A sea-themed exhibition that salutes the talent of local artists and celebrates the arrival of the Tall Ships, opens this week at The Gallery, Gateshead Central Library.

Flotilla! 2 will run from Friday 22 July to Saturday 17 September.

The exhibition is based around images of the sea and includes new pieces by John Coatsworth of the Tall Ships arriving on the Tyne, watercolours of well known local scenes by Charlie Rogers, and stunning photographs of water by Shona Branigan.  Prints by Rebecca Vincent, Pat Forsyth and Alison Rogers will also be featured along with digital prints by Angela Forsyth and Karen Little and mixed media by Allison Harris.

Also on display will be stained glass by Gillian McGinley, glass by Papershed and jewellery by Ruth Haldane.

To coincide with the exhibition, Gillian McGinley will be running a stained glass workshop on Saturday 20 August at Gateshead Visitor Centre, St Mary's Church, Oakwellgate from 10am to 4pm. Based on a nautical theme, participants will create a 'Light Catcher' using copper foil techniques.
Places must be booked and paid for in advance, price £8.00. Contact Gateshead Council on 0191 477 5380.

Flotilla! 2 is one of the highlights of Leviathan - a programme of more than 30 community events organised by Gateshead Council. Throughout the summer, activities, workshops and events centred around the sea are bringing together local artists, voluntary groups, amateur organisations and schools.

Running alongside Flotilla! 2 is Flotilla! and The Sea Captain's Bed at Gateshead Visitor Centre, which run until Sunday 9 October.

Councillor John McElroy, cabinet member for culture at Gateshead Council, said: "Supporting the work of home grown artists and providing an accessible outlet for local art is vitally important to retain creative talent in the region and inspire future generations of artists. Having a strong programme of local art that establishes the borough as a creative place also offers us a platform from which to attract high profile artists, such as Spencer Tunick, who's recent street art project drew international attention to the region.


*Flotilla! features a spectacular collection of small boats,
suspended from the balconies of Gateshead Visitor Centre, created by 24 local artists who have been inspired by Gateshead's rich maritime history and the borough's involvement in the Tall Ships' Races 2005.

*The Sea Captain's Bed is a piece inspired by the lives and dreams of sea captains that depicts elements of shipbuilding, maritime history, sailors folklore and a sense of the captain's dreams and memories. Created by four artists from Bill Quay, Gateshead - Clare Satow, Bruce Tuckey, Lucy Broadhead and Jenny Burns - the double size bed features superb woodwork, embroidery, glasswork and printed fabrics.