NEWS: SOLO exhibitions @ Holmeside Coffee

The folks over at Sunderland’s Independent are continuing to use their space in diverse and interesting ways. The evolution of Holmeside Coffee, a café, performance space and the home of book and film clubs based within Independent, has proved a successful and welcome addition to the cultural scene in Sunderland. The team are now diversifying into art exhibitions, and will host the third in their series of SOLO exhibitions, which will see Sunderland photographer Andy Martin display his work.

Andy specialises in Victorian-era tintype portraits, and the work on display at the week-long exhibition, which begins on Monday 15^th December, will show portraits of Wearside residents alongside famous musicians including Gruff Rhys, Gulp, Paul Smith, Field Music and many more. Andy will also be setting up a pop-up studio where visitors are able to have their own tintype portrait taken.

There’s been a strong initiative in Sunderland to facilitate arts involvement and accessibility within the town of late, and it’s something Andy’s a wholehearted supporter of: “It’s vital that creatives have access to spaces such as Independent and Holmeside Coffee. Putting art into these everyday spaces helps to break down barriers and hopefully helps to reach a more diverse audience.”

Independent’s Ben Wall is equally thrilled to be hosting such a varied programme within the space. “The SOLO exhibitions have been really successful so far and we’ve been really impressed with the response we’ve had. We’ve always intended to use the space for more than just music and so it’s great to see people coming in and experiencing something a little bit different. You don’t need to be an expert – anyone can come down, see what’s going on, and maybe grab a drink.”

Andy Martin’s work will be displayed at Independent and Holmeside Coffee in Sunderland from Monday 15^th until Sunday 21^st December.