What’s on around the county this month
St John Street Gallery
Colin Halliday’s new exhibition, entitled ‘Seven Years in the Making’, is on display at the Ashbourne gallery from 7th to 31st March (Tues-Sat 9.30-5; Sun 10-4). It contains paintings completed by the artist over this time span, including some recent pieces, and shows how his work has evolved.
Colin grew up in rural Cumbria, established himself as an artist in urban London and moved to Derbyshire in 2005. This return to an essentially rural landscape led to the growing importance of the application of paint in his work and a realisation that painting landscapes without reference to people or buildings adds a timeless quality. This exhibition will provide a rare chance to view how the work of an artist who has been compared to the likes of Turner and Constable has evolved.
Ingleby Gallery
From 16th to 30th March the gallery at Ingleby near Melbourne has a solo exhibition by Jim Wright from Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire. Jim specialises in British landscapes and seascapes. He says, ‘My enduring passion is for the sea, I love to watch the shape and form of the wave, the change of colour and the force of the movement of water, I continually strive to capture the vitality of this explosive power and movement.’
His travels have taken him from Ardnamurchan Lighthouse in the far north to Cape Cornwall in the south, places that are remarkable both for purity of light and dramatic weather. His inspiring paintings capture this clarity and power and have been shown in galleries throughout Britain, including the Parliamentary Art Collection of The House of Lords.
Opening times are Wednesday to Friday, 10am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday, 12-5pm.
Derwent Gallery
During March the gallery on Grindleford’s Main Road has a solo exhibition of new paintings by David Stowe featuring riverside scenes from the Derbyshire Peak District. An avid fisherman, David is often found wading deep into the Derbyshire rivers, fly fishing on the rivers Noe, Derwent and Wye, which gives him ample time to reflect upon the nature and tranquillity of the watery views. Painting back in his studio, in acrylic on board, David brings a unique perspective of trees overhanging the riverbanks, cascading water over weirs and light dancing upon the surface and rocks, sometimes from the viewpoint of an angler standing in the river. The gallery opens Wed to Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 10am–4pm.
Ferrers Gallery
A charming and mystical animal with special associations to the month of March is the focus of the Staunton Harold gallery’s spring exhibition. The hare’s beauty has been captured in everything from cards and jewellery to ceramics and textiles in this Mad March Hares exhibition. It has been drawn, painted, sculpted and crafted in a variety of poses – boxing, moon gazing and running to name but a few!
The exhibition is on show from 28th February to 27th April. Also on show on the gallery’s middle floor from 8th March to 11th May is Heavy Metal. A display that celebrates metal in its more rugged form, and ranges from small rustic sculptures to realistic life-sized animals. There will be work by local artists Duncan Thurlby and Gavin Darlby, and Hereford graduate Nik Burns is contributing a sculptured metal rhino head!
Harley Gallery
‘Wanderlust’, an exhibition of contemporary tapestries by top weaver Jilly Edwards is on display at the Welbeck gallery until 23rd March. Jilly Edwards weaves abstract, painterly tapestries; her compositions capturing fleeting moments and recollections and telling stories about her journeys through different landscapes.
Tarpey Gallery
Midlands based painter Dermot Punnett is exhibiting a new series of paintings at the Castle Donington gallery from 8th March to 19th April (Wed-Sat 11-6pm). Dermot’s work was awarded the Tarpey Gallery Solo Show Award at the Nottingham Castle Open 2013. Luke Tarpey commented on his painting, ‘The image is at first immediately accessible but beyond the familiar there is something more to be discovered, something both enlightening and enchanting.’
Post-War Abstract Art
Derwent-Wye 20th Century’s exhibition of Post-War Abstract art runs throughout March both at Exhibit Gallery, Rowsley and the Devonshire Arms at Beeley. Among the many original works on display at the Rowsley gallery are paintings by Sandra Blow, Terry Frost, Bryan Ingham and Breon O’Casey, while the Devonshire Arms is displaying screenprints by Sandra Blow and watercolours and collages by Harry Ousey. Harry Ousey fell in love with Derbyshire’s moors in his youth and they remained a constant source of inspiration throughout his life. This exhibition offers a fascinating glimpse of the various types of abstraction and offers a chance to view and purchase period works seldom seen in the county.
Derby Cathedral Centre
‘Glimpses of the Peak District’ is the title of Hazel Money’s March exhibition at the Cathedral Centre on Irongate. Hazel studied Fine Art at Aberystwyth University and in 2011 opened a studio at Eyam Hall Craft Centre from where she produces a series of intimate local views. The Peak District landscape is her inspiration and she works mainly in acrylics and wherever possible from life, ‘capturing the atmosphere and conveying a sense of transience particular to a place rather than an accurate description of its detail.’ The Sir Richard Morris Lounge is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm.
Emmanuel Cooper Retrospective
A range of ceramics by the late Dr Emmanuel Cooper OBE is on display at the University of Derby’s Markeaton Campus in Derby until 28th March. One of the county’s most distinguished potters, Emmanuel Cooper was born in Pilsley and his highly prized work can be found in many national collections.
‘Finest of Dining’
Royal Crown Derby designed by Salvador Dali
As the exhibition at Royal Crown Derby on Osmaston Road, Derby, continues this month, we discover the story behind a very special service, items from which are on display, which was produced in 1939 for Edward James.
Edward James (1907-1984) was a British poet who is best known for his patronage of the surrealist movement, which was an escape into a world of fantasy and developed from the political uncertainty between the war years.
During 1938 and 1939 James, who supported the great Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali, specially commissioned this unique service decorated with pink gloves and trailing foliage. It is related to other works conceived by Dali with James, which include the Mae West Lips Sofa and the Lobster telephones.
In 1912 Edward James inherited West Dean House in Sussex from his father. In 1964 he gave it to a charitable trust and today it is West Dean College which still follows James’s vision of establishing ‘an educational foundation where creative talents can be discovered and developed, and where one can spread culture through the teaching of crafts and the preservation of knowledge that might otherwise be destroyed or forgotten.’ To find out more about Royal Crown Derby visit www.royalcrownderby.co.uk
Calling all young artists...
Peak District Artisans has launched its Young Artist of the Year competition 2014 for artists age 16-25. Prizes include £350 and an exhibition from St John Street Gallery, Ashbourne, artist equipment and marketing workshops, and a chance to exhibit work at the Great Dome Art Fair on 18th-20th July in Buxton. Deadline for entries is 6pm, 29th March.
