Art in Rure Debut Exhibition at John Lewis

Bastian Contrarian present Art in Rure, the first in a series of art exhibitions 

featuring the works of local, national and international artists.

Frontier Spirit by James Callaghan . Copyright James Callaghan.

Bastian Contrarian present Art inRure, the first in a series of exhibitions that will be held atJohn Lewis Solihull from 12^th September until the 31^st August 2014.

In collaboration with John Lewis Solihull and Solihull Fairtrade, Art in Rure will be showcasing an eclectic selection of original, contemporary oil paintings, acrylics, etchings, wood cuts, silkscreen prints, photography and video art by established and emerging artists from the UK, Europe and the United States.

The show, which will be held in the John Lewis Place to Eat and various other locations in the store, will feature works by James Callaghan, Elena Cecchinato, Wendy Cook, Jan Gay,Paula Hamilton, Paul Jordan, Angus Kaye, Nick Logan, Roy Meats, Kathryn Pettitt, Alan Ranger, Julie Robertson, Barbara Shackley, Mark Skirving, Tim Southall and Mark Tilley

.

The video works include ‘Unbelongings’, by London-based Gulab Chaggar; the award-winning ‘Bottle’, by Kirsten Lepore, and ‘Returning to Eve’, by contemporary dance artist and choreographer, Amy-Louise Watson.

Managing Director of John Lewis, Julie Blake said: "This is an exciting exhibition and we are delighted to help showcase these talented artists. Supporting our local communities is absolutely key to John Lewis, and this is a great way of not only doing that but also giving our customers an extra special experience when they come into our shop".

All the art works on display are available for sale and a part of the profits will be donated toSolihull Fairtrade, a group that promotes fair-trade products and ethical trading throughout the borough, and Northleigh House School, in Hatton, which provides educational facilities and support to secondary school children who have been victims of bullying.

The inauguration, which will be officially opened by the Mayor of Solihull, will be held on Thursday, 12^th September 2013 from 5.30-7.30 pm.

This event is the launch of the Art in Rure Fest, scheduled to take place throughout Solihull during the school summer holidays of 2014.

Local businesses, members of the local Fairtrade network and artists who would like to get involved in the up-coming festival can contact Sarah Silver on 07971-022369 or visitwww.bastiancontrarian.co.uk for further information.

On Common Ground: textile and stitch by Fiona Robertson & assemblages and drawings by Douglas Robertson

Exhibition: On Common Ground: textile and stitch by Fiona Robertson & assemblages and drawings by Douglas Robertson

Dates: 3 – 25 August 2013

Opening Reception: Saturday 3 August, 12 – 2pm

Location: West Ox Arts Gallery, Market Square, Bampton

Open Hours: Tuesdays – Saturdays 10.30 – 4.30pm & Sundays 2 – 4pm

Although working in very different forms of media, artists Douglas and Fiona Robertson share a passion for digging deep into their subject matter to create works rich in colour, line and texture. 

Childhood memories of a landscape rich in folklore and tradition, where the footprints and legacy of people who’ve passed over the land previously were not only a memory but part of everyday life, inspire Douglas to dig deep into the environment and experiences of his past to create wood assemblages that resemble museum relics and atmospheric drawings that pay homage to coastal life.   Meanwhile, Fiona digs deep into the sumptuousness of landscape, exploring how light can make nature’s colours appear soft and muted, or sharp and exaggerated.  She then painstakingly transforms that landscape imagery into stunning works of art that incorporate hand dyed silk, cotton scrim and stitch, reading more like paintings than textiles.

 Images left to right: Fiona Robertson & Douglas Robertson

        

                                

Sustaining the Person Within: Personal responses to working creatively with the elderly in care