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Contemporary Art Exhibitions

Marjan Wouda: Familiar

Complementing the beautiful landscape of Whitaker Park, artist Marjan Wouda has created three sculptures of a hare, dog and cow, exploring the storylore of Lancashire and its landscapes. 

In front of The Whitaker, Familiar is your chance to get up close and as personal as you like with Dandy (a two-meter supernatural dog inspired by the history of the Pendle Witches), The Dun Cow of Parlick (a bovine giantess who gave too much of herself) and Sir Hare, the largest sculpture at 3.6 meter in gorgeous rusty Corten steel.  

The title of the exhibition plays with the meanings of the word ‘familiar’; as an adjective: to know something or someone well and as a noun: a close friend, or a spirit that is the close companion of a witch. 

Visitors can access an audio recording of a re-telling by Jacqueline Harris of each of the three stories that inspired the sculptures via the QR codes on the sculpture labels. 

The three sculptures form the first outdoor stage of a temporary installation, to be added to by works shown indoors from 25 February until 7 May. 

  • Dates
    Monday 14th November 2022 – Sunday 7th May 2023
  • Tickets

    Free.

This event is supported by the Arts Council England

This event has expired. Bookings are no longer being taken.

Marjan Wouda is a Dutch-born, Lancashire-based sculptor of international renown.  Her work is spread far and wide, from New Zealand and Hong Kong to Europe, the Caribbean, and the US. Born on a tenant dairy farm in the north of The Netherlands, she came to England aged 19 and trained in art colleges in London and Manchester. In the year 2000, she moved to Lancashire where she feels she is growing roots. 

While often her work features animals, she is passionate about exploring the human predicament in a way that is engaging and curious. She loves the adventure of the making process, exploring materials playfully and allowing them their voice.  

Thank you to Castle Fine Art Foundry, Arts Council England, The Making Rooms, Blackburn, Steel Dynamics, Blackburn and The Cardboard Box Company, Clayton-le-Moors.

Additional notes:

  • Recommended age group is for guidance only if you have any questions on suitability please speak to one of our team members or email learning@thewhitaker.org
  • All activities are fully inclusive, please contact our team on learning@thewhitaker.org if you have any specific questions on accessibility
  • Unless otherwise stated, for family workshops you only need to book a ticket for each child attending. Accompanying adult is free
  • Activities can be booked via our website or by visiting our Welcome Desk
  • Whilst some activities are offered free due to our current funding from ACE and HLF, we have introduced ‘pay what you can’ for some events with a suggested donation. We appreciate donations to ensure we can keep activities running in the future
  • Our events cancellation policy can be accessed here.

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Page 1 2

Family Activities

Early Years Studio: Autumn & Winter 2023

This is a permanent event

Free Entry

Pop-Up Handling Sessions

This is a permanent event

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

Guided Tour of the Museum

This is a permanent event

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

Paddy Campbell Outside In – Inside Out

Thursday 27th July 2023 – Sunday 24th September 2023

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

Helen Angell, Harriet Mena Hill & Mandy Payne: Travels Through The Valley of Stone

Thursday 27th July 2023 – Sunday 24th September 2023

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

British Textile Biennial: Fragments of Our Time

Friday 29th September 2023 – Sunday 10th December 2023

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

British Textile Biennial: Fragments of Our Time – Opening Event

Saturday 30th September 2023

Films at The Whitaker

Rye Lane

Thursday 5th October 2023

Ticketed

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

British Textile Biennial – Curatorial walk through

Saturday 7th October 2023

Family Activities

Family Antics at the Museum

Saturday 7th October 2023

Workshops & Performances

Hands up Who’s Happy?

Thursday 12th October 2023

Workshops & Performances

Weaving Workshop with Jennifer Reid

Saturday 14th October 2023

Films at The Whitaker

Grace Jones: Bloodlight And Bami

Thursday 19th October 2023

Ticketed

Free Entry

Fragments of Our Time Family Textile Workshop

Sunday 22nd October 2023

Family Activities

Halloween Antics at the Museum!

Wednesday 25th October 2023

Family Activities

Pumpkin Trail

Saturday 28th October 2023 – Sunday 29th October 2023

Family Activities

Halloween special: Curator’s Talk

Saturday 28th October 2023 – Sunday 29th October 2023

Films at The Whitaker

The Fablemans

Thursday 2nd November 2023

Ticketed

Family Activities

Family Antics at the Museum

Saturday 4th November 2023

Family Activities

Cottonshed Theatre Company: Beware of the Doll

Thursday 9th November 2023

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