Garden Sculpture Exhibition 2020: As the rigours of winter weather fade in the memory and the traffic quietens, allowing us to hear the swallows twittering overhead, the welcome warmth of the sun promises longer days, balmy evenings and summer around the corner. The lockdown has prompted renewed interest in our gardens and the solace and rewards that they provide, many will have had the opportunity to make longed for improvements, an ideal time to consider a piece of garden art. With this in mind, Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge opens its annual garden sculpture exhibition ‘Long Shadows’, showing the work of talented British designer/makers in a variety of media, all British made and some unique one offs. Each piece of garden sculpture is designed to give hours of pleasure to enhance time spent in the garden.
Showing online only for the time being due to current restrictions, from Sunday May 3rd 2020. The exhibition will run throughout the year. If you would like to ‘click and collect’ from the gallery please ring me on 01544 388842
Visit the gallery FaceBook page Garden Sculpture 2020 photo album where you will see more images being added over the coming days and weeks.
New to the gallery, we’re pleased to introduce Shropshire stone carver Chris Lawrence, who has been inspired by the current pandemic to carve an angel’s wing. He hopes to donate one to the NHS, in appreciation of their work. He attended art college in Shrewsbury and then in Wolverhampton followed by an in-house masonry apprenticeship with mason Rob Maxfield Stone in Shropshire. He is currently working on a large project at Hampton Court in Herefordshire. Exhibiting here for the first time last year, Andrew Roache, retired veterinary surgeon, has a keen eye to animal anatomy. Most of his work is life-size or larger, being intended for outdoor display. He favours iron resin because it lends itself well to animal subjects and each cast matures in an interesting and individual way. Artist Paul Bearman has created a collection of lively animal pieces for the garden in rugged cement fondue with a copper paint finish. Paul was born in London and studied sculpture at the City and Guilds of London Art School. Ann Campbell’s ceramic sculpture reflects her lifelong interest in animals. Without sentimentality but with acute observation based on empathy she represents her subjects as archetypes of themselves. The sheep, birds, baboons, zebras and horses formed in Ann’s studio have a presence of playful solemnity, a gravitas and grace that derives from her experience and love of animals. Toff Milway throws salt glazed garden pots. He has developed his own pottery style and an increasing diversity of salt-glaze techniques which include dipping, pouring and trailing liquid clay slips, with scraffito and roulette decoration on to a very fine ball clay based body. Herefordshire sculptor David England carves enigmatic pieces with a graceful solidity in Portland and Forest Of Dean stone. His collection of original work will include the ever favourite Green Man design, hares – another of his preoccupations – and a Celtic Horse. Finally, long established sculptor Helen Sinclair produces limited edition and unique contemporary pieces of slender elegance in stone resin.
Several artist blacksmiths will be showing a collection of their latest work in forged iron and stainless steel, where the visitor will discover green men, poppies, ferns, sheep, herons, owls, kingfisher, humming birds as well as abstract pieces, those with a practical bent will find garden furniture, garden arches, bird baths and plant supports. Some will be galvanised to protect them from the weather and some will feature hand blown glass.
Collection of purchased pieces will be by pre-arranged appointment from the gallery garden with social distancing rules firmly in place. We have a range of work in stock, but some pieces will be made to order, particularly in the case of metalworkers, as we are unsure at the present time when the galvanisers will reopen. Waiting times will vary depending upon each maker/sculptor.
