Galleries

February GALLERIES

Until February 26

The Spectacular Sky: Donna Goold Solo Exhibition. Donna Goold’s paintings are an exploration of colour and light observed simply by looking up. Although different motifs may appear the viewer is still pulled back to the overriding power and drama of the sky. Artwave West, Morcombelake, Dorset DT6 6DY. Tel: 01297 489746. View online www.artwavewest.com

Until February 28

A Picture of Health. Arnolfini are proud to be collaborating with Rising Arts Agency, a community of young creatives aged 16 – 30 at all stages of their careers. https://arnolfini.org.uk/whatson/exhibition-walkthrougha-picture-of-health/ The Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA. Anna Grayson: The Photographic Art Thief comes to the Café at Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) with selected works also available to purchase. Anna Grayson is a geologist by training and was a BBC presenter and science writer by profession; she re-trained as an artist at the age of 60, and her work was featured by Grayson Perry in Channel 4’s Grayson’s Art Club earlier this year. Much of Anna’s work is humorous, but there is a serious side too with clear themes of gender, feminism and social commentary. Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Queen St, Exeter EX4 3RX. https://rammuseum.org.uk/

Until March 14

In the mind’s eye: David Atkins, Rachel Fenner and

Paul Jones. In the mind’s eye, memory and imagination hold sway. We perceive the world through the cipher of our

Paul Jones Downland Edge 60 x 120 cm. Sladers Yard, West Bay

human senses, via the changing direction and nature of our attention, in minds that are influenced by moods, memories and sensations. Everything, you might deduce, is unreliable and individual. However, good artists are able to reach our minds’ eyes directly, startling us with a common perception, a common humanity. The three artists in this exhibition all paint landscape in very different ways, each reaching for different areas of our human perception. Sladers Yard Gallery and Café Sladers, West Bay Road, West Bay, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4EL. https://sladersyard.wordpress.com/in-theminds-eye/

Until March 20

Creative Cabin Shorts As our Creative Cabin is grounded, THG brings you Creative Cabin Shorts, an inspiring digital programme of art and nature activities, films and workshops. We hope that these films will offer you some... Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Elmfield House, Dowell Street, Honiton EX14 1LX, 01404 45006 www.thelmahulbert.com.

Local writer publishes debut collection of short stories inspired by the South West

Awest country writer has Forward Prize. Her grief poem, Kindness, just had her debut short was Commended by the National Poetry story collection published. Competition 2019. Forthcoming books Stay with me, by Louisa Adjoa Parker for 2021 include a coastal memoir, to be was published by Colenso Books published by Dorset nature publisher at the end of December 2020. The Little Toller Books, and a small collection collection, which is set mostly in the of grief poems, She can still sing, to be south west, including places such as published by Flipped Eye. Dorset and Devon, is described as Louisa has also written books, ‘a collection of love stories with a exhibitions and articles on race and difference...which burrow into the diversity in the countryside. Her books dark underbelly of rural England.’ Louisa Adjoa Parker Photograph by Robin Mills include Dorset’s Hidden Histories and 1944

Louisa, who is of English and We Were Here: African American GIs in Ghanaian heritage, has lived in various Dorset. During 2018-2019 she was a New parts of the south west for most of her life, including Talent Immersion Fellow for South West Creative 25 years in Dorset, where she brought up her three Technology Network, and set up the, Where are you children. She now lives in south Somerset, and writes really from? project which tells the stories of ethnically poetry, fiction, and ethnically diverse history. She is diverse people from rural Britain in the form of stories, also co-director of The Inclusion Agency, which she poems, podcasts, and films. She is a sought-after runs with Louise Boston-Mammah, supporting various speaker on topics including black history, rural racism, organisations with equality, diversity and inclusion. and mental health. She is a sought-after speaker on topics including rural The official launch for Stay with me will take place racism and black history. online as part of an international literature event on

Louisa first began writing poetry and articles to talk 8th March, 6.30-8.00 pm. To book your place at the about her experiences of racism as a mixed-race child, Quay Words Exeter and Poetry Africa Durban launch then went on to write fiction. One of the stories in visit: https://exetercustomhouse.org.uk/events/ the new collection, Breaking Glass, set in Lyme Regis, launch-day-one-development-days-for-women-writerswas first published in the acclaimed anthology Closure: featuring-efemia-chela-and-louisa-adjoa-parker/ Contemporary Black British Short Stories, published by Peepal Tree Press.

Louisa says, ‘I’ve written a lot about my own and others’ experiences of racism in the south west, and this collection includes themes of race, but also explores addiction, motherhood, and physical and psychological violence. I wanted to tell these littleheard stories of marginalisation from our green (and not always) pleasant land, because the rural idyll hides a lot of deprivation. I hope in spite of the difficult themes explored, the stories are seen as positive, a celebration of resilience and overcoming challenges.’

Acclaimed writer Jacob Ross says of the book: ‘This ‘Stay with me’ is priced at £9.75 and can be ordered from any collection is all the more important because it offers bookshop using the ISBN number: 9781912788170, or direct such rare insights into the inner world of characters from the publisher (with a 15% discount for a limited period) by who exist outside of much-explored urban/inner-city emailing: colensobooks@gmail.com. Cost is £10.80 including settings.’ UK postage.

Louisa’s poems and stories have been widely The book is also available on Amazon: published. She has twice been shortlisted by the To find out more about Louisa’s work please visit the website: Bridport Prize and was Highly Commended by the www.louisaadjoaparker.com