Smile- A Ruthin Craft Centre touring exhibition

Smile indeed! A Ruthin Craft Centre touring exhibition curated by Mary La Trobe-Bateman is showing now at the Mission Gallery, Swansea. This group show by 13 contemporary makers invites a response from the audience - maybe a smile, a glimmer of recognition or surprise. Exhibitors included: Abbot and Ellwood, Julie Arkell, Janet Bolton, Lucy Casson, Michael Flynn, Eleanor Glover, Jo Lawrence, Lindsay Mann, Linda Miller, Craig Mitchell, Deridre Nelson, Robert Race and Freddie Robins. Below are some of my favourite pieces from the Smile exhibition. 

Eleanor Glover:  Smile

Eleanor Glover is a trained Graphic Designer and uses mixed media in her work, she makes painted wooden sculpture, fretted reliefs and lettering. A mix of emotions culminate in each individual piece. Her work has been widely exhibited and her smile piece was one of my favourites of this exhibition. Each letter individually priced.

I responded to Lucy Casson's delightful  tin and metal work immediately, she is inspired by observations of people and animals; their gestures and moods; scenarios and narratives.
  

Lucy Casson, Kitchen

Lucy Casson, Upholsterer's chair

Lucy Casson, Formica kitchen table

I also love the work by one of England's best recognised folk artist's working in papier-mache and mixed media, Julie Arknell. She makes fantastical and cute 'little creatures' . This is what Julie Arkell says about her creations: 'Words and phrases I hear, read and put together inspire me. I use paper and glue to mould the figures. Sometimes they have wool features, doll heads, or painted faces. Their arms and legs can be papier mache or plastic, taken off old dolls and re-assembled. The clothes they wear are knitted, sewn and crocheted, with parts of their story embroidered on to them. Houses, boats, trees, chairs and prams are constructed to make up their environment.' She cannot resist the rejected debris of everyday life.  A paperback about her work can be bought on Amazon, Julie Arknell :Home.

Julie Arknell

Julie Arknell

Julie Arknell

 


A publication on the exhibition can be bought from the Mission Gallery shop or the Ruthin Craft Centre shop online for £6.
The exhibition runs from the 13th of November 2010 - 9th January 2011
Admission to the Mission Gallery is Free and is open daily 11am - 5pm.  01792 652016

Christmas Window Display - Harvey Nichols

 
Christmas should be the most magical time of the year for our shops. I was really impressed by this festive window display in Harvey Nichols, Quakers Friars Cabot Circus, Bristol.

The theme is very cliche and festive, it's the opposite of tasteful with the ample use of tinsel and I love it, It's party time! It really made me stop and take notice when I walked past.  The theatrical windows bring traditional Christmas carol's to life with Frosty the snowman, Jingle bells and The holly and the Ivy.  I like the cartoonish distorted heads of the mannequins. Its a really fun window display. I went inside and the theme carried on througout the store, outdoor lights inside, lots of tinsel etc, fantastic!

I'm going to London next weekend so I'm really looking forward to more eye-catching and festive window shopping beautiful windows like Liberty's, Zara and Harrods....!