CITY ARTS

STATE OF THEART

With celebrated artists, award-winning sculptors, and striking works on show at Bath’s independent galleries, here’s our line up for the month

In light of ongoing developments resulting from Coronavirus, some exhibitions may be cancelled or postponed and some venues closed. Please check the organisers’ websites for further updates. Thank you for your understanding and continued support

THE HOLBURNE MUSEUM Great Pulteney Street, Bath Open: Daily, 10am–5pm (11am Sundays) Tel: 01225 388569 Web: holburne.org

GRAYSON PERRY: THE PRE-THERAPY YEARS Until 25 May One of the Holburne’s most eagerly anticipated shows of the year, this follows a successful public appeal to source Perry’s early ceramic pieces, made between 1982 and the mid-1990s. Here are a broad range of Perry’s early works, i ncluding pieces from the artist’s own collection and works not seen publicly before. For Perry’s legions of fans, The Pre-Therapy Years will bring a new perspective to the 2003 Turner Prize-winner’s influential and inspiring outlook.

Essex Plate by Grayson Perry

THE FRAMING WORKSHOP 80 Walcot Street, Bath Tel: 01225 482748 Web: theframingworkshop.com

Throughout April Hannah Clare works in mixed media to produce drawings and paintings which explore layers of story, memory and experience, with work focusing on the female form and drawing on art historical imagery and themes. This exhibition runs alongside the permanent display of creatively framed objects and images colle cted and created to inspire v isitors.

DAVID SIMON CONTEMPORARY 37 High Street, Castle Cary Open: Monday – Saturday 10am–5.30pm (closed Wednesday and Sunday) Tel: 01963 359102 Web: davidsimoncontemporary.com

GEORGE DANNATT: A RETROSPECTIVE Unti l 28 Ap ril This exhibition will give a broad overview of the work of George Dannatt, a decade after his death. Carefully selected by David Simon, the collection charts Dannatt’s exploration of geometry, form and space from the 1960s through the five decades of his career. Having established himself as a painter later in life, Dannatt was successful in exhibiting with important Mayfair galleries. David Simon has provided a rare opportunity to explore the artist’s work once again. Landscape Study with Grenadine Red No.4 1984 by George Dannatt

MODERN ARTBUYER: SPRING POP-UP GALLERY Milsom Place, Milsom Street and Broad Street, Bath Open: Daily, 10am –4pm Tel: 01225 789040 Web: milsomplace.co.uk

Until 5 April Join gallery director Jessica Lloyd-Smith at Modern ArtBuyer’s spring pop-up gallery in the heart of Bath and browse a carefully curated collection of contemporary limited edition prints, original paintings and works on paper.

The pop-up aims to bring local artists together with creators from across the UK, with the likes of Mark Jessett, Maria Rivans and Jonathon Barber. The gallery will be showing a broad range of affordable to investment pieces.

Ancestorsby Mark Jessett

nick cudworth gallery

A SUMMERS DAY IN BATH 1849. Oil on canvas and prints

APRIL EXHIBITION 1 – 30 April

GRAY M.C.A 5 Margaret's Buildings, Bath Tel: 01225 422117 Web: graymca.com

FASHION ABSTRACTION Until 30 April The fashion and textile gallery is hosting ‘Fashion Abstraction’ throughout April, presenting exciting new work from BritishCanadian fashion illustrator Lara Mackenzie Lee. Having studied fashion communication and promotion at Central Saint Martins i n London, her artwork focuses on the abstraction of colours and shapes to interpret a subject. She has previously worked for Stella McCartney, Issey Miyake and Erdem and is an artistic contributor to SHOWstudio. Gray M C A will be exhibiting the very best of international fashion illustration.

Givenchy Fall 2019, mixed media

GALLERY NINE 9B Margaret's Buildings, Bath Open: 10am–5pm Monday – Saturday Tel: 01225 319197 Web: galleryninebath.com

SPRING EXHIBITION Until 30 May Gallery Nine’s spring exhibition is set to feature ceramics by Ania Perkowska and James and Tilla Waters. Jewellery by Becky Crow and Holly Belsher and works by James Dodds, Anita Klein and Claire Curtis. Becky Crow’s jewellery is designed to be both worn and displayed. Her jewellery uses drawing as a starting point and the great outdoors as a source of wonder and constant ins piration. E lements of narrative are captured in silver and transformed into miniature scenes applied to the surface of a brooch or hanging as a pendant. You can also browse Gallery Nine’s online gallery where jewellery and smaller items can be purchased.

Collecting Fernsby Becky Crow

LUCKNAM PARK HOTEL AND SPA Colerne, Thickwood, Chippenham Tel: 01225 742777 Web: lucknampark.co.uk

LIFE IN BRONZE Until 30 April Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa will be hosting an exclusive preview of Life in Bronze, which will feature spectacular bronze wildlife sculptures created by award-winning British sculptor, Hamish Mackie. Patrons of the hotel and spa will be able to visit the sculptures u ntil the end of April.

Pulteney Bridge, Summer Dawn by Nick Cudworth

Throughout April The Nick Cudworth Gallery features original paintings and prints of Bath, with a focus on the waterways and bridges within the city. Nick works in his studio connected to the gallery and is available to discuss finished works an d works in progress. NICK CUDWORTH 5 London Street, Bath Tel: 01225 445221 Web: nickcudworth.co.uk

BEAUX ARTS 12-13 York Street, Bath Tel: 01225 464850 Web: beauxartsbath.co.uk

Until 2 May Anna Gillespie, Harriet Porter and Sara Moorhouse will be showcasing their new collections of work at Beaux Arts Bath in April. Sculptor Anna Gillespie’s innovative creations, often incorporating found or natural materials are a regular feature at Glastonbury Festival, and she has recently had major public commissions opened in Morecombe Bay and o n the Riverside development in Bath. Harriet Porter exhibits her beautifully balanced contemplative still life paintings, and the colourful and striking ceramics are by Sara Moorhouse. All three are always shows worth seeing.

Light Field by Waller and Wood

WALLER AND WOOD 4 Abbey Green, Bath Tel: 07803 033629 Web: wallerandwood.co.uk

LIGHT FIELD Until 31 May The latest exhibition at Waller and Wood presents wonderful paintings by Christina Romero Cross, which capture her passion for lightscapes – compelling, contemplative works in oil on wood. Visitors can also see a new spring collection of cloth ing and scarves b y Carole Waller inspired by a recent visit to Florence, alongside striking painted stoneware pots and wall pieces by Gary Wood.

Commission a fantasy portrait Robert Highton 07939 224598; rhighton@mail.com; robhightonart.com

Lawrences: first choice for collectors

Last year, Lawrences in Crewkerne proved to be a popular choice for collectors looking to sell their prized lots and their upcoming spring auction features some fantastic items.

Included in the Automobilia, Motoring Literature and Historic Cycling sale is The John Maitland Collection to be sold on 19 May. The collection consists of about 1,000 photographs of mainly 1920s and 1930s motor racing. Included in the collection is a photograph of George Eyston, seated in an MG K-Type at Brooklands estimated at £100–200.

Won by another famous name – Archie Frazer Nash in 1923 –also at Brooklands was a silver cup with an estimated value of £250–300. Nash partnered Mr Godfrey to manufacture GN cyclecars throughout the 1910s and 1920s, then launching Frazer Nash sports cars in 1927. Included in the collection is a child’s tricycle, dated circa 1900 and manufactured in France. With original woven wickerwork and mechanics this is estimated at £200–400.

Also included are self-contained acetylene gas-powered lamps, manufactured by Joseph Lucas as long ago as 1907. These would have been fitted to a small saloon or voiturette. It was called a ‘self-contained lamp’ because the acetylene gas was created within the lamp itself rather than having a separate generator fitted elsewhere.

There is also an excellent library of mainly motor racing books and literature, with many unusual and rare examples being offered as part of the collection.

The three day sale includes coins, militaria, arms, uniforms, historic photographs and medals, stamps and ephemera, toys, trains, textiles and clothing, tribal items, taxidermy, sporting pictures and collectables, autographs… the list goes on.

Production is well underway for the upcoming sales. Contact one of Lawrences specialists who will guide you through the valuation process.

FREE, NO-OBLIGATION VALUATIONS AVAILABLE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON BUYING OR SELLING, PLEASE CONTACT: andy.sagar@lawrences.co.uk Entries are invited for their forthcoming 2020 sales.

L awrence s A U C T I O N E E R S

The Linen Yard, South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 8AB; Tel 01460 73041 lawrences.co.uk

commissions undertaken

www.gearoidsimms.co.uk

David Ringsell Art Prints

A contemporary take on classic Bath architecture A2 - £120, A3 - £90, A4 - £75

Reducing unnecessary packaging

DUNCAN CAMPBELL HAS BEEN DEALING IN ANTIQUE SILVER SINCE 1986

There’s no way around it – you need to burn the cutlery boxes

About 120 years ago, for straightforward marketing reasons, the manufacturers of silver canteens started to sell them in fitted, felt-lined wooden boxes. At first these cases were simply made with basic metal fittings, intended to be stored away once empty, yet over the decades they have become permanent dining room squatters, slowly swelling in size and developing elaborate carving.

The unintended consequences of this decision turned out to be far reaching and rather damaging to the spoon industry. At the point of sale, these boxes no doubt look very smart, finished in brass with engraved shields and suchlike. Once at home, however, canteen boxes become a complete nuisance. I can still recall my annoyance as a child at being tasked with putting away spoons and forks. A very fiddly waste of time, I thought then, and I haven’t changed my view. No surprise that the silverware was reserved for ‘best’, and the prospect of faffing around before and after every meal is far too off-putting.

Not only are fitted boxes maddeningly time-consuming, but they have the irritating disadvantage of offering any burglars a very convenient takeaway package for your precious silverware.

My advice concerning fitted canteen cases is, burn them as soon as you get home and put the contents onto a convenient drawer close to the dishwasher. This way you will actually be able use these precious and elegant utensils as they should be, daily.

I was once told by a customer that her silver plate in the kitchen drawer was used every day while the solid silver, in a fitted box in the dining room,was only for use on high days and holidays.

I suggested that, because silver-plate wears out and solid silver doesn’t, she might try the solid stuff in the kitchen. After a lifetime of conditioning, she had come to view the box as an important piece of furniture and an integral part of her silver canteen. When I commented that the box was just fancy packaging, she looked at me, clearly thinking I was a complete philistine. n

beaunashbath.com; 01225 334234

Affordable custom Giclée prints of original paintings

Email: david@real-images.com • Call 01225 469127 Prints, originals & exhibitions www.real-images.com

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