There’s a real buzz around this exhibition!

Called ‘Stories from the Hive’, the free exhibition showcases her beehive-inspired work and opens with a special preview night at Hartlepool Art Gallery in Church Square on Friday 21 September from 6pm–8pm. The exhibition then opens officially on Saturday 22 September and runs until Wednesday 10 October.

Julie Cockburn and details from some of her work

Julie’s work explores the parallels between how she experiences and understands the world around her and how bees within a hive environment interact, communicate and successfully work with each other.

Using hexagonal structures within her work reflects the complex structure of a beehive with its hexagonal cells.

Julie, a Northumbria University Fine Art Masters graduate who lives and works in Hartlepool, says: “I am delighted to once again be showcasing my work at Hartlepool Art Gallery which provides the perfect environment to showcase my ‘hive-like’ creations.

“The materials I have chosen reflect elements of my childhood and different stages of my life.”

By using flawed or imperfect memories she gives them a sense of purpose by creating work of uneasy beauty.

Using bees and beehives as a metaphor for relationships past and present, she will be exploring the way people are – to a lesser or greater extent - interconnected and she will also be looking at the relationship between virtual and real time experience.

The gallery is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and entry to the exhibition and the related events is free. For more information call 01429 869706 or visit www.hartlepoolartgallery.co.uk