The Annual Exhibition of the LSA is in full swing at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery in Leicester. An exuberant show, works from sculpture to printed and stitched silk, painting to print-making adorn the walls.
If one picture speaks a 1000 words then much is going to be said about this year’s show. Helen Gyngell’s 3 dimensional works are made of copper, a figure and a peapod, both drawing on her fascination with life bursting out of rounded forms, which began with working in her allottment. Trevor Bent’s has a mixed media piece of wood, ceramic and crystal resin. “This is my comment on global warming”, Trevor says, “it has connections with Woodhenge and the melting of the icecaps”.
Jenny Cook’s “Another corner of Venice” – a most unusual piece; a 3- dimensional vision of Venice carved out of a single piece of wood and painted. Jenny says “It is 38 years since I visited Venice, and I was hugely inspired.”
David Easton’s paintings explore the patterns and rythmns of landscape. A Member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, David’s latest paintings play with imagined shapes colours and textures of the core of hills that run through the country. Many other pieces are on show – over 150 in total from other well-known artists such as Alan Oliver, Nora Dalzell, Ralph Dalzell, Barbara Stewart, and Susan Sansome as well as from the Society’s newest members.
In June the Society moves straight on to the Picasso Explored exhibition. Over 21 artists are taking part in this project to produce works in the spirit of Picasso. New three-dimensional works from John Barradell and Helen Gyngell, as well as many other works will make an interesting exhibition – and the ideal place to pick up a “Picasso” to add to your collection!
The Picasso Explored exhibition ties in neatly with the Picasso Ceramics exhibition also being held at New Walk. The collection of Sir Richard Attenborough, the pieces range from 1947 to his death in 1973. Artists have taken some of Picassocs ceramics as insiration for their new works.
Continuing the Picasso theme, this years LSA Art Lecture is by Vivien Heffernan. Surely there has never been an artist who produced such an enormous variety of styles and techniques and in such a wide variety of media? The talk will focus on Picasso’s paintings as well as some sculpture, up to 1939; his Blue and Rose periods, the development of Cubism, his ‘classical’ period, later more dislocated works as well as tender family portraits and his passionately felt ‘Guernica’.
Vivien Hefferman was an art teacher and university lecturer in art history. She is now free-lance and has lectured for NADFAS in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. She is also a practising artist.
Later in the year (apply by 8th September, submission date 22nd September), applications to the Society can be made, followed soon after by the AGM. October will also find the Society exhibiting in Leicester – details to be confirmed.
Of course, Society members are also very active throughout the year in other events, many holding solo exhibitions and taking part in group events such as Open Studios.
There is no doubt that the Leicester Society of Artists is very busy in 2007 for full details of all their activities check out the web-site at : www.leicestersocietyofartists.com or look out for the full events guide in Tourist Offices, libraries and many other venues.
Mikki Longley - Artist
A unique event took place on Sunday 14th October when over 200 pinstriping & airbrushing enthusiasts attended the Pinstriping UK Open Day and Panel Jam organized to launch the UK’s first 100% Pinstriping workshop in Wigston.
Leicester
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