ADELE Karmazyn, the featured artist in the latest edition of international poetry magazine Dream Catcher, is exhibiting in the front gallery of According To McGee, York, until April 4.

Her exclusive new collection formed the backdrop to the launch of issue number 38 at the Tower Street gallery in a fusion of contemporary art and contemporary writing.

The event saw poets and writers from all over the country gather at According To McGee, not only to herald the new edition but also to mark the passing of the editorship from John Gilham to Wendy Pratt.

Among those present was the founding editor, Paul Sutherland, who started Dream Catcher in 1996 as part of his MA degree at York St John University.

Gallery co-director Greg McGee says: "I’ve been the art adviser for Dream Catcher for five or six years, and it’s always been a blast to work with the team on sourcing artists, providing forewords, helping celebrate them.

"This time we thought, 'let’s nail a date where we can have the poets, writers, editorial team, and new artists to really distil what this exhibition is all about'.

"Poetry and art intersect all the time, but not necessarily in a gallery space. I have to say that Adele Karmazyn just had to be our chosen artist for this show. Her work is literary and has a Steam Punk quality.

"It’s so stylish, we’ve had restaurant owners from London come up to York especially to view it in the flesh. I’m also looking forward to seeing it in the next issue of Dream Catcher later this year."

On show at According To McGee is Fallen Finery, Adele's series of images designed to create a sense of curiosity and wonder. "Placing the high society of the 19th century with the urban graffiti backdrop plays with the mind," suggests Greg. "Each image is created with no fewer than 40 digital layers to build a cohesive and intricate picture."

Adele says of her latest work: "I collect imagery all the time. Every path I take, everywhere I look, I see material I can use. Sometimes I capture it in my mind, sometimes with my camera.

"When asked to create an exclusive collection for According To McGee, I was delighted. My work involves scanning 19th century photographs, of which I have a growing collection. With these I intertwine modern-day backgrounds, photographs and objects to take the viewer into new worlds and timeless places."

Co-director Ails McGee adds: "Adele is perfect for Dream Catcher’s stylishly uncanny vibe, and she’s perfect for our gallery too. This collection is exclusive to our gallery, and it’s here until April. If you need an excuse to come into York, let macabre and desirable art be it!"

Meanwhile, Dream Catcher’s Alan Gillott is proud of the magazine’s quality and longevity. "Dream Catcher is renowned for the quality of its writing and the eclectic hand used to select contributions," he says, "This quality and range was reflected in the readings at the Sunday launch.

"Among the readers was Helen Entwisle, who coincidentally was published in the first issue, and in another first, Marius Grose travelled all the way from Bristol to read Taking Control, his first poem ever to have been published.

"Joe Williams, whose poetry collection An Otley Run has been launched at the Eagle and Child in High Petergate, read his twist in the tale of the Sphynx’s riddle. York author Tom Dixon, whose work On Suicide Bridge has been published by Stairwell Books, read his contribution Beware The Compere, a warning to anyone over-running their allotted slot at an open-mic night."

New editor Wendy Pratt is the poetry correspondent to Northern Soul and offers free mentoring to disadvantaged women as part of the Womentoring project.

Fallen Finery: Art and Poetry runs at According To McGee, Tower Street,York, until April 3.

Charles Hutchinson