Leeds Initiative's Arts Partnership, gave an impassioned speech extolling the virtues of the artist-led sector in the city and issuing a rallying call to those present to work together for the greater good of the visual arts sector in the city.

Doug's essay 'Looking through the Glass' is included in the full-colour Launchpad catalogue, included in the new Vitrine publication, available from October 2006. Please see Publications page to order a copy.