our exhibition "Sunny Green Days"! It is really a happy place :-) more details on the exhibitions page. As well as the exhibition there are 5 new works in by Ed Kluz, looking great.
This month has seen lots of new suppliers to the gallery among them are Adele Taylor making the most fantastical silver kaleidoscopes and bubble blowers, really the most beautiful present for someone who has everything. Also featuring are the most delicate black and white ceramics from Christiane Kersten, hand thrown porcelain with photographic images of natural objects, items range from tiny pendants to vases. The jewellery display is enhanced by both Daisy Morrison's quirky silver birds and heart pieces and Dee Barnes frosted acrylic beads (almost edible!).
Pages that have been updated recently include Hester Cox's with all her latest work, there are also new art courses listed if you feel like coming to masham for a creative break. Plenty of more new work listed soon.
I am reeling a bit after finally finishing my degree in linguistics (it has been 5 years part time). So now when you're in I can also tell you all about phonemes with your purchase - only joking - I wouldn't do that to customers;-). I have loved every minute of it but now it's time to concentrate on painting again and other pursuits. If anyone feels the urge to sponsor me I am doing the race for life this year in aid of cancer research. It has been hard training the last few weeks running is not something I am really cut out for but it's fast approaching now and I will do my best!! Here's the link http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/josiebeszant
January has been a busy time - just look! This new toy room was our framing space - something that has now taken up residence in our studio. It was a big rush getting everything done in the 3 days we were shut but we just managed it with a few very late nights. Children and parents alike are loving the new space. On the floor is photographic grass tiles from Harvey Maria (http://www.harveymaria.co.uk/), the ceiling has clouds and birds and the wall has a tree with a squirrel and various other animals. If you look hard you can even see a purple spider with big boots, bugs and butterflies and a secret tree house! Of course it is not just the decoration and we have a new range of beautiful fairly traded mobiles as well as a ride on fire engine and some children's furniture amongst other things.The toy room has allowed the gallery rooms to have far more space and clarity. There is now more room to look at paintings and craftwork and display some exciting pieces. New work includes 2 new limited edition prints of Richmond by Ian Scott Massie, a series of woodcuts by Mary Farnell and some new batiks from Julian Chapman.
The walls have been resplendent with stories and images from round the world with the journeys exhibition from Hester Cox. Her new work was wonderful to see and has given a depth of insight to travelling in many senses of the word. I will be putting more of the new work on Hester's section of the site shortly.
It certainly gave me itchy feet and I have just returned from 5 days in the wonderful Krakow, Poland.It is a fantastic city, in love with angels that are everywhere and full of the most beautiful architecture and decorated churches. We visited many artists one of my favourite being Iwona Swiek-Front here is her site if you would like to have a look http://www.siwek-front.art.pl/. oh and the cakes!! :-) Krakow is just worth going for the cakes alone - can't tell you how good they were!! anyway back to mellow Masham...
Hester's show is about to come down and I am hanging the winter show - this is a collection of the galleries regular artists all of whom have contributed 3-6 new works for the show. So we have some great work from Ian Scott Massie, Ed Kluz, Colin Smithson, James Alderson, Tess Lord, Heather Dormer and I might even put some of mine on the wall!
Along with new paintings we have some beautiful new fused glass pieces from Sally Page, ceramics from John Egerton and Simon Griffiths and of course plenty of toys and smaller gifts for Christmas.
Also happening here are the preparations for the landlines exhibition - the images I have seen look stunning, please email me if you would like an invitation to the preview evening and are not on our mailing list. More details are on the exhibitions page.
Happening as I write is the Masham Market Place exhibition. The exhibition is on until the 6th August in St. Mary's church and has had an amazing number of visitors. I may be just a little biased here(!) but the show looks fantastic and is getting some lovely feedback. I am writing just 2 days into the exhibition and Howard has sold nearly all his figures. The paintings are selling well too - and visitors seem to be enjoying the sketch books and historical information. You can see some of the new prints from the exhibition on Ian Scott Massie's limited edition prints section.
Back home Masham looks wonderful in the full greenness of June. It has been busy with the Black Sheep Brewery Music Festival and the White Bear Beer festival. Next on the calendar is the the Steam Rally.
The Gallery has been busy as ever - there are 5 new small paintings from James Alderson- blue skies and the acid yellow of oil seed rape fields predominate. New work is also in from Colin Smithson and Rachel Stainsby making the walls very sunny even if it is grey outside.
Next month Ian Scott Massie and Howard Charles are having an exhibition in Masham Church and preparations here are frantic for it. For more details please see our exhibitions page. If you would like the newsletter from the gallery which gives details of forthcoming events and invitations to private views please let me know.
Sadly Hannah, who covers for me here when I am studying/painting/on holiday, is moving on this month. She has worked here for 4 years and I and many customers have appreciated her cheerful face and many skills she brought here.
Updates from the gallery include some fantastic work from artist Ed Kluz - a page of his work coming soon. We also have some energetic landscapes in by artist Robert Dutton this link takes you to some samples of his work http://www.axisweb.org/seCVWK.aspx?ARTISTID=9984. We also have some great new diachroic glass jewellery from Nouveau Glass and a range of other new work. The limited edition print collection includes a good selection of work by Mary Ann Rogers, Sue Howells and Emma Ball. New handmade prints include some decorative botanical linocuts by Deborah Roe and a new range of etchings by Janis Goodman. Janis has a great site at http://www.janisgoodman.co.uk.
Hester Cox has returned from her extensive travels this month. It has been great to have her to stay and chat about all her adventures. We have discussed an exhibition to showcase her new work in October this year - I'll post details as we confirm them.
New artists this month include Adrienne French, Vicky Lambert and Sally Page.
I came across Adrienne’s work when I was researching artists to approach for the Mashamshire Arts Festival and some of you may have seen her work there.
Adrienne uses mixed media to represent the northern landscape and the work despite being largely 2 dimensional has a tactile quality to it, the surfaces are scratched into, rubbed with pastel or layered with paint.
Vicky’s strong sculptural floral paintings are large flat dramatic canvases, which would make an impact on any wall.
Sally produces the most extraordinary fused glass bowls and hanging work. Unlike other fused work you may have seen each piece of Sally’s is unique featuring bubbles and swirls.
The short working day has enabled me to get some more painting done – if you are in Thirsk at all some of my work is part of an exhibtion celebrating International Women’s Week. The show opens on March 4th at Thorpe House in Sowerby and continues for a month. (www.holyroodhouse.freeuk.com)
Please note our Christmas opening hours this year and I hope you have a very happy time over Christmas and New Year.
busy busy busy.....headless chicken aaaaaaaahhhh!!
The Gallery here looks very different with the printmakers exhibition up, it has been interesting to chat to all the printmaking fans that have come out of the closet and others who have learnt what a handmade print is or are enrolling themselves on courses that Rebecca or Peter are running. If you can make it the exhibition is on until 15th November.
www.cellorhythmics.com
www.oldropestringband.co.uk
www.rorymotion.com
www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/458945/
Ever since the photography exhibition in the spring I have been bombarded by photographers wanting to show their work here, unfortunately this small gallery is just not big enough for all of them, but I have been shown some really amazing work so if you want to have a look at a couple of my favourites here is a link for Emma Amsden (having an exhibition at the Geogian Theatre Royal in Richmond very soon) http://www.art-connections.org.uk/artists/artist_details.cfm?artistID=36 and here is Paul Gallagher www.paulgallagher.co.uk with some pretty amazing stuff.
One of my trips out this month took me up to the amazing town of Alston where I went to visit Sue Sharpe in her pottery. It was wonderful to see the pots in the surroundings that influenced them. Instead of the mugs, jugs and vases that The Gallery has shown from Sue in the past this time I have brought back some beautiful large platters, fruit bowls etc. These are really special pieces watch out for a new page of her work on the site soon!
www.mashamshireartsfestival.org.uk
John Hayward came up from London and installed his hayvend machine this month. it is a very exciting project to be part of and already a lot of interesting, controversial or beautiful pieces have come out of it.
Colin Smith has made a day trip up from Stevenage to deliver some wild wooden bird houses and new clocks. He says it is worth it for the Yorkshire air alone!
Late in July the new work from Charlotte Curtis has arrived along with Rachel Stainsby and Sally Clarke. It all looks great and my challenge is now to hang it all so you can see the work at its best, always a bit nervewracking. if you would like an invite for the private view and you are not on our mailing list, e-mail me and I will send you one.
Masham has been buzzing with heat and visitors for the 40th steam rally, loads of events are happening here this year, most of them you can see on www.mashamshire.com or down "banner alley" as it is known locally as you come over Masham bridge!
I have been able to paint a lot recently but also went to London this month for a bit of work and pleasure. Popped into the tate for their monthly friday night artist bingo and bumped into Tracey Emin! We also went back the following day to see the Picture of Britain exhibition, which is really worth going to see. Highlights for me included Stanley Spencer, Peter Lanyon and of course Turner. Also packed into a short trip was the R.A. summer show - fantastic really inspirational stuff; the New Designers show at Islington and a tour of Cork Street, Dover street et al to the independent galleries. On the way down I made a small purchase of an original canvas from an amateur art show at Retford, very unusual for me but i just couldn't resist! Back at The Gallery preparations are in full swing for the "Storytellers" exhibition, the artists promise me the work is well on the way and i am gathering images to choose to send out for the private view.
http://www.newdesigners.com http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/apictureofbritain/
http://www.newdesigners.com http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/apictureofbritain/