Art Refuge Fundraiser Show – Opening Evening 21st December – until 30th December

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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).

Christmas Art Fair

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Print out this flyer for a FREE glass of mulled wine and a mince pie!

Thurs 29th Nov – Fri 14th Dec

Thurs 5-7pm; Fri, Sat, Sun 10am-5pm

Creative, unique and individual art gifts created by the Art Salon’s studio residents and artist friends. Stunning photography, gorgeous textiles, Christmas cards, bags, stained glass, jewellery, luscious ceramics and art prints – this is a treasure trove of perfect pressies created by independent artists in Cambridge. Come along and find that perfect gift, have a mince pie or three and a glass of mulled cheer!

10% of all sales goes to Arthur Rank Hospice

Santa will be on site on Sunday 2nd & 9th  December  from 11am – 12noon.

New exhibition gives local artists their chance to shine – Cambridge News – 21 November

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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.

The Barefoot Collector

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HOT OFF THE PRESS ... For those of you who were unable to attend Simon Sedgwick-Jell's talk please 
click on the links below to hear expert tips on how to collect art affordably.... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In3uLBNrmTg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5rV0wkJjNs&feature=endscreen&NR=1

Dennis Healey famously said that politicians need a hinterland – a passion or two beyond the public sphere. His was photography; for Simon Sedgwick-Jell, Leader of Cambridge City Council in the early 90’s, General Election candidate in 2010 and current Green Party County Councillor it is collecting art – but, he stresses, without ever having much money to do so! On the first two weekends in October visitors can see some of the fruits of this passion at his exhibition “The Barefoot Collector” at the Cambridge Art Salon Gallery in Cromwell Rd., Cambridge.

Simon acquired his first painting when he was 14, now, nearly fifty years later he has well over a hundred artworks, many of which have been funded by the £1 a day he has been putting into an art fund for over 20 years. Work from well known galleries, pictures from Cambridge’s annual Open Studios event, from student shows, charity auctions and charity shops all are to be found in his collection and Simon hopes that the exhibition will show that art collecting can be enjoyed by each and everyone and not just by a chosen few with deep pockets! Exhibition runs 6-14 October 2012.

We will preview the show at 5.30pm on 6th October 2012.

click on the link below for the trailer to Simon’s talk … http://www.youtube.com/user/mrsdolomite?feature=mhee

Film courtesy of John Caldwell, Frameworks, http://www.frameworks-cambridge.co.uk/

Workshops with Sophie Hill at the Cambridge Art Salon

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Sophie Hill invites you to her workshops at Cambridge Art Salon, Saturday 17th November, and Sunday 25th November 2012.

On Saturday 17th, she will lead a workshop where you can create an image ofCambridge, capture it in a variety of media and make it a part of a large community made piece of artwork. Squares of artwork will be collaged together to amass one big collection of images, depicting how you seeCambridge.  A fun family workshop, from 1 til 4, and its free!

On the following weekend, Sunday 25th November, we will be having a Winter Tea Party 3-5pm. Sophie will be helping you design your festive postcards. If you have the recipients address with you, you can post your card straight away via our Fairy Elf! This workshop will cost just £2 per person. All ages welcome.

These workshops are part of the Narrative exhibition, where you will be able to meet some of the artists, and learn about how they make their work; http://narrativeart.co.uk/

                15 – 27 November 2012, Fri – Wed 10 – 5.30pm, Thurs 10 – 7pm, Cambridge Art Salon, 29 Cromwell Road, Cambridge, CB1 3EB                          www.cambridgeartsalon.org.uk

Mixed Media Workshop with Karen Jinks at Cambridge Art Salon

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Drop in to the Art Salon on Wednesday 21st November between 10.30am and 2pm, and make some gorgeous mixed media cards with Karen Jinks.

Karen will let you in to her secret of how she makes her images with a vintage timeless feel, using very modern methods. Bring along your own family photos, preferably black and white, and transform them in to special designs. Your photos will not be damaged in any way, as Karen will scan them for you.  To cover material costs, we would ask for a donation of £4.

Click here for full details for the Narrative show;       http://narrativeart.co.uk/

15 – 27 November 2012, Fri – Wed 10 – 5.30pm, Thurs 10 – 7pm, Cambridge Art Salon, 29 Cromwell Road, Cambridge, CB1 3EB                                www.cambridgeartsalon.org.uk          www.karenjinks.co.uk

Narrative – Cambridge Creative Network – 15 – 27 November 2012

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‘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 – Opens Friday 2nd November 7pm (until 5th November)

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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.

The Life (Sentence) and Art of Gary Critchley

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How Gary’s paintings came to be hung in a Cambridge Library

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

Cambridge Art Walks Map

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Download the PDF: Art-Map-8b

As part of our Love Cambridge Art Campaign, Cambridge Art Salon launched the Cambridge Art Walks Map.  The map acknowledges and celebrates the growing contemporary visual arts community in Cambridge.  We want to highlight and cultivate links between the various arts spaces around Cambridge.  The Cambridge Art Walks Map not only locates art spaces in the city but also facilitates in encouraging people to visit these spaces and open up discussion by bring like-minded people together.  The art map ultimately re-engages people with their community and promotes art that is relevant to their everyday lives.  We have distributed the map freely to local art spaces, education centres, cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops.  Pick up or download your copy above to create your own route!

‘Neoplasm’, 19th – 31st October; photography and ceramic works by Penny Sackett Hayes

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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.

A map of art spaces in Cambridge

Celebrate our Birthday with the Art Map

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A map of art spaces in CambridgeYou are, as the image says, warmly invited to celebrate our first birthday with us, at the Cambridge Art Salon. This year has been a busy one, but now we are seeing the launch of the Cambridge Art Map as well as an increased interest in our work and possible expansions left, right, centre, up and down. It’s new, it’s slightly scary, and it’s happening just off Mill Road.