Air Gallery Wells

A great new gallery has opened in Wells. Air Gallery, located above above children’s toy shop, Junior Twelve, is a wonderful space, showing a mixture of Fine Art and craft works. At the moment there are large landscapes by Simon Ledson (the curator/owner), more intimate portrait studies, bold abstract works, tiny paper shoes in frames, and the eerily beautiful photographs of Tamany Baker.

 

The craft gallery has some beautiful pieces by local makers.

The gallery space is contemporary-white, light and spacious. Looking forward to further shows.

 

RWA show

Visited the Open Show at the RWA (Royal West of England Academy) with a group of GCSE students today. As well as Bristol Museum, where we saw the permanent collection and an exhibition by Jamaica Studio Artists.

http://www.rwa.org.uk/currexh.htm

As usual there was a great variety and range of works-abstract/representational, painted/collaged/photographed/printed/drawn, small/large, well-known and lesser known artists.

There was an overall a sense of enquiry and thoughtfulness, and skill, present in all the works. I had seen some of the works before, over the last year or so, and some were present in The Bath Society of Artists Open Exhibition a few months ago. I think I must be seeing too many exhibitions if I keep seeing the same works! It was good to see Peter Blake represented as the guest artist-I have a soft spot for him. I like his marriage of Pop sensibility and Folk Art tradition.

HOME-A Hymn to the Planet

Really “enjoyed” the film HOME last night at Bath Abbey. Beautiful visuals of the Earth from above, but a depressing and uncomfortable message. Around 1000 people packed into the Abbey, and made it quite an experience.
http://www.home-2009.com/us/index.html
http://www.earthfromabove.com/

This film is an extention of The Earth from The Air photographic project that Yann Arthus-Bertrand has been involved with for the last ten years. First saw the exhibition at The Natural History Museum years ago, I think the first time it was shown, and was amazed by the images then. Now, with the growing awareness and agreement of the miss-use of the planets resources, not to mention climate change, they have an even deeper resonance and meaning. The exhibition is currently filling the streets of Bath.

Yann is now an ambassador at the Copenhagen Climate Conference.

Beautiful images, beautiful vision. Watch the film at the links above, and explore the photographs.

Kate Lynch

I came across Kate Lynch’s work in a book, and found the illustrations of shepherding and wool-making both attractive and satisfying in a warm and nostalgic way. The book itself full of energy and labour, both from herself and the people and lives she has sketched. There is a gorgeous use of shape, form, colour and texture, which evoke a comforting image of rural life. The images are colourful and bright, the compositions bold and striking. This is a great record of artistic and farming work.

An exhibition of the original illustrations has been touring the country.

http://www.katelynch.co.uk/

See her work at the Black Swan Arts Centre in Frome.