
This afternoon we went to the Abingdon and Witney College Foundation Art Exhibition. It is on until Friday – up to 5pm each day. Go to reception at the Abingdon College, and they’ll give you a visitor’s badge and point you in the right direction.

There is a great diversity of works. Each piece is surrounded by sketch books to show how the artistic ideas developed. This work is called Stalking the Stalkers and is a study of bird watchers at Otmoor on the other side of Oxford.

This display was very impressive as were the sketch books. There were four screens showing images which were also captured on a framed etching above. There was movement on the screens below, like people emerging and disappearing out of the grass, that had a more sinister feel than the etchings above.

These artifacts were used by one artist in a painting – the first time I have seen a full book of green shield stamps since the 1970s. They were the sticky back equivalent of nectar points.

We did not get to see everything as in one room there was a special tea party for next year’s students. Their summer starter project is to design venetian style masks before going on a trip to Venice as part of an art field trip. It is a great course to do for anybody wanting to go on to degree level art.
Hadleigh sign is looking very tired

Ever since Hadleigh Crystal and China Shop closed, other businesses at 20 High Street have used the same blue on white look to the sign.

There was a Medical Centre

Then the Supermarket.
But now that both replacement signs have come down the old Hadleigh sign is looking very tired. Could it be time to try a new look next time?
Wilsham Road at Dawn

Spike emailed me last Thursday. He said “Took a few shots at dawn today. Even Didcot power station can look pretty sometimes”

Thanks Spike.

Didcot power station may start to look pretty, but Abingdon looks like paradise at that hour

from Wilsham Road.
Lost and Found Cat

Just over a week ago a young cat from a nearby village jumped into a neighbour’s car. The car stopped at the Crown and Thistle in Abingdon and the frightened cat took its chance, when the door was open, to leap out and escape over the wall.
Posters, with a picture like the one above, were to be seen round the area, between Abbey Close and Thames Street. The owners came back day after day to look, helped by people in the area.
On Wednesday came the first sighting of the cat near Coseners House. The cat was finally found and brought to the Old Abbey Buildings where the curator cared for it until the owners could come.
They were overjoyed to get their beloved and quite valuable cat back, and very generous in their thanks.