Art in the Park 2023

 

A Celebration of Warwickshire Artists as Art in the Park Returns to Jephson Gardens

20/06/2023

Author: Grace Newman

Get ready for a vibrant and immersive art experience as Art in the Park returns to Jephson Gardens in Leamington Spa, UK. This highly anticipated event, taking place on Saturday 5th, and Sunday 6th August, brings together talented artists from the region, showcasing their unique creations in a picturesque setting. From stunning sculptures and paintings to whimsical animal art and drawing masterpieces, there is something to captivate every art enthusiast's heart.

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Charity Art Exhibition

WA Annual Exhibition 2013 Prize Winners

The Warwickshire Artists annual exhibition 2013 was held at Althorpe Gallery, Althorpe Street, Leamington Spa the first two weeks of October. 

Prizewinners were chosen by Tammy Woodrow from Leamington Pump Rooms Art Gallery and Gordon Fyfe from Keele University.

Below are the winning artworks and the judges comments.

1st Prize: Sheila Millward 'Still Knocking'

The judges thought this work to be particularly original in its re-interpretation of a familiar religious story. 

They felt that the collage of found art, in juxtaposing driftwood and an old engraving, worked at more than one level.  

It conveys the original allegorical meaning that finding redemption merely requires the sinner to ‘open the door’. And it adds a new layer of meaning by inviting us to imagine that we, the viewer, might discover Hunt’s Biblical message in the accidental association of the remains of a door and a worn Victorian reproduction of the original.

2nd Prize: Hilary Roberts 'Boy with Cockerel'

The judges found this photographic portrait striking.  

They liked the way in which the tight composition of boy and animal invites us to return the boy’s gaze, to speculate about the relationship between the two and, perhaps, to imagine their possible futures.

Themed Prize (Man versus Nature): Katharine Barker 'Past Perfect'

The judges felt that this work came closest to the competition’s brief with its exploration of the effects of time on the cultural heritage. 

They thought that the abstraction of this work was particularly successful because it had something to say about the universality of man versus nature and the fate of our civilization.

Two commendations

Ann Cole and Victoria Smith

The judges were much taken by both these works for the different ways in which they explored the relationship between Man and Nature.  

Ann Cole with her joyous celebration of the fruits of the table is a wonderful celebration of painting itself.  

Victoria Smith’s archival ‘take’ on a lost tradition of annual beach holidays is particularly clever and thought provoking.  

  

The People's Choice: Bronia Sawyer 'Sustenance'

Bronia's book sculpture won the People's Choice prize by an enormous lead over the other artworks in the show. Below are the results of the top ten favourites.

54. Bronia Sawyer - Sustenance.

18. Neil Phillips - Cosmos.

17. Sheila Millward - Still Knocking.

17. Katharine Barker - Close to the Storm.

16. Bronia Sawyer - Paper Flock.

15. Sally Carpenter - Drone Control Center.

14. Amy Dodd - Breeding, Beauty and Brains.

13. Hilary Roberts - Boy with Cockerel.

12. David Lewis - Langres, Rue de Joseph.

10. Amy Dodd - Great Expectations.

9. Sonya Bond - Courage, Dragonfly Landscape.

Warwickshire Artists Annual Exhibition

             All welcome - 

                   We would love to see you.

Dust artist Mary Partridge's AMA talk

In her talk at Victoria House, Leamington Spa, Mary gave us a rare insight into the background of artistic development which led her to being the accomplished dust artist she is today.
Having created art for as long as she can remember alongside the ups and downs of family life, Mary’s early work began with life drawing. Attending the Access to Fine Art Course at Warwickshire College changed all that. It opened her eyes to new artistic experiences, especially at the sculpture classes led by Mark Taylor. Touching things, construction, deconstruction and creating art from almost anything turned Mary’s work in a new direction.

After graduating from Birmingham City University Mary would often be found playing around with and constructing sculpture and installations from all manner of objects discovered gathering dust in her garage. A most memorable example was a piece created for the ‘Safe House’ exhibition in North Hall with art group ‘The Edge’ constructed from parts of a cot, chair and an ironing board. 

Mary had always visited churches and had a particular fascination with Anglo-Saxon churches. Using old maps and plans, she created different coloured pastel drawings depicting the growth and changes of these churches throughout the centuries. Recalling her Mother’s stories of the war, one in particular made an impression on her work. Coming out from the air raid shelter after the bombing of Coventry cathedral, everywhere was covered in red dust from the sandstone of the buildings. Mary then used turmeric, cayenne pepper and other powders to create transient maps of churches and cathedrals on the floor, which reminded me of the strong colours often used by Anish Kapoor. 

Finally, Mary decided on talcum powder as her medium. She discovered its fine molecules helped stick it to the ground for longer. Mary was able to place her work on Coventry Cathedral outside The Herbert Art Gallery for Remembrance Day. She went back each week to create a new one over four weeks.
Having found a medium she loved, more work followed in the form of messages, often humorous, in public places.

I particularly enjoyed ‘Things Happen’ outside Leamington Police Station and on a bridge ‘Stomach in, Shoulders back’. Further developments in her practice, and a studio at Althorpe Studios, enabled Mary to create very large block printed canvases. These were arranged on the floor of All Saint’s Church, Leamington Spa for Heritage weekend.Mary enjoys talking to people about her pieces and seeing their reactions to her work. Some people will walk straight over them as if they are not there and others will avoid stepping on them by walking around them. When created with talcum powder, women especially find them evocative as they sniff the air.

For Warwickshire Open Studios, word has spread of Mary’s house and gardens. Visitors flock to see and are amazed by the abundance of art and artifacts in her house and her wacky garden, with a pond, chickens and a folly. She is opening her house again this year for open Studios so make a note to pay her a visit. http://warwickshireopenstudios.org/artistsevents/magic-at-marys.aspx
Also she is exhibiting with contemporary art group ‘The Edge’ at the Electric Railway Museum at Baginton, another must see. http://warwickshireopenstudios.org/artistsevents/the-edge.aspx
Mary’s most recent activities involve negatives and church plans, and she is trying a new technique and seeing where it leads. We wait with excitement….

Grace Newman

Mary Partridge is a member of UK Artists.
See more of Mary's work here: https://www.ukartistsonline.com/artist-profile.aspx?artist=Mary%20Partridge%20Installation