Art with a laugh: Devon artist launches ‘WooHoo’, an art exhibition with a difference

An Exmouth-based painter who likes to have fun is bringing something new to Devon

in March 2018. Artist Anna FitzGerald is launching ‘WooHoo’, an exhibition focussed on art and performance which she describes as a 'week-long giggle'.

Anna is funding this non-profit-making exhibition herself and hopes the week willbring delight to everyone who visits. She is looking for artists and performers keen to raise a smile.

Anna explains, "This world needs fun, art and community and I think WooHoo ticks a lot of these boxes. So many people think galleries are dull and dreary and not for them. WooHoo will be a place where people will want to spend the day - talking loudly, laughing, eating cake and drinking coffee, and then in the evening maybe a cheeky beer or glass of wine... and more laughs!"

"Art and humour is a great mix but quite hard to curate. I am asking artists to roll up their shirt sleeves and find their funny bones, which is not as easy as it seems. There is a tendency for humorous art to be dismissed by critics, lots of artists have struggled with this. Some think comedy literally makes a mockery of their art. This is so far from the truth. I am amazed and pleased that so many artists have already stepped forward to exhibit from across the UK, Europe, even America and Russia, but we’d like even more. When I open WooHoo's doors in March, I aim to have over 100 artists covering all forms of humour and art, from installation through to traditional oil painting, from slapstick through to black humour.’

Anna describes her own art as 'painting happiness', with vibrant colour, quirky animals and happy people filling her canvases. Just like her art, Anna has boundless energy. As well as running regular ‘sip and paint’ art parties, she is the creator of Exmouth Art Trail and the artist behind 2016's Pom-Pom Field, four thousand rainbow-coloured pom-poms on Rolle Street which brought colour and fun to the town.

WooHoo is free to visitors and will take place daily 10am-11pm from 6th -11th March 2018 at Exmouth's seafront exhibition space, Ocean.