We managed to get to a few art week venues in Oxford last weekend, and from this weekend Oxfordshire Art weeks is coming to Abingdon. That includes St Ethelwold’s House where there will be Tea, Textiles and an Open Garden.
In the Open Garden are Irises – like Van Gogh painted;
Buttercups, Campion, and Bluebells – in wild flower islands;
and Rhubarb, Runner Beans and Rosemary – in the vegetable patch.
The Abingdon Artists’ Spring Exhibition started today, Monday, 1st April, and runs to Saturday, 6th April (10:00am-4:30pm) at St Nicolas Church.
The exhibition includes a wide range of art works by different Abingdon artists. A number of them will also be exhibiting with other groups during Oxfordshire Art Weeks in May.
As well as the exhibition and the chance to buy framed and unframed works, and cards, there is a raffle. First prize is a painting of the Ridgeway.
Sally Mears is a well known local musician who has been helping with the music for the Abingdon Passion Play this Saturday. She also had a picture in the exhibition on the same subject.
The Abingdon & Witney Art Foundation course began their end of year show this evening at the Abingdon College. Called EXIT, the exhibition will be open from Monday 18th – Friday 22nd June 10am – 5pm.
A suit called ‘queer’ looked at gender and dressing. Behind it somebody had done the ultimate in naval gazing.
There was a video of the material on these dresses being burned to produce this effect, and another video of a student writing onto canvasses in the confines of a bus shelter to produce the rhythmic scrawls seen behind.
There were some lovely images that one student made to illustrate a poem .
There was also a dark area where you could walk from one art film to another, and some more architectural works.
There is a lot to see, and each work has a small card to say what the artist was trying to achieve. It is interesting to compare the concept and the art work, and is well worth a visit.
Oxfordshire Artweeks has already happened in Oxford City. We visited the exhibition in the cloisters behind St John the Evangelist Church, on the Iffley Road – a lovely setting with interesting exhibits including some by Caroline Harben of Abingdon. Her paintings included the County Hall in Abingdon,
and a view from the roof top of the county hall (abstract above,realistic below).
The exhibitions in Abingdon have now opened. They include the exhibition of many artists at Peachcroft Farm Barn.
When we were there we could watch art in action There was a potter inside, and a sculptor outside.
I also visited the Mind exhibition which ran for just one day.
Artworks included sculptures (head sculptures), collages and art works in acrylics and pastels; and a slide show of artwork in action. Children’s art was happening on the day, as well as music, a tombola, and cakes.
Oxfordshire Artweeks continues in Abingdon until Bank Holiday Monday.