Art in Woodstock Festival

I spent a day in Woodstock on Thursday manning 'The Art Wall'. A great idea 'The Wall' was sponsored by several companies and constructed by a local building company. Children of all ages were given the choice of paints or felt pens and left to show their artistic talents on the wall.

The whole festival is run by a committee who organise the advertising, venues, handling of the art works and the invigilating duties of the artists. This year there were 60 artists in shops, galleries and hotels within Woodstock. I was exhibiting three of my paintings in the 'Real Wood Company' shop.

It is an ideal location as many visitors are in the town to visit Blenheim Palace, so the footfall is good as is the timing since it is half term and many people welcome it as a day out with their children. Perhaps next year some other members of SAF will apply although it is quite a distance to transport work. Maureen Toomey

Woodbridge Gallery Exhibition

Yesterday Stephanie Adams and I attended the private view of the Artists International exhibition of paintings and ceramics at the Woodbridge Gallery, Moseley, Birmingham. The group was formed by artists who are from or have resided outside the UK and this geographical diversity shows in the works on display. Solihull Artists Forum member Usha Khosla had some of her new pots on show, coloured at the rim with a beautiful aquamarine glaze.

Some of the paintings by AI member Ann Gibbons

The exhibition, held on 2 floors, continues until Sunday 10th October. For more details Tel. 0121 449 5581 - Jackie Mackay

SAF Exhibition at Packwood

Yesterday I went to the National Trust house at Packwood for the first day of the exhibition, inspired by a sketching evening last summer (June 2009 blog) by 10 members of SAF. The room, on the 1st floor was small (in fact it used to be a bathroom) but the works sat well in the space because they were all framed in a similar light oak colour as stipulated by the National Trust.

My piece was of a Majolica drug jar to be found in the adjacent bedroom. The colour of the finished painting, especially the background, had to be lightened in order to co-ordinate with the frame. I have done commissions where I have had to fit in with surrounding decor but never before a frame! The exhibition continues until the 29th October - for opening times checkout the Packwood House website. Jackie Mackay

Out Yer Tree at Coombe Abbey

Just returned from a soggy day at Out Yer Tree Outdoor Art Exhibition, today (Saturday) was the artists walk and talk, 32 artists discussed their work with various visitors to the Coombe Abbey Country Park. There is an eclectric mix of contemporary work, all hidden either in the trees, the lake, woods or in the formal gardens. It is worth a trip to visit to the Country Park, once you have got over the shock of £3.00 to park the car.

These are a couple of photos of my work of distorted hybrid flowers unnatural in shape and size, whimsical yet futuristic. Placed alongside plants and flowers from our natural environment evoke a feeling of unease in the way we view them. The Exhibition runs until 17 September. Avril Elward

Blacked Out in London

I was invited to join a group of artists from different parts of the country to exhibit in a show in London. ARCH 897 an old railway arch at London Bridge. As I like exhibiting in unusual places I accepted and went to London for a visit. The gallery was to be a dark space, only the work was to be lit, the space I was allocated was a separate arch which meant the work had to be a fair size to make any impact. I was intrigued by the noise of trains rumbling above, and felt what ever I made should evoke movement, trains, and colour. So here it is ‘Time Wheels’.

Jackie and Maureen suffered a very soggy day in London to visit the show and took this video for me The materials I used for the revolving piece, which relied on the viewer pressing a button to start was a soil pipe cut, heated and bent so as the Perspex discs could be bolted to the pipe. A car head light was fitted underneath to light up the whole thing. The mechanism for the movement was very much a Heath Robinson affair and intentional. The second piece, I used a large plastic tube with disco lights fitted which shone onto a mixture of found objects , the shadows then projected onto the wall, which gave an interesting effect as the colours changed. The preview evening was a great success, with around 150 people attending. For more information about other artists in the show www.blackedoutexhibition.co.uk. Avril Elward

Exhibiting at the Silverstone Classic

Last weekend I exhibited at the Silverstone Classic Car Event through The Historic Car Art Gallery with sixteen other artists in a marquee. Last year the event concept changed from being purely classic motor racing based to include live music concerts and this continued this year with performances by Dr Feelgood and The Yardbirds on Friday Evening, and Rick Parfitt Jr on Saturday evening. There were over 100 classic car clubs displaying over 5,000 members cars inside the venue and over 700 rare classic race cars worth well over £100 million were driven by around 1000 owner/racers including Sterling Moss.

Sales were not that good, I didn't sell anything but picked up three commissions which will keep me off the street corners for the rest of this year. I was also invited to show at the Guards Club at Windsor on two weekends, one of the weekends I already have an exhibition booked but may be able to attend the other. Stuart Spencer

Valerie at The Mill

The exhibition space showing 2 of Val's small paintings

Last Friday Valerie Just had 3 of her paintings on show at The Mill in Little Shrewley, run by Sue Lewis-Blake. Each exhibition is launched at an open evening from 6pm to 8:30pm on the first Friday of the month. After this, the work can be viewed by appointment for up to three weeks. The space is not large but the walls suit most types of artwork and it is well lit.

The end wall is painted blue which enhanced those works which do not sit well against white. The large painting in the centre is by Judith Hickling whose theme for her work is based around knitting. Even though it was a glorious summer evening the event was not well attended - but that did mean I was able to have more than my fair share of cheese straws. Jackie Mackay

North Worcestershire Open Exhibition

On Wednesday evening several SAF members went along to the private view of the North Worcester Open Exhibition held at Artrix, Bromsgrove. There was an eclectic mix of works including pieces from members Maureen Toomey, Lisa Marie Thompson, Jackie Mackay and Paula Hamilton. At the Artrix there is not a gallery as such but the work is displayed on white walls and along the corridors. The venue can be booked and provides a good footfall since the site is also used for live performance shows as well as a cinema. New member Rita Fletcher has her own exhibition there in September.

Primitive Matters

The event was well attended and the work which received the 'best in show' award was Primitive Matters by Karen Mclean. An interesting piece and part of a body of work regarding living standards in the Caribbean and the resourcefulness of the people living in shacks or primitive huts. I am still using the nutmegs I bought a couple of years ago from one of those huts - I remember them being much brighter in colour and being a shorty I'm glad they weren't on stilts. The exhibition is on until Sunday 13th June so pop along. Jackie Mackay

Spring Exhibition at Preston Bagot

On Friday night SAF held the Private view of their Spring Exhibition at Preston Bagot. There was a good turn out and the weather could not have been better. Helen Carslake of the Art Barn at the Old Rectory hung the exhibition and supplied plenty of good food and drink which was eagerly consumed by the gathered throng. However it was noted that when I left at the end of the evening some folks were sauntering back from the Crabmill pub having had a liquid top-up.

The selected works showed the diversity of the group and a wide range of skills and the pieces all sat together well as a complete exhibition. The Barn is open for viewing until Sunday 25th April, 10am-6pm daily. Jackie Mackay

Hilary Poole at Preston Bagot

SAF member Hilary Poole has some of her glass in the Autumn Exhibition at the Old Rectory Barn, Preston Bagot. The current exhibition is of quite traditional work and looks very good in the space. Car parking is at the side of the barn but can be a bit of a hassle if there are quite a few visitors.

If you have a spare couple of hours this weekend have a trip out there since we are considering this venue for a possible exhibition (also the farm opposite sells Dexter Beef – excellent with a full-bodied red). The exhibition runs until Sunday 18th 10am-6pm. JM