October 1st -10th 2008 at the PR1 Gallery, Preston
then toured on to Wigan & Leigh School of Art Parsons
Walk, Wigan, WN1 1RS
19th November - 05th Jan 2009
This was a touring show that highlighted the art of Geeta
Rao, a former student of Wigan and Leigh School of Art in
Photography and also a popular life model. After studying
at Wigan and Leigh School of Art, Geeta went on to study at
the University of Central Lancashire, where she completed
a BA honours in Photography. Tragically Geeta was murdered
in February 2008, during a years sabbatical from an MA in
Fine Art she was undertaking at the University.
As a daughter, mother, artist and friend, Getta has the many
personas of the classic modern multi-tasker, with effortless
enthusiasm for life. She had the ability to touch the lives
of many people, and make them feel as though they where the
only person in a room.
This exhibition at the Wigan and Leigh school of Art is funded
by UCLAN. The aim of this show is to celebrate Geeta’s
achievements, her contribution to the world as an Artist,
and to mark the loss of one so bright and selfless.
This exhibition was first shown in October 2008 at the PR1
Gallery Preston. It evolved through working closely with her
family, and a selection of her friends and associate, who
have supported the project in various ways. All these people
were instrumental in contributing to the success of the project.
As a personal friend of Geeta’s, I have tried to honour
her in my own small way by acting as the curator of this show.
Thanks to: UCLAN, Wigan and Leigh College, Mike Hesketh, John
Roberts, Darren Beatty, Kim Rigby, Dave Core, Joe Baker, Stuart
Gray, Anna McDade , Turnpike Gallery, etc. for their help
and support.
The retrospective of Geeta Rao is dedicated to her mother
Leela Rao, 73, who passed away shortly after Geeta. She survived
the attack on her life in February that claimed her daughter,
but never recovered from the trauma and loss.
Curator: Tony Knox
