The Past is Present

A powerful collaborative exhibition curated by Swanage-based artist Sharon James with Development Education in Dorset (DEED.)

The exhibition at Lighthouse Poole is the project’s second show and brings together Sharon James’ ever-evolving Blackground works with nine new pieces, a film essay and a book of 50 images with the stories that lead to their creation.

The Past is Present encompasses visual art, film, writing and textiles with the intention of opening up a broader conversation about history, memory, and identity. Exploring heritage, identity, and lived experience alongside African textiles rich in symbolism, the exhibition weaves past and present into a bold, visually compelling dialogue on legacy and meaning.

“Some people say that’s all in the past, but it’s constantly coming up in the present. It’s our heritage.”

Sharon James is also a member of Boscombe Radicle Arts Collective.

You can find out more about the exhibition in a Lighthouse interview with artist and curator Sharon James HERE.

Please join us for The Past is Present: Art Exhibition & Book Launch Party for a free afternoon of art, music, food and conversation in the Main Gallery on Sat 10 Oct, 12-4pm. No RSVP needed.

Make sure to visit DEED’s 1944 We Were Here: African American GIs in Dorset exhibition on the Mezzanine Gallery as part of Black History Month at Lighthouse Poole.

Supported by DEED, BRAC, UMOJA Arts Network and Lighthouse Poole.