Artists draw on Liverpool-New York pop culture for exhibition at Liverpool Academy of Arts

Nov 5 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Artists draw on Liverpool-New York pop culture for exhibition at Liverpool Academy of Arts

THERE has always been a special relationship between Liverpool and New York.

Now two artists have taken that theme to explore the pop culture of the two cities and the influence of their international superstars.

From New York to Liverpool, on at the Liverpool Academy of Arts on Seel Street until November 14, features the work of artists John Chatterton and Simon Pritchard, and displays a number of faces from the Beatles and Billy Fury to Blondie and Charles Bronson. “It’s spooky how the exhibition came together. John and Simon had contacted me about possible exhibitions and I said why don’t you get together, because it’s the same sort of thing,” said gallery director June Lornie. At the same time she met author John Kerri-gan, whose book Gateway to America explores the same links, and who got involved with a book signing at the launch of the show.

Finally, the Cunard Yanks – the Merchant seamen who brought American fashion and rock ‘n’ roll records home from their travels in the 1950s – have donated memora-bilia and the documentary film about them can be seen at the gallery. It’s the first solo exhibi-tion for John Chatterton

His striking paintings, a variety of Liverpool talents from Lennon and McCartney to Ian McCulloch and John Peel and international performers who have been to the city, form the majority of his work.

“Once I got the idea in my head of that Liverpool, New York theme I thought the connection was a fitting one,” he said.

Norwich artist Simon Pritchard is returning to the venue for his fourth solo show.

“This exhibition is pretty much based on things I love from both cities,” he said.

vickyanderson