Art / News
130-year-old sketches of everyday life in Bristol
An exhibition at the Bristol Beacon features 130-year-old sketches of everyday life in Bristol drawn by a deaf artist.
Harry Bow drew much of what he experienced as a young man in Victorian Bristol – from the opening of the Clifton Rocks Railway to a walk to Portishead, which was then just a village.
On show until Friday, the exhibition from arts organisation Spectroscope formed part of Sign Festival Bristol which took place over the weekend at Watershed and the Beacon.
is needed now More than ever
Exhibition curator Cathy Mager with two of Harry Bow’s sketches – photo: Cathy Mager
Founder of Spectroscope, Cathy Mager, created the exhibition as a summary of 2,000 diary pages and several hundred newspaper articles.
She said: “This project has been a labour of love but I am confident when the people of Bristol see Harry’s drawings, they will experience the same fascination that I have.
“It is amazing to see the city I call home depicted in drawings from over a century ago by a fellow deaf artist and I have felt a sense of comradery with Harry from learning about his life and experiences.”
Main photo: Charlie Swinbourne
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