The best art exhibitions in Bristol and the Westcountry this month – selected by the Friends of the RWA…
Here’s our pick of the best art exhibitions and events happening in and around Bristol and the south west in September – including ‘Last chance to see’ shows and a look ahead to upcoming features….
Compiled by Sue Quirk and Laurel Smart
AT THE RWA
Fire: Flashes to Ashes in British Art 1692-2019 finishes on 1 September, while the 167 Open Exhibition and Academican Candidates’ Exhibition start on 29 and 27 September respectively.
In the meantime, you can see the small, free exhibition The Joy of Flowers: Nature’s Living Gems in the Lower Ground Floor Corridor all month.
SEPTEMBER EXHIBITIONS
1) BRIGHT BOLD LANDSCAPES BY JO PROBERT
3-15 SEPTEMBER
“I work in soft pastel, with the end result being bright, bold and contemporary. For me, drawing pictures with bright colours that make people feel better is, and always has been, a really good thing to do. Living in South Devon I’m able to explore this beautiful area of outstanding natural beauty every day, capturing the sea and landscape in my work in all its colours.”
Harbour House, The Promenade, Kingsbridge, TQ7 1JD
www.harbourhouse.org.uk
2) LUCY AUSTIN RWA: analogue
6-28 SEPTEMBER
This collection of paintings came out of a group called ‘Shelf life’. The title comes from the use of cardboard packaging (soap, toothpaste, tea and biscuits), which is flattened painted and collaged onto the canvas surface. These cardboard fragments create jutting square and straight edges which form raised creases and folds. Where there are holes in the card these make windows, through which the energetic under-painting is revealed. The collaged painting surface is overlaid with fine linear ink drawings made on transparent rice paper.
Read our Q&A with Lucy Austin here, and meet Andy Phipps of That Art Gallery here.
That Art Gallery, 17 Christmas Steps, Bristol, BS1 5BS
www.thatartgallery.com
3) FROM HERE TO THERE AND BACK AGAIN
7-8 SEPTEMBER, 12-15 SEPTEMBER
The project is part of the 10 Parishes Festival. It is a collaboration between Greenways Studios in Somerset and another set of studios called Hurstone in Waterrow, Somerset. The two studios are linked by a lovely river Tone walk that also features remains of a Brunel Viaduct. The exhibition will contain work inspired by the walk. There will also be installations along the walk. Work will include paintings, drawings, sculpture and video. This exhibition features two Bristol artists Ulich and Susie Palmer at Venue 1 as well as artists Michael Fairfax, Louise Baker, Chrys Allen, Jane Embelton, Tim Hayward and Paul Leyland.
Greenways Studios, Barn at Greenways, Ashbrittle, Wellington, Somerset TA21 0LE
www.greenwaysstudios.com
4) KATE WALTERS: NOTES IN THE GARDEN
7 SEPTEMBER – 2 OCTOBER
Kate’s work is inspired by her strong attachment to animals, plants and wild or beautiful places in nature; including time spent, over the past five years, as an artist in residence at Tremenheere. This time has given Kate ‘insights into the secret life of the gardens’, as well as furthered her strong feelings surrounding the Buddhist concept of ‘interbeing’ and the belief that any diminishment to the natural world diminishes everyone, themes that are explored in this exhibition. Alongside Kate’s work, the exhibition will also showcase invited artists and poets whose work speaks to the themes explored in the exhibition, extending and broadening the conversation. There will be an opening event on Friday 6th September, 6-8pm.
Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, Nr Gulval, Penzance, TR20 8YL
023 8059 2158
www.tremenheere.co.uk
5) BERNARD OLLIS: A TALE OF TWO CITIES
UNTIL 15 SEPTEMBER
For Bernard Ollis life is a stage where we interact with others, often with unpredictable outcomes. His colourful paintings unite the cities of Bath and Paris in unexpected and delightful ways. Ollis spent his formative years in Bath before studying for his degree in Cardiff in the ‘70s and his Masters at the Royal College of Art, under such luminaries as Hockney, Blake and Hodgkin. After emigrating to Australia, Ollis became Director of the National Art School, Sydney. Since stepping down in 2008 he has travelled far and wide, conducting residencies in many places including Cairo, Shanghai and Antarctica.
Victoria Art Gallery, Bridge Street, BATH BA2 4AT
www.victoriagal.org.uk
6) TURNER IN BRIDPORT
UNTIL 28 SEPTEMBER
One day in the early 1800s, one of the greatest painters that this country has ever produced, visited Bridport Harbour. In a small sketchbook, he captured the now iconic Jurassic Coast cliffs, and a ship being pulled ashore using Bridport rope. A century later, one man spent many days in London at the National Gallery, carefully analysing and copying many of Turner’s paintings. Captain Alfred Percy Codd later gifted those paintings to Bridport Museum, which he founded in 1932.
Bridport Museum, 25 South Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3NR
www.bridportmuseum.co.uk
7) AUGUSTUS JOHN: ‘DRAWN FROM LIFE’…
UNTIL 29 SEPTEMBER
This major retrospective of the work of artist Augustus John (1878 – 1961) focuses on John’s early to mid-career, examining his reputation and looking in-depth at his achievements in drawing and etching.
The Salisbury Museum, The King’s House, 65 The Close, SALISBURY, SP1 2EN
www.salisburymuseum.org.uk
LAST CHANCE TO SEE…
UNTIL 6 SEPTEMBER: SARAH BALL ‘THEMSELVES’ Portrait paintings from eclectic historic photographic archives. ANIMA MUNDI, ST IVES www.animamundigallery.com
UNTIL 7 SEPTEMBER: : JACKIE CURTIS REEDBEDS AND WATERWAYS Artworks celebrating landscapes and wildlife. MUSEUM OF SOMERSET, TAUNTON swheritage.org.uk
UNTIL 8 SEPTEMBER: IGNITING SIGHT: CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS INSPIRED BY JMW TURNER Contemporary artists inspired by JMW Turner. SLADERS YARD GALLERY, BRIDPORT www.sladersyard.wordpress.com
UNTIL 8 SEPTEMBER: UNCONSCIOUS LANDSCAPEWORKS FROM THE URSULA HAUSER COLLECTION An exhibition focused entirely on female artists, works collected by Ursula Hauser. HAUSER & WIRTH, BRUTON www.hauserwirth.com
UNTIL 8 SEPTEMBER: MASTERS OF JAPANESE PRINTS: NATURE AND SEASONS Final exhibition in the series. BRISTOL MUSEUM & ART GALLERY www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery
WATCH OUT FOR…
CROSSING BOUNDARIES 6-18 SEPTEMBER iD-Artists Gail Mason (Painter Printmaker), Sara Parsons (Sculptor and Painter), Stephanie Wooster (Textiles), Tina Hill (Sculptural Printmaker), Vicki Campbell (Painter and Sculptural Mosaics) and Dawn Mason (Mixed Media) explore the spaces and connections between their practices. Centrespace Gallery, BRISTOL http://www.centrespacegallery.com/
REFLECT: 25 YEARS OF SOMERSET ART WEEKS 7 SEPTEMBER-7 OCTOBER Reflect is a group exhibition looking back over 25 years, with work by SAW Members past and present, who have worked with and supported the organisation since the inaugural event in 1994. The Brewhouse, TAUNTON thebrewhouse.net
NATURAL SELECTION UNTIL 15 SEPTEMBER Artist Andy Holden and his ornithologist father Peter on a journey from nest-building to egg-collecting. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, BRISTOL bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery
DRAWING AND SCULPTURE BY JOEL FISHER & DAVE KING UNTIL 15 SEPTEMBER This exhibition pairs artists who have been friends for over 40 years. Key themes of the exhibition are repetition and sequence. Shippon Gallery, CHARDSTOCK https://theshippongallery.com/
BACK TO THE FUTURE IV 21 SEPTEMBER – 6 OCTOBER Group exhibition reuniting four contemporary artists (Kathy Dalwood, Susanna Lisle, Robin Sewell and Peter Webster) who studied together at the acclaimed Jacob Kramer Foundation Course in Leeds from 1969-70. Andelli Art, WELLS andelliart.com
EXCHANGE EXHIBITION & RESIDENCIES UNTIL 22 SEPTEMBER Three artists will complete a series of residencies, generating new artwork in response to the theme of Exchange and its potential meanings. Aspex, PORTSMOUTH aspex.org.uk
ONE DAY EVENTS
1 SEPTEMBER Art for Good Installation artist Anthony Garratt, Newlyn School of Art and The National Trust have invited members of the public, from beginners to practising artists, to join them in creating a record attempt for the most people painting a landscape outdoors in the same place on the dramatic coastline between Land’s End and Sennen, West Cornwall. Proceeds will go towards new stone footings to preserve this coastline path. Read more about Anthony Garratt here.
7 & 8 SEPTEMBER Bristol Faces – Two day event at HOURS showing work in progress on the next stage of the Bristol Faces project and some of the portraits completed so far. http://www.hours-space.com
If you would like an exhibition or artist to be listed please email laurel.smart@blueyonder.co.uk and we will consider it for inclusion.
The Floating Circle 