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05 March 2014

PassionArt brings Easter alive

A visual arts trail across the centre of Manchester aims to link the Easter passion story to the reality of day to day life for ordinary people. Hosted by six major venues, more than 60 works of art by 20 artists from Manchester and beyond will be displayed during Lent (5 March - 21 April).

PassionArt's curator and local artist Lesley Sutton has organised the trail, exploring the relationship between faith and art and the impact they have in everyday life. 

"Though rooted in the Christian faith, the Easter passion story reflects on the universal themes of transformation, grief and loss, love and kindness and our longing for hope. The art works and the written meditations that accompany them will encourage the public to make meaningful connections with their own lives. Themes such as betrayal, forgiveness, compassion, bereavement, and the fear of death are part of the universal human experience," says Lesley, who is married to Alliance ambassador Roger Sutton.

The PassionArt works are in paint, sculpture, installation and new media and include works by Henry Moore and Holman Hunt. They are sited in six host venues including The John Rylands Library, Manchester Cathedral and the National Football Museum.

The art works range from the powerful figurative oil paintings of Woman of the Year 2008 artist Ghislaine Howard to Jane Poulton's sound work based on the rhythm of her mother's heartbeat recorded in the last weeks of her life. Two contemporary embroidered shrouds by Beverly Ayling-Smith, the Norman Adam's much admired Stations of the Cross and Mat Collishaw's evocative series of photographs, Last Meal on Death Row: Texas, that draws links to the last supper of Christ.

"In the Christian tradition Lent is a season of quiet meditation, self-denial and pilgrimage. People from all cultures and faiths seek the path of solitude and simplicity in their search for meaning. The PassionArt Trail creates opportunity for sanctuary in the midst of the busyness of modern life", adds Lesley.

The arts programme also includes some events including special PassionArt days at Manchester Art Gallery and The John Rylands Library with live musical performances by Epiphany.