This Valentines Day, the winner of our Love Cambridge Art competition, Aurora Cacciapuoti a Sardinian Cambridge based illustrator will be exhibiting her original, often humourous work at the Salon.
Thursday 14th February, 6.30pm – 9.00pm
http://
http://
An intriguing show of psychedelic surrealism organised by Frank Rosewell of Show Me Your Art.
Once upon a time, a painter named Andy Quayle produced work of a highly personal nature. Though rendered into a code of symbols his images were accurate and truthful. However, this way of working did Quayle’s health no good at all …and ultimately led, in the summer of 2012, to heart failure.
His alter ego the musical poet Moff Skellington*, who survived the fateful ambulance journey from Otley to Bradford Royal Infirmary, has now assumed all painterly duties.
The opening will be a bit of a ‘DO’ and the work on display will be the result of a lot of DOING!
The work will cover a range of approaches reflecting the interests and enthusiasms of a diverse team of artists. We will be showing Painting, Photography, Sculpture and Textiles at the Cambridge Art Salon from 18th – 29th January 2013.
Some of the work will be mysterious and intriguing, much of it will be beautiful! We really hope that people will come along to celebrate and enjoy the work of the Hills Road Art Team.
The Art Salon will be transformed into a spatial hybrid— the extraction of this private inner world that is nurtured by the Home within the discerning public setting of an art gallery. The social barriers of both will be blurred as the public is invited to explore, interact, and become part of the space allowing them to create their own narratives of this displaced domestic world.
There will be a brief performance by Philip at the Private View on the 4th of January at 6pm. On Saturday 5th and 12th of January there will be a full performance of work beginning at 4pm until late. These ritualistic and séance-like performances will invoke and uncover hidden characters buried within the exhibition.
An evening of Art and Music, with live music from local singer/songwriter Lui Di Martino
Come along to this gorgeous evening of music and art in aid of Art Refuge. Artwork will be for sale at a range of prices, and there will also be greetings cards and other items available: ideal for picking up a really distinctive Christmas present!
The exhibition will include artwork made by the professional Tibetan artist, Sonam Choephal, and his associated students as well as assorted artworks from the Painting Club in Mussoorie (summer painting workshops organised by Sonam and the Friends of the Tibetan Women’s Association).
There will be music from a local singer/songwriter, Lui Di Martino. Originally from Italy, Lui has lived in Cambridge since childhood and will be performing a selection of his own music and some other classics which will certainly get our feet tapping!
Wine, soft drinks and snacks will be served. (All proceeds/donations will go to Art Refuge UK).
A new exhibition showcasing the very best local artisans launched at the Cambridge Art Salon last week. Lydia Fallon paid a visit.
Cambridge’s vast array of creative talent is perhaps one of the city’s best kept secrets. If you look hard, really hard, you’ll find a vibrant art scene, brimming with sparkling homemade jewellery, beautiful prints and stylish ceramics, a hub of quirky gifts, just waiting to be snapped up for Christmas. But too often the very best things are the hardest to find. Mandy Knapp and Karen Jinks, the brains behind Cambridge Creative Network (CCN), hope a new exhibition will give local artists their chance to shine.
“We always actively encourage our artists to be at the very top of their game,” Mandy enthuses. “We want to showcase that here in the East of England there are some really great artists, as it can be seen as a bit of a wilderness.”
Running from November 15-27, the Narrative exhibition is an exciting mixed show featuring a selection of artists who belong to the CCN. Whether you fancy a browse to pick up ideas for your own work or are on the hunt for the perfect gift, the exhibition has a little something for everyone.
From stylish vintage-inspired jewellery by Mummybird Pretties to charming illustrations by Jo Clark, each display is curated in an elegant and considered way, revealing the provenance behind the work.
“We feel very strongly that all our artists have a story behind the work,” says Mandy, explaining how the narrative theme came about. “We don’t like to make our artists work to a ‘theme’ because we want the work to be from the heart. We thought that by making the theme of it narrative, they can really express what they are feeling through what they are making.”
The creative duo are also keen to make art, which can often be seen as overly high-brow, more accessible to the general public. During the exhibition there are a number of drop-in workshops available for kids and grown-ups alike. From bookbinding to festive postcard making, the ladies hope that the workshops will help people engage with the exhibition and maybe even inspire a few to pick up a paintbrush too.
Narrative runs from November 15-27 at the Cambridge Art Salon on Cromwell Road. For more information about the exhibition visit the website at www.narrativeart.co.uk. You can find out more about Cambridge Creative Network at www.cambridgecreativenetwork.co.uk.
‘Narrative’ – an exhibition of works by Cambridge Creative Network Artists
This is an exciting mixed show featuring a selection of artists from the Cambridge Creative Network. Each artist has their own unique identity and passion for their craft, which is evident in the quality of the work that will be on display at the Cambridge Art Salon.
‘Narrative’ is the creation of Karen Jinks and Mandy Knapp, both with years of retail experience as well as being professional artists in their own right. It is the aim of the Narrative shows to make art accessible to the general public and for them to know the provenance of the artworks they buy, as well as giving them the opportunity to purchase original gifts, jewellery and art for friends and family this Christmas.
Come and meet the artists at the preview evening, Friday 16th November, 6.30 – 9pm and join us for our Winter Tea Party on Sunday 25th November 3 – 5pm. Visit the website for more information on who is taking part and the various workshops that will be available across the two weeks – www.narrativeart.co.uk
15 – 27 November 2012
Extended Opening Hours
Fri – Wed 10 – 5.30pm, Thurs 10 – 7pm
Cambridge Art Salon
29 Cromwell Road
Cambridge, CB1 3EB
www.cambridgeartsalon.org.uk
Drawing Blanks
Drawing Blanks – illustrations inspired by the creative person’s dreaded fear of FAILURE. Because, as any real artist knows, producing a bad drawing/painting/sculpture/photograph/pasta collage etc is the worst thing that could ever possibly happen. Ever. Far worse than the supposed ‘real problems’ in the world that pose ‘real’ dangers to us, i.e. death and famine and earthquakes and grizzly bears and so on. This exhibition is the culmination of literally months of the artist’s terminal indecision, intense procrastination and wallowing in self-pity about the fact that no one ‘gets’ him, let alone understands his obvious tortured, fragile genius. Witness these images and feel his pain. Or just drink all the free booze and then leave. Either way.
Rob Wilson is an illustrator and resident at the Cambridge Art Salon studios.
Gary Critchley was born in Birmingham in 1962. At the age of 17 he went to visit a friend in London for two weeks. Whilst there he stayed in Campbell Buildings, a well-known squat at the time. On the tenth day of the visit he was found on the pavement outside the squat, seriously injured, having apparently fallen or been pushed from the 4th floor. When the police investigated the incident, they found a man, Edward McNeill, who had been bludgeoned to death with a hammer. McNeill’s blood was all over the room, yet none of his blood was found on Gary. Nevertheless and despite a complete lack of forensic evidence, Gary was arrested, convicted and sent to prison at the age of 18. The judge recommended that he should serve no more than 8 years but, in fact, Gary spent 32 years in custody. He was literally ‘raised in a prison’. Now, at the age of 50 he is serving the rest of his sentence in the community where he can be recalled to prison for a minor offence, missing an appointment with his probation officer for example. Understandably, Gary has found his new life in the community extremely difficult and has struggled in many ways, particularly financially.
Gary has spent time in most of the toughest English prisons and during those years, became addicted to drugs. He has now been clean for several years. After a third suicide attempt in 2006, when he nearly died, an arts educator suggested that he take up painting. In 2007, a Cambridge librarian, who was looking for some work to hang in the library, bought three of his paintings at the Koestler Trust Awards for Arts by Offenders, and began corresponding with Gary, whose prison address was attached to the paintings.
In the five years since then Gary has painted prolifically and painting has become a hugely important part of his life. Many of his paintings are very dark in feeling, some are humourous, most are full of intense detail. His work has been exhibited in a collaborative show, Parallel of Parallels in Adelaide, Australia, in Left in Vision (Marxism) London, and in We Are Birmingham Shop, Birmingham. This will be Gary’s first solo exhibition. As a reminder, his paintings can be seen at The Cambridge Art Salon, 29 Cromwell Road, Cambridge, CB1 3EB from November 9-14 2012.
There will be an opening party on Friday November 9th from 6.30pm-8.30pm. Opening times are Saturday and Sunday 10am-5:30 pm, Thursday from 5pm-7pm, Friday from 10am-5:30pm.
You can find more information regarding Gary at http://www.b39969.org.uk
NEOPLASM
An exhibition of photos and ceramic works by Penny Sackett Hayes, 19th to 31st October. Opening times Thurs 5-7pm. Fri – Sat – Sun 10am-5pm.
50% of Print sales to go to Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge. This moving and beautiful show marks a turning point in the artist’s life that will resonate with many. Some of the photos in the exhibition where taken by Penny of her husband Eddy prior to him being diagnosed with lung cancer. She has not been able to look at these photos since his death in 2007 – until now. This exhibition marks a transition or ‘moving on’ from a dark period in Penny’s life and signals a new start.
Eddy stayed at The Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge for a few days in 2007. Penny was unable to create any clay works during her husband’s illness and for some time following his death. The works on display were produced since 2007, predominantly abstract vessels and sculptures.
Other photographs on display are unusual angles taken of the human body including a series of ‘ear’ photos illustrating the strangeness of the familiar.
Penny has a BA Hons Fine Art degree from The University of Hertfordshire and an ND in ceramics from City Lit, London, where she was studying when her husband became ill. She taught ceramics, sculpture and photography at Hills Road 6th Form College, Cambridge and has exhibited in London, Cambridge and the USA. She is a resident artist at the Cambridge Art Salon where she has a studio.
Tell us what inspired Discs: A Theme Tune To Life.
The show includes people who are from wealthy or low income backgrounds, those that are/have been homeless, those whom have or are struggling with addiction. People with a history of abuse, mental health issues. All sorts really. Many of these issues span people from all walks of life and are most definitely not limited to those from poorer or broken homes. Unless an individual specifically said so, I did not mention people’s backgrounds.
I am closet listener of Radio 4’s “Desert Island Discs”. Last year, listeners of the program submitted their own choices, which were aired and commented upon by a panel of presenters. A throw away comment suggested that some genres of music were under represented due to make up of the program’s audience. This sparked off the idea. A pet peeve of mine is hearing people pigeon hole musical genres or the arts in general, to particular “types” of people. In fact, I pretty much dislike stereo-types in general, but we all make them, largely down to perception or lack of knowledge. So I wanted to quietly challenge this by bringing people together from varying walks of life and backgrounds.
The idea was to over lap / mix the shoot times so people perhaps interacted with others they would not ordinarily meet. Each individual’s music choice was then used as a vehicle to tell their stories and thus create their own life’s theme tune.
I love music, and I love listening to people’s life stories. Like music, people are so diverse, yet we all share common themes (as with music), bit of a paradox really. I wanted to explore that further in some way. The exhibition is largely about the people. The images are therefore quite simple and as least “busy” as possible.
I want to raise the awareness of the great work that organisations like FLACK Cambridge are doing and hopefully raise some funds for them too.
Tell us more about your work as a professional photographer.
I first became serious about photography when I did some aid work in the West Indies. My girlfriend at the time (now my wife) was very supportive and encouraged me to take it further. So I did the training and it went from there.
Beside the artistic projects, I mainly shoot advertising, portraiture and events, as well as teaching photography. I am so blessed, I love it. I get to meet interesting people, watch exciting performances and get paid for it! So clichéd, but having had a break from photography and music for a few years; it felt like part of me was dying. Creativity is such an intrinsic part of who we are. I believe we have one life, so we best make the most of it.
I am available for hire as a photographer, for commercial work, arts projects or teaching. You can find out more at www.markwoodsnunn.co.uk or email me at info@markwoodsnunn.co.uk.
What about the other artists involved – how has that worked?
It has worked well! I love fusion and collaboration. Whilst I am creative, I most definitely lack the skills in areas that I wished I possessed! I tend to have loads of ideas, but often need others to help me implement them, besides, I wanted a mix. It also reduces the risk is becoming too self indulgent. Ultimately, the piece should be about the people involved, not me. I just get a few ideas, listen to the participants, and take a few pictures
The really exciting thing is that people have been able to shine in what they are good at. No one said “I can’t do that”. In fact a couple of the pictures we have used in the documentary accompanying the exhibition were taken by students Liam & Phoebe who’d never done studio work before, I just handed them a camera and they had a go.
What’s been surprising for you about this project?
How much people shared about themselves. Being a portrait photographer is such a privilege and comes with responsibility; some participants used the whole process as a form of therapy! Ultimately, I talk to people to form a connection; to help them relax in front of the camera. So we have a chat and at the end we have some pictures.
I was also surprised to hear stories from people who on the face of it, you’d never imagine would have such experiences. It was amazing the number of people who wanted to give up their time to take part, whether in front of the camera or contributing in some other way. If I had more time and a bigger budget, I have loved to have taken it much further.
Why did you decide to show at the Art Salon?
Great space, professional and reasonably priced too! Besides which, with out wanting to sound too smulchy, the Art Salon stands for many of my own principles, i.e. lets get the arts out to the community and encourage those that perhaps would not consider it their bag, to have a go. SO many people think they are not creative. It’s such a lie. Everyone is, they just may not have discovered it yet! Anyway, creativity is not simply limited to what we traditionally refer to as the “arts”. Read “The Element” by Sir Ken Robinson.
What’s next for you?
I have a couple of community projects on the cards, and the usual teaching / photography work. I don’t want to give too much away, but my next exhibition (to be launched next year) is a mix of sounds from often “unusual” sources and photographs / video included from non-trained artists. It is a modern twist on “The Carnival of the Animals”, by Camille Saint-Saëns, entitled “Dr Doolittle’s World of the Strange”…
All photo portraits purchased and ordered are in aid of FLACK Magazine http://www.flackcambridge.org.uk/FLACKmagazine/home.html
www.markwoodsnunn.co.uk
This unique take on Desert Island Discs is a photography exhibition celebrating the way music has influenced and inspired people’s lives. Also incorporating film, painting, poetry, music, and dance, “Discs” blends participants musical choices used to create their own life’s theme tune.
There will be work by Mark Woods-Nunn on sale as well as a music inspired mixed media piece by Art Salon creative director Ruthie Collins.
Launch event, Friday 24th August 6-9pm:
On the night you will find live performances, poetry, dance & DJ-ing as well as some music inspired drinks tasting!
RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/events/427931063917894/