Exhibition shows Beatles influence strong as ever

Aug 8 2007 by Philip Key, Liverpool Daily Post

Exhibition shows Beatles influence strong as ever

THE Beatles inspired many people, from fashion designers and hair-stylists to fellow musicians. Above all, the group influenced a whole generation of artists.

It is an influence that continues to this day as revealed in a new exhibition which opened in Liverpool yesterday.

Come Together 2007 at the Liverpool Academy of Arts in Seel Street asked contemporary artists – both local and national – to create work directly and indirectly connected with the Beatles.

Works flooded in and some 250 works are now on show in the gallery’s new temporary home, the Paint Warehouse in Seel Street.

There are portraits of the four, singly and together, paintings reflecting song titles, others Liverpool locations and even Beatle-inspired cushions.

Gallery director June Lornie, who organises this show ever year, has made her own unique contribution, a series of themed costumes.

She had artist Carl Hodgson create Beatles images on pieces of cloth and then cut them up to create clothes ranging from a full dress to waistcoats.

The exhibition tends to be dominated by images of the Beatles themselves – John Lennon remains a favourite subject as he has done every year – and the results are frankly variable.

COME Together 2007 runs at the Liverpool Academy of Arts until August 31, Mon-Sat noon-4pm, open throughout August Bank Holiday weekend. Admission is free.