Well then, it must be time for the Holy Trinity 2012 Art Exhibit! This is my favourite event in the church social calendar. Each year the quality of the work on display amazes me. This year we had work exhibited from one very promising 7 year-old artist to another very successful local artist in his 90's! By the time the exhibit is mounted there are usually around 300 works displayed. For the first time we also included photographs.
The weather on Friday was the worst it could possibly be as rain and wind lashed and battered everything the ventured outside. No one in England and Wales escaped the onslaught. I feared being blown away off the steps as I forced myself through the tempest to the waiting cab -- indeed I had no wish to go at all -- no one in his or her right mind wanted to venture out that day. However, I was committed and off I went...
The first artist has arrived and is handing over his paintings |
Fortunately the weather on Saturday and Sunday was perfect: the sun shone, but it wasn't so warm that people would be heading for a day at the beach. We had a good number of people through the door and at by the end were very happy with the number of paintings that sold. And, yes, I bought one!
Each year we have a special exhibit of a local artisan and this year was a wonderful display of rocking horses. In addition to the amazing horses were other handmade wooden pieces including teddy bears, 3 dimensional scenes from Alice in Wonderland, jewellery and clocks. Woodlove and Lovewood make all of their hand-crafted pieces in solid wood. Did you know that the rocking horse is not a creation of the Victorian era, but that many models have been found in ancient tombs?
According to their literature:
The distinguising features are the heads which are all hand carved and have different expressions. The body and head are constructed of Julutong, the legs of Beech, for strength and the stand of Mahogany. These horses are then hand painted and have full leather tack and real horse hair is used for mane and tail.
Some of the woods used in the clocks are not available from timber merchants, being now very rare, and have been culled from old buildings and furniture, making them well over one-hundred years old. If you want a clock made from Granny's old kitchen table, we will advise.The idea is for the artisan to show how he accomplishes his work, and it was very interesting and even amazing to see the many steps in this labour of love, it takes to make each rocking horse.
The manes and tails are made of real horse hair... |
I love these table top horses! |
I meant to go back and buy a couple of these adorable bears... :-(
Hidden to the left is our youngest artist! |
What a wonderful idea, and exhibition of such fantastic talents. The quality looks superb and well done to your church for providing the means to showcase this work.
ReplyDeleteEvery year I am astounded at how many talented people there are around!
DeleteSo many schools are closing down their art programs because of budget cuts that it's rewarding to see people like you working to help continue an interest in the arts among young and old.
ReplyDeleteI really do believe that the promotion of the arts is vitally important to our civilization -- we need food for the soul as well as for the body...
DeleteWhat an enormous undertaking. Good job, well done. It takes a dedicated and knowledgable committee to pull off this size show. Kudos for including young art, it's so important for kids to boosted along, too.
ReplyDeleteWe have a really good team of people who really enjoy mounting the exhibition. I haven't even mentioned (to my shame) the food that is available!
DeleteThat's a lot of work, but for such a good cause. It must be so encouraging for young and old artists alike to have their work displayed. And sold!
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely thing when we see the look of amazement and encouragement on the faces of our artists when they learn that their work has sold!
DeleteHow great it is that your group provides a showcase for artists of all ages...and encourages talent.
ReplyDeleteI covet the rocking horses...
The rocking horses really were splendid.They also restore rocking horses ...
DeleteIt looks as if you had a great time, as did everyone else involved, artists and organisers alike. The rocking horses are beautiful.
ReplyDeleter anYou are absolutely right - this is an event we all look forward to every year. The Man and I have delayed our trip to France several times in order to participate in the exhibit and we have never regretted it...
DeleteSome really good stuff here. I don't believe I have ever encountered anyone who makes rocking horses! what a nice thing to do - each one must feel like an individual.
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DeleteThey said that each horse has its own individual facial expression...
DeleteI had a rocking horse as a small child with real horse hair mane and tail. My parents bought it in Switzerland, wish I still had it! Diane
ReplyDeleteIt must have been exquisite -- the Swiss are wonderful at this sort of thing...
DeleteWhat a fantastic project to be involved in! such beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed great fun!
DeleteAll the art work is beautiful. How fun to be involved in any way. I too would have to escort and not touch the work!
ReplyDeleteLove the horses most! They always make me smile.
Did you have huge crowds?
Blessings on being involved with this.
We had a very good turnout. Fortunately the utterly dire weather on the Day the artists had to show up with their work was over by the next day. Saturday the weather was just right for people passing by to stop in -- not to hot to be heading for the beach and perfect for looking around.
DeleteDear Broad, the drawings by your youngest artist seem to show that he is quite gifted. I'm so glad for him that there is an organization like yours that exhibits the work of children along with adults. That way, the young artist can see that as time passes, he'll get better and better the more he practices his craft.
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing us the rocking horses and the bears. So much work but it brings great delight to a child rocking away on his or her horse!
Peace.
The mother of the youngest artist told me that he has a voracious appetite for painting. On the day he painted the two in our exhibit he had painted 13 others!
DeleteWhat a fantastic undertaking, Broad. It look wonderful and I'm so glad the weather was kind to you after the nightmare of the previous day.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great exhibition and we were very lucky with the weather as the forecasts had not been good.
ReplyDeleteNow that's more like it! I would love to enter work in your exhibition! Would someone from Preston, Lancs qualify??
ReplyDeleteABSOLUTELY! We have had several people from Preston exhibit over the years. Please let me know how to get in touch with you and I will make sure you get an application form for the 2013 exhibition...
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