4 Artists Exhibit at Tonbridge Castle

In Memory of Betty - Sue Vass

This weekend I visited the 4 Artists Exhibition at Tonbridge Castle Chamber, and in all honesty it was really worthwhile. I spent ages losing myself in the detail of a number of pieces, trying to work out what the shapes and contours depicted. Some of the sculptures were suspended  in the windows. Others fashioned with wire sat on white oblong blocks. Painting, print, drawing and sculpture are all represented.

The curation of the exhibition is excellent considering the difficulty the space provides. It is far from complementary with distracting dark panelling, patterned carpet and drapes. I find the decor unhinging, and overwhelming. This is an exhibition that deserves to be shown to its best advantage ... in a white gallery where nothing diverts the eye or causes a visual battle.

I observed other visitors at the exhibition and noticed they were spending lengthy moments viewing the art, and that is a good sign as it shows engagement with the pieces. They were certainly not on a whistle stop tour and rushing out again.

Beast - Jill Goldsworthy

'Beast' by Gill Goldsworthy had me lingering a little longer. I liked the way the content was secretly hidden, not quite revealed and yet emerged through the layering of blues.  

Finding Wales - Marilyn Garwood

Finding Wales was the subject of  Marilyn Garwood's two paintings. The atmosphere and sense of place was captured in the soft tones and contrast of shapes. The warmer greens in the painting's foreground, set against the colder blues in the distance, reflected the way light and atmosphere quickly change the landscape in Wales.

Margaret Barrett, one of the exhibiting artists, was happy to answers questions and talk about the pieces on display, whilst at the same time wiring a new sculpture. Her work is made with discarded materials, and she told me that skips hold a treasure trove of possibilities, but sadly they represent the throw-away society in which we live.  The exhibition includes a sculpture made entirely from empty food packets and another of plastic containers.  Margaret's work  was chosen to be exhibited at the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition this year, and was sold to an admirer.  You can own a piece of her work by giving a donation to charity.

Crisp Packet Collage - Margaret Barrett

From the Sea - Found - Margaret Barrett

Butterfly - Margaret Barrett - Mixed Media

Love in the Mist (detail) - Margaret Barrett - Wire and Plastic

 The exhibition is open daily until Friday October 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Entrance is free.

Tonbridge Arts Festival Open Art Exhibition has an Olympic Flavour

Olympic fever is slowly edging to a crescendo with only 11 days to the Opening Ceremony of London 2012. The Torch Relay is about to arrive in Kent, passing through our neighbouring towns and communities on its final journey to the Olympic Stadium. The Australian team have arrived in our town and are settling in to the first class sporting facilities at Tonbridge School. Sadly, Tonbridge missed out on being en route for the Torch Relay, but tomorrow through the sheer determination of Dame Kelly Holmes the people of Tonbridge have a chance to join in the celebrations as she brings The Flame to her home town.

So whilst the Olympics are forefront in our minds I thought I'd make a diversion, and catch up with blogging about the Arts Festival that took place in Tonbridge for 10 days in June.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do this whilst all the events were taking place, due to problems with the blog.  Perhaps this could be a slight diversion from all things sporting, to something more art related, but it just happens that my favourite event during the Tonbridge Arts Festival was the private view at the Open Art Exhibition, which actually did have a slight Olympic flavour as Guy Portelli brought along a prototype of his new sculpture inspired by our own Dame Kelly Holmes.

Not only did Guy talk about his vision for the sculpture, and where in Tonbridge the larger sized finished work might be placed, but he was eager to show me how his idea would bring together both the viewer as a participant and the sculpture itself.  The end effect can be seen in the photograph below as the daughter of Maria Heslop, TMBC Cabinet Member for leisure, youth and the arts becomes a living artwork.

Sculptor Guy Portelli

Portelli's living artwork

The opening evening of the exhibition was the first chance to view the brilliant and diverse selection of local art that had been chosen and hung in the Castle Council Chamber, including work by Hildegard Pax of Hadlow, who currently has work included in the Summer Exhibition at The Royal Academy of Arts in London.

The artist of the winning artwork, who had been selected by the judging panel earlier in the day, was presented with a metal life sized paintbrush designed and made by Guy Portelli. I was surprised as to the weight of this beautiful piece of work when the winning artist allowed me to hold it in my hands. I'm not sure if there is such an amazing prize every year, but it almost had me rushing off to sign up for a course in fine art, just to submit a piece and be in with a chance next time.

Winning artist holding her prize

Judging Panel

This really was a super event and for me a highlight of the Arts Festival. My only criticism of the event was that the exhibition didn't last for the full 10 days of the Arts Festival. Maybe next year.