‘Rainbow Echos’ - A Collaboration by Jay Sykes &  Jayne Parker Johnson 

 

Presented by Norfolk Street Arts CIC & Art Matters Now 

 

This project has enabled Norfolk Street Arts to be responsive in its first commissioning programme and supported artists in producing new work and created opportunities to help bridge the gap of curtailment / loss of work providing a much needed project for the creatives involved. 

 

Responding to lockdown and Covid-19 this commissioning opportunity by Norfolk Street Arts has enabled Jayne Parker Johnson & Jay Sykes to develop and present their individual practices alongside each other and respond to Covid-19 each in a unique and complimentary way. 

 

‘Rainbow Echos’ combines the strengths (visual & sound) of two very different North East based artists. Jayne Parker Johnsons visual practice and Jay Sykes sound blends to form this sensory exhibition exploring peoples emotions and thoughts about the pandemic and the effects on the North East. 

 

Johnson and Sykes work each captures echos the virus has left on our society and explores themes of mental health, wellbeing and creativity and conversation as a form of coping throughout the lockdown both individually and as a community. 

 

Each artist in this exhibition has captured the darker moods and stories of lockdown and has showcased the echos of the pandemic while incorporating the positive themes of rainbow movement.

 

Covid-19 has had a huge effect on the the cultural sector as it has with the whole economy. These two commissions were funded through the emergency response funding by Arts Council England. Both artists practices had suffered as a result of the pandemic.