CAPTURING THE LIGHT

Browsing the brochure, choosing where to visit, what draws you, what pulls your eye? The artist only has a small  image and a few words to portray their individuality and say 'Hey, come visit me!'

For this post I thought I would feature the venues whose images of landscape swayed my gaze with their ability and skill to capture light.

VENUE 22 Christopher Richards: Working with richly layered and textured acrylics Christopher aims to capture within his landscapes the drama and mystery of the natural elements. An established artist since the 1970's you can visit Christopher at his studio in Minehead. 

VENUE 54 Camilla Clark: Visit Camilla in her West Monkton studio, where using watercolours, oils, and the collagraphic printing process, she captures the clean, crisp colours of Cornwall and the soft, muted tones of the Quantocks. 

VENUE 79 Jane Mackey: Jane's large studio houses an interesting selection of printing presses and was voted 'most favourite venue of 2013. Alongside her studio is a gallery area where her exhibition entitled 'A Celebration of the Somerset Countryside' will feature her original prints and paintings using traditional methods including woodcuts, screen prints, etchings, monotypes and oil paintings. Also to tempt you are the historic tea rooms and gardens which are open daily.

VENUE 103 Pauline Sayers: Pauline explores the transforming effects of light and colour in the Somerset landscape, capturing it with either her camera, brush or pastel - the results are quite atmospheric.

VENUE 172 Janet Westover, Patrice Hamilton & Brian Hutchings: The artists based at Yew Tree House are all inspired by the Somerset landscape. Here you will find a selection of painting, prints, drawing and photography. 

For the opening times of each venue do check the SAW 2014 Guide. If you haven't got yours yet they are available from tourist information centres, libraries and art venues throughout the region. You can also order a copy to be sent straight to your door by sending an A4 SAE (£1.17) to SAW LTD, Town Hall, Bow Street, Langport, Somerset TA10 9PR

INSPIRE THE GENERATIONS!

Many of the SAW 2014 venues welcome families, however during the weekend of the 4th and 5th of October there is a exciting array of extra activities and workshops planned. The weekend also links in with the world's largest drawing festival - The Big Draw. Details of all the creative fun are listed in the centre pages of this year's guide. I have selected a few that caught my eye, never mind if small boy doesn't want to attend -  I do!

PERFORMANCE & YARN BOMBING

ARTIST: KIRSTIE MACLEOD

VENUE: 148

Kirstie will be showing her sleeping performance of 'Emelan' - wearing a dreaming dress constructed out of 100m of Indigo blue silk. Workshop participants are then invited to create a unique Yarn Bomb sculpture in the surrounding landscape from ready knitted squares. All ages welcome - sounds quite fantastical how can you resist!

DATE: Saturday 4th October FREE EVENT booking advised kirstie@kirstiemacleod.co.uk

DRIFTWOOD SCULPTURE WORKSHOP

ARTIST: EMMA DUKE

VENUE: 53

Join artist Emma Duke at her studio in West Monkton on this relaxed workshop creating a teardrop from shells and driftwood. No tools or skills required, just creative hands. Suitable for all ages.

DATE: Saturday 4th October 11am WORKSHOP FEE: £5.00 No need to prebook. 

CHARCOAL DRAWING

ARTIST: ANDREA CLARKE

VENUE: 90

Help Andrea draw an extremely large picture of trees and leaves using willow charcoal to celebrate 'Our World' - this year's theme for The Big Draw.

DATE: Saturday 4th October 11am - 4pm FREE EVENT No need to prebook.

WILLOW WORKSHOP

ARTIST: SARAH BUTTERWORTH
VENUE: 173
The Somerset Crafts Centre is running drop-in willow workshops for all ages. Artist in residence Sarah Butterworth will also be busy creating large scale crane structures for the illuminated lantern parade at the Willow and Wetlands Centre on the 22nd November. See her work in progress and be inspired to create your own willow sculpture.

DATE: Sunday 5th October 11am - 4.30pm WORKSHOP FEE: From £2.00 No need to prebook.

SAW would love to see your family getting creative and possibly a little messy! Send us a family selfie of your workshop antics during the Family Friendly Weekend and you may win two tickets kindly donated by Noah's Ark Zoo Farm. 

Send your pictures to artweeks@somersetartworks.org.uk or by post to our office in Langport. Good luck and have fun!

For a full list of all THE FAMILY FRIENDLY WEEKEND activities see the 2014 SAW guide. 

*PLEASE NOTE Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. 

Image: 'Emelan' Sleeping performance by Kirstie Macleod

INVITATION TO PARTY!

Somerset Art Weeks is definitely an event worth celebrating and we are hoping that you can join us at this year's launch party on Friday 12th September.

Prepare for an evening of the unexpected as artists and guests gather to enjoy a unique evening at the Red Brick Building in Glastonbury. Naturally there will be artworks on display, also a film screening and live music from Hacker Farm. This Somerset based electronic collective harness found objects and salvaged materials, including DIY speakers, circuit-bent toys and self-built synthesisers to bring you their unique sound - their set also promises an interactive element...

The Guardian newspaper listed Hacker Farm in their alternative Mercury Prize Shortlist last year  and this is how they describe the sound of Hacker Farm

“...weirdly enveloping and captivating. Once you find a way into their world, you lose yourself in it, and it’s harder to find a way out than you might imagine. There’s certainly nothing else quite like it out there.”

 

The amazing 'Bocabar' will be open throughout the evening offering a fantastic menu, so if you wish to really make a night of it why not plan to have your supper with us. You may peruse the menu here. The bar offers a great selection of drinks, including coffee, and the cocktail menu looks amazing.

So come on what are you waiting for, get on down to The Red Brick Building and celebrate the launch of Somerset's largest Arts Festival. I know that some of you that are participating will be using every available hour, minute, second as you count down and prepare for your exhibitions but surely you deserve a night off and this is a great opportunity to meet with other participants and the visitors that will be coming to support your venue during the fortnight of open studios.

Tickets are £5.00 in Advance or £7.00 on the door.

However if you are a SAW member then it's FREE!

Under 16's are also free but must of course be accompanied by an adult.

We recommend that you buy or reserve your tickets in advance by contacting the SAW office in Langport on 01458 253800 or info@somersetartworks.org.uk 

Tickets can also be purchased direct from the Red Brick Building

SOMERSET ART WEEKS LAUNCH PARTY
Performance and Music from 7pm till late
Red Brick Building

Morland Enterprise Park

Morland Road

Glastonbury

Somerset BA6 9FT

Image: Hacker Farm performing at Nottingham Contemporary Jan 2013

Photo by Peter Anderson