Art 21 Exhibition

Helena Anderson

Helena Anderson

September 17th -19th
10-5
Thornham Village Hall

We would like to welcome you to our annual exhibition at Thornham Village Hall.

At Art 21 we are a group of friends who meet weekly in the Norfolk village of Dersingham. We have a mixture of both professional and amateur artists. Several of the group are also active members of the West Norfolk Artists Association and contribute to other open exhibitions.

John Walker

John Walker

The group was originally formed in the year 2,000, hence the name Art 21, being the 21st century. The membership numbers have always been limited to about a dozen to keep the purpose of the group as one of artists working together without the need for committees, officers etc.

The aim of the group is to work and communicate with like-minded accomplished artists in a friendly creative atmosphere and to provide exhibiting facilities for its members. The exchange of ideas and mutual encouragement is an approach which we hope underpins the quality and standard of our work.

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arttwentyone@yahoo.co.uk

Cley 21 nowhere · 1 July – 1 August 2021

Ether by Esther Boehm at Cley 21 – nowhere

The North Norfolk Exhibition Project celebrates their 20th anniversary with

nowhere
not in or to anyplace, not anywhere – nowhere is now here

Exhibition dates: 1 July to 1 August 2021



For further information and images please contact NNEP Co-ordinator: Kirsti Crofts
Tel: 01362 668641 Email: contemporaryartcley@gmail.com www.cleycontemporaryart.org

This year the remarkable North Norfolk Exhibition Project celebrates 21 years with the 20th exhibition, intended for 2020 and realised this summer.

Saint Margaret’s Church, Holt Road, Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk NR25 7TT
Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Cley Marshes Visitor Centre, Coast Rd, Cley next the Sea NR25 7SA

The space under the bridge between Wiveton and Cley was known as nowhere, perhaps because it marked the boundary between two parishes and led at one time to an island in the estuary – another nowhere. Norfolk had a village Nowhere and we can travel down Nowhere Lane. Nowhere presents a challenge, a paradox to play with. For Cley, nowhere is both somewhere very specific and a particular experience – of being now here.

nowhere embraces work that signals our psychological spaces, exhibited here temporarily, but ultimately belonging everywhere and nowhere – work that brings our attention firmly back to the now here.

The 20th exhibition, curated by Amanda Geitner, features work by 50 artists and includes painting, sculpture, textiles, photography and ceramics – a marvellous range of new work addressing themes as diverse as the migration of birds, the movement of the stars and the pure pleasure that can be found in colour and form.

‘I am very proud to be counted amongst the curators of this extraordinary project. The 20th anniversary is particularly special for me. In 2001 I was married in Salthouse Church when the very first exhibition was on show. My father and I walked down the aisle around an installation by Gordon Senior – 20 years on, I am still married and I still love Gordon’s work! I am thrilled that his work also features in nowhere. We are part of a great and vibrant community of artists and curators who have been involved in the North Norfolk Exhibition Project for two decades. Cause for celebration indeed.’ Amanda Geitner

The show is open daily from July 1st to August 1st from 10am—5pm. Entry is free and a catalogue is available. A range of artist-led workshops, talks and events are being organised in compliance with current restrictions. Please see the the Cley Contemporary Art website for further details: www.cleycontemporaryart.org

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Movement and Nature

The Sound of Silence

The Sound of Silence

I love nature. We really are blessed with the abundance of flora and fauna we have around us here in Norfolk. From the deer roaming the parklands at Holkham, to the humble but beautiful house sparrows comically arguing on your bird feeders. I am lucky in that my house faces out towards an open field, and at the time of writing, there are many hares playing and boxing out there – they are so much fun to watch.

There are also so many birds, too many to list, but my favourites will always be the pheasants; I cannot get over how such a beautiful bird can be living here on my doorstep. I love it all and to watch all these wonderful creatures living their lives is a gift that I am very grateful for; and during lockdown, I was even more grateful. There is something about watching a wild animal going about its daily business that brings a huge amount of peace and joy to my soul.

I am currently striving to create more ‘movement’ in my artwork. It’s often difficult when drawing animals in a realistic style, which is what I ultimately get the most joy out of, but I have learnt over the years that it massively helps to choose the right reference photo in the first place.

Rivals

Rivals

I would love to try a looser style at some point, as I hugely admire many people’s work who work in a more expressionistic fashion and I feel that there is greater opportunity to create something with movement within the marks you make on the paper, but it just does not come easily to me.
Perhaps it does not help that I work from photos, rather than from life? I think I should get outside a bit more now the weather is warming up and try and draw from life more often, even if it is just some small sketches. It’s not always easy when your preferred subjects are wild animals, but where there is a will, there is a way! Note to self – take plenty of hot tea!

Rather than choosing a reference photo of an animal that seems to be posing or sitting still, I am trying occasionally to choose images where the animal is actively engaged in some sort of activity or movement. This has helped me somewhat and makes my art seem a little more ‘alive’, but I feel that I have a way to go yet. Looking at the other members artwork is so inspiring and has been helpful in encouraging me little by little to try different things and bring new ideas to my easel.

Looking forward to the summer and the exciting things I am sure it will bring for us all.

Jacqueline Bright

What’s Going On?

If you happen to wander past my studio in the High Street, Heacham (Studio @ 55) you may ask yourself what exactly is going on here. The light could be on when most of Heacham is asleep. I may still be working. I have a deadline.

Each year a contemporary art exhibition takes place at Cley-next-the-Sea. Artists show their work in St. Margaret’s Church and churchyard, the NWT Visitor’s Centre or on the beach. (https://cleycontemporaryart.org/ Instagram @cleycontemporaryart)

Unfortunately, Cley 20 couldn’t take place but now, I can finally proceed with my work for Cley 21 which will take place from 1 July – 1 August.

The theme is “nowhere: not in or to anyplace, not anywhere – nowhere is now here.”

The installation piece I’m doing consists of eleven ‘skins’ that will be suspended above the baptismal font near the west window/entrance. Each ‘skin’ is made of tissue paper and acrylic medium and is approximately 2m long and 120cm at the widest point.

I set to work making a large form made of chicken wire and ‘Ciment Fondu’ that would serve as a mould for the ‘skins.’ They are translucent with soft edges reminiscent of alabaster or ice and will appear to be floating in space. I still have a lot of work to do before the hanging starts on 21 June, but you are welcome to visit me in my studio on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 1pm or by appointment.

Model of installation piece.

Model of installation piece. The largest figure represents a person 6′ tall.

While I’m waiting for the acrylic medium to dry, I’m working on my second installation project of the year. It’s for the Raveningham Sculpture Trail which will run from 31 July to 5 September. (https://raveninghamsculpturetrail.com/sculpture-trail-2021/ Instagram @raveninghamsculpturetrail) I will be using the same materials but suspend ‘skins’ in a tree to create a cocoon-like effect. My childhood love of tree climbing got put into practice again making the templates for the piece.

Clay Modelling is running and so is my new kiln. It’s exciting having a kiln on site and seeing student work after a firing. As things ease up, more courses will begin so please do let me know if you would like to join in. My classes are limited to 4 participants so each person can develop their own ideas with a maximum amount of support.

Esther Boehm

Further information: Esther Boehm BFA (sculpture) • Studio @ 55 • 55 High Street • Heacham, PE31 7DW
www.estherboehm.com • eb@estherboehm.com

Open Exhibition Assembly House, Helen Breach

The Assembly House Summer Open 2021 4th–10th June 2021
11–5pm, Free Entry (book time slots)
The Assembly House Norwich is pleased to welcome visitors back to the House this summer for the return of the Open Exhibition. The open call received 900 submissions, and 40 artworks have been selected. West Norfolk Artist member Helen Breach has a painting selected. The painting, acrylic on canvas, is of fashion designer Robert George Sanders having make-up applied prior to a creative performance.

There was no theme set for the Summer Open 2021. All mediums were accepted including painting, drawing, sculpture, printing, textiles, ceramics, video, performance and sound.

The Summer Open 2021 has been selected by: Gilly Fox, Curator, Hayward Gallery Touring; Caroline Fisher, Trustee of The Assembly House Trust and Director of Caroline Fisher Projects; Henry Jackson Newcomb, Visual Arts Coordinator for The Assembly House Trust.

Time slots can be booked on-line: https://www.assemblyhousetrust.org.uk/summer-open-2021

Green Dot Gallery

St. Mary’s Lodge,
High Street,
Fincham,
PE33 9EL.

In May 2019 I opened a small, but perfectly formed, gallery in my garden. Initially I showed my work, but the intention was to open it up to other artists and run workshops. Sadly 2020 went tits up for all of us, so I did not open last year.

I am hoping to open again at the end of May, Covid permitting, and will be happy to see visitors again.

Green Dot Gallery will be open on Saturdays and Sundays between 11am – 4pm, BUT it is best to contact me beforehand in case all days are not possible.
 
Green Dot Gallery is at St. Mary’s Lodge, High Street, Fincham, PE33 9EL.
There will be signs on the railings.
 
Please call on 01366 347841 or email on brendabrown239@outlook.com to avoid a wasted visit.
 
I look forward to seeing you.
Best wishes, Brenda Brown

Tony Bellars “Oh to be beside the Seaside”

Opening Friday 13th August 6pm – late
Saturday 14th August 10am – late
Sunday 15th August 10am – 4pm

Brancaster Village Hall
PE31 8AA

Bar 71 Open

Tony Bellars, a founder member of West Norfolk Artists Association has his annual one man show, this year in Brancaster.  Featuring paintings and other seaside images, he can be contacted by Facebook, Tony Bellars, artist, or via a new web site, www.tonybellars.co.uk 


Inspiration from the past

Pines and crevasses ( an I-pad image, from memory, of autumn colours on an escarpment in the Alps whilst travelling along the highway)

Here are two quotes that I believe are very relevant for artists today.

Paul Gauguin :
 ‘Don’t copy nature too closely – art is an abstraction as you dream amid nature, extrapolate art from it and concentrate on what you will create as a result’. 

How I interpret this is: don’t slavishly copy what one sees in front of one (nature/photograph) but interpret it expressing one’s self in one’s own language on the final image. Continue reading →

Breach Helen

West Acre Gallery, Abbey Farm, River Road, West Acre PE32 1UA

19 – 25 May 2021
11:00 – 4:00

Artist in Residence. An improvisatory experience. There will be no crib sheets or explanations. This will be a time for raw unmediated artworks to develop from bare walls. Continue reading →

Naked Norfolk New Gallery

5. Le Strange Terrace, Hunstanton

Opening exhibition May 2nd
12 noon -7pm.

A new venture in an old coal shed.
Naked Norfolk at the The Coal Shed Gallery

Featuring several WNAA artists and some new surprising talent.

The Coal Shed Gallery in Hunstanton returns to its former glory as an art gallery! ‘A right little treasure trove of Norfolk talent!’

Located along Le Strange Terrace in Hunstanton, the Coal Shed Gallery is part of the original railway site which ran from the seaside resort of Hunstanton to the nearby town of King’s Lynn. Following investment from the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk (BCKLWN) in 2008 and support from the Hunstanton and District Civic Society (HDCS), the once derelict building was beautifully converted into an art gallery.

The new tenant of the Coal Shed Gallery, Jacqueline Kitch who ran the art gallery and shop in Westgate, Hunstanton up until the national lockdown in December 2020 says she is “absolutely thrilled to be moving into this beautiful building. My Husband and I love the building and we always make a bee line for it on our walks. I could not believe my luck when I walked past and saw that the building was empty and after making enquiries through the Borough Council and through the Civic Society, I managed to secure a lease. I have lots of local Artists and Artisans coming on board along with some of the old favourites that were previously in the gallery and shop and on the website.

The lockdown has been tough on lots of local businesses and at one time I was ready to just give up but now the Coal Shed Gallery door has opened and I am going to jump straight through it!”

Quote from HDCS ” Hunstanton and District Civic Society is delighted that this iconic building will finally be put to good use. We believe that the art gallery and retail offer will enhance the area and bring vibrancy to Le Strange Terrace”.

NakedNorfolk @The Coal Shed Gallery opens its doors on Sunday 2nd May at noonand asks that customers remain Covid aware and follow the Covid guidelines at all times.

https://www.nakednorfolk.co.uk