November 2009 sees an exhibition of works by ten practitioners of the arts and crafts either living in, or closely associated with the village of Walsham le Willows.
The group provides a wide range of skills producing: Paintings in oils, watercolours, oil pastel, gouache and batik wallhangings. Metal work and sculpture, ceramics, handmade jewellery, woven rugs and bags, hand spinning, knitting, prints and cards. Some of the artists are pleased to accept commissions.
All are welcome to the exhibition, admission is free, art and craft works are for sale.
These exhibitions are held in the Priory Room, situated in The Causeway, next to St Mary’s Church in Walsham le Willows, IP31 3AB. Admission is Free.
This exhibition has now taken place for the last few years and has always been a welcome addition to the pre-Christmas scene of Walsham le Willows. It is the normal practice of this website to remove "Updated" items after a period of time, which can vary according to the event and in this instance this is in effect a review of what is now a regular annual event. However, as one of the main purposes of this website is to "showcase" the village, particularly for visitors from outside of the immediate area this "review"is being retained to remind visitors that the village does retain a thriving artistic community. It also reminds visitors that this Exhibition is now an important part of our annual calendar along with our ever popular Open Gardens Weekend, which of course also hosts a popular Art Exhibition within the Parish Church.
This village group includes in their annual show a “big hitter” from the fraternity of painters. Diana Calvert, a member of The New English Art Club, has exhibited at many prestigious venues, including The Royal Academy. Fellow painters John Clarke, Helen Dougall and Gillian Crossley-Holland each have their own specific ways of capturing the East Anglian landscape for the pleasure of the eye. John, a subtle master in watercolours, Gillian in oil and pastels, an artist plainly in love with the places where the land lives by the water. Helen using the wax masking technique of batik seeks out the contours of the land and lines of cultivation to give a sense of flow, almost as if the fields were glaciers moving to the sea.
Textiles are the province of Gill Grimes and also husband and wife Ian & Mary Jane Toulson. Both beautiful and durable, Mary Jane’s hand woven rugs are of her own design and are wonderful on either floor or wall whilst Ian specialises in weaving. Gill’s knitwear has become a firm favourite at the show. Much of her material is hand spun wool, dyed by herself before being made into things such as children’s clothing, sporting socks for men, and other interesting examples of the craft.
Always bringing a shine to the show is Alison Dane with her jewellery. Her popularity does not trouble the London Metal Exchange, though it is surprising when you find what this gorgeous stuff is built from. There is always something on metalworker Pete Rudderhams stand that makes you wonder “What is that?” He designs and produces unusual weather vanes, gates, fences and just about anything else that you might want in a blacksmitherly kind of way! He also does sculptures and there were rumours of a pleasantly unstable piece of furniture.
All of the items that are normally displayed are for sale, many of them making ideal Christmas gifts! These items include Batik Wallhangings, Cards, Ceramics, Hand Knitting, Jewellery, Metalwork, Paintings, Prints, Woven Bags & Rugs. For further information telephone Peter Rudderham on 01359-259433
