Exhibition at Farfield Mill

'Conversations with Water'

'A shining example of how a group show should look and hold together - a clear theme, beautifully interpreted  and superbly presented, including the samples available for handling'  Elizabeth Eaton, Farfield Mill.

Our exhibition, 'Conversations with Water',  in the Howgill Gallery at Farfield Mill, Sedbergh looks fantastic, we are all delighted with it.  Hanging an exhibition is physically very demanding and we are very grateful to Bridget, Grazyna and Sue, with the help of a few technicians, who spent a whole day putting it together.  To make the task easier, the layout had been loosley planned but it was good to have Elizabeth Eaton's tweaking and a real boost to receive her positive comments at the end.  

Cheshire Textiles are just one exhibition on view at Farfield Mill, there are four floors of interesting events centered around arts and crafts in addition to Weavers Cafe!

Converstions with Water runs until 2nd January 2013 but please check the website for opening hours

www.farfieldmill.org





Cheshire Textiles @ Farfield Mill

Phew! Just over two weeks to go and all my pieces for the exhibition have been photographed, tagged, wrapped, packed and recorded on the gallery stock sheet; all six are waiting to go!  This process is quite demanding and can take considerable time but there is an air of excitement, wondering what the exhibition will look like and hoping all the pieces will be selected.  It seems a long time ago since we visited Farfield Mill to look at the exhibition space and decide upon the title 'Conversations with Water'.

The Howgill Gallery is a lovely space with a variety of areas for presentation; this has encouraged some of us to move out of the frame and be influenced by the challenges of the gallery.  Not only will our pieces be for sale but we have also been making cards and smaller items, all of which will make excellent Christmas gifts.  Worth noting that Farfield Mill has one floor devoted to the work of local artists and together with a good quality cafe, it makes a great day out; who knows, you might find the perfect Christmas present! Jen

                                         Exhibition runs 17th November to 31st December 2012

                                   Opening Times - please check the website www.farfieldmill.org

 



David Nash at Kew, A Natural Gallery

Nash's workshop within Kew

Inside the Temperate House

Eucalyptus Block

Hiding in the Temperate House

Yorkshire Sculpture Park had been a fabulous venue a couple of years ago for the work of David Nash OBE (b.1945) and I was very excited at the prospect of seeing the work again, this time in Kew Gardens.
Sadly, I didn't feel it delivered, it failed to pack a punch; some of the work seemed rather contrived and a bit insignificant within the setting of Kew, they did not achieve what the Henry Moore's had done.

Hidden amongst the plants in the Temperate House were several small sculptures, some beautiful, like the image above but I felt they had no empathy with what was around them.  The majestic chair like sculpture, in its' own space had room to breathe and be admired. The warm damp conditions present will change the wood and this in itself might make it worth retuning to see what happens.   At the entrance to Kew stands the wonderful Eucalyptus Block, four trunks that have fused together creating a fascinating centre to peer through.  Is this Nash or is this nature?

The Wood Quarry is Nash's outdoor temporary studio, with two upturned tree trunks that can't fail to bring a smile.  He claims he responds to what the wood suggests and has more recently cast his pieces in bronze;  an interesting development and very difficult to visually distinguish between blackened wood and the bronze, as every mark and knot seems to be beautifully captured.

It was good to see the Sherwood Gallery which puts it all into context with drawings, photography and more pieces. Overall, it makes for a lovely day out and it does encourage a closer observation of the trees but perhaps Kew is just a bit too big for some of the pieces to make their presence felt.  Jen

'Voices Plus' at Waterside Arts Centre, Sale

'Voices Plus' until 13th October

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale.

An exhibition from the International Quilt Art group, showcasing new work by members from the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Hungary, Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark and USA.

The exhibition shows a wide range of work which really extends the boundaries of quilting.  Some pieces use more traditional techniques of quilting but extend these by using combinations of print, stitch and collage.  Others barely use quilting and incorporate applique layering and even paint to create textures and different surface qualities.

Content and scale vary from large, more heavily stitched hung pieces to a delicate 3D fan construction which lies in relief on a plinth.

A delightful variety of work of a high technical standard coupled with creative use of materials and ideas. 

Highly recommended.    Sue.

Turner, Monet, Twombly

Exhibition at Liverpool Tate until 28th October 2012

This is an amazing exhibition which brings together the later works of three diverse painters from different eras which range from late 1700's to 2011.  It shows the work of Turner, Monet and Twombly, three pioneering artists who certainly in their time pushed the boundaries of painting.

The exhibition is divided into seven themes which show the similarities in which the artists, despite the periods they lived in, use colour, brush strokes, atmosphere and subject matter to create visual splendours.  The works vary in size and subject matter but are displayed in such a way as to create a dialogue where the three converse across the centuries.  Through the juxtaposition of their work the exhibition also aims to underline not only how modern Turner and Monet were but also how Twombly used many classical themes.

Visitors will see the usual Monet's Water Lilies and Turner's London scenes but trhey will be looking at them in a different way and in a different context.

Do go to Liverpool and see the exhibition, it provides a new and very different experience. Sue.



Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2012

Richard Spare
'Goldcrest'   drypoint and watercolour

A breath of fresh air compared to previous exhibitions!  I can only think it is down to a more creative way of thinking when displaying the work and the expertise of coordinator Tess Jaray RA.  The largest gallery has abandoned its' huge paintings and instead there are scores of much smaller pieces forming a wave like pattern along its' length.  Yes, you still experience slight neck ache but there is room to step back, find your own space and enjoy the rhythms of the display without feeling overloaded.

My favourite room as always is the sculpture, installed by Alison Wilding. This too had a new layout with a greater concentration of pieces down the centre of the room, displayed at different heights.  With such a wide a variety of materials and no connection beyond being 3D, the initial impression is more 'junk shop' than RA but look closer and spot the gems.  David Nash's burnt oak with its' velvety texture and pleasing shape,  Lucy Glendinning's 'Feather Child', Dido Crosby's bronze pigmy rabbit and Nuala O'Donovan's layers and layers of unglazed porcelain beautifully arranged to create a basket like form.  So many beauties and then of course the challenging ones like Harriet Aston's brown paper bag with 'moon gold' ....why??

This year I felt there were more textile related pieces and particularly good to see Caren Garfen and Effie Jessop expressing their thoughts with hand stitch.  Two beautiful, cast conctrete posts resembling driftwood and enhanced with fibres - Eleanor Wright, would stand proud in any textile exhibition.

This year I felt it was an an excellent exhibition. Where else can you see the work of Royal Academians and there is plenty of their work on view, hanging next to that of amatuers?     Jen

Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 4th June - 12th August 2012

Conversations with Water

Conversations with Water

June, the month of festivals and the longest day, we anticipate summer flowers bursting with colour against a backdrop of blue skies and warm sunshine but what has June 2012 delivered?  Rain, rain and more rain. A relief for the south of England in that reservoirs are reasonably full again but for others too much rain has meant severe flooding and all the misery that goes with it. Without a doubt the topic of water in some form will have cropped up in conversations throughout Britain.

'Conversations with Water' is the title and theme for our next exhibition at Farfield Mill, Sedbergh in November.  It was chosen for the connection between water and the woollen mill and not the rain but it will be interesting to see if the wet weather has influenced any of the work!

Exhibition runs from 17th November - 31st December 2012

www.farfieldmill.org