Binnel Bay artists: Unlocked – the

Unlocked:

Binnel and Bunker Summer Exhibition

By Roz Whistance

They are calling their summer exhibition Unlocked. For the artist enclave at Binnel Bay and The Bunker, that’s not simply an announcement of the return to near-normality. It sums up the space given by the weeks of lockdown in which to think, reflect, experiment, even to change

“When lockdown happened I felt I could breathe again,” says Celia Wilkinson, hinting that the demand on successful artists to fulfill commissions and exhibition commitments can be relentless.

Binnel Studios is a colony of seven artists: three painters and four ceramicists. Once a year they open their studios – and themselves – to the visiting public. This year the Summer Exhibition is a double hander, as Binnel’s near neighbour, The Bunker, is also opening its doors. This little outpost in St Lawrence is awash with artistic innovation.

New Binnel resident Sue Paraskeva has long been followed for her fine porcelain work. At Binnel she intends to build a kiln to explore wood ash glazing. “The root of the flame carries the ash around the whole kiln and the effect is magical.” She adds: “It’s very exciting to be part of this gang of creative spirits.” Jane Cox agrees, describing how fellow-ceramicists Molly Attrill and Matthew Chambers stepped in to help fire her largest shape to date, on show at Unlocked. Jane’s work is all about

the glaze, the limpid sea-colours of her exuberant bowls and vases so deep they seem almost liquid. “Lockdown has been a chance to explore more murky sea tones,” she says. Matthew Chambers has also welcomed the pause in his busy schedule of sending his exquisite sculptures to exhibitors and customers worldwide. Away from Binnel he set up a makeshift studio: “Doing what I was doing before didn’t seem normal. So I experimented a little bit.” There may be a hint of his new direction at the Open Weekend. Molly Attrill has secretly enjoyed the quietude, and while carrying on her work throughout she has, she says enigmatically, been “playing”. Collectors of her earthenware and majolica ware will doubtless be watching for any lockdown-induced innovation in months to come.

Celia Wilkinson was jolted by the pandemic. “Because I paint from my subconscious the strange new world caused me to paint strange landscapes. But once into the rhythm, it was bliss.” Her colour-rich, textural landscapes invite an instinctive recognition in the viewer, a feeling that goes beyond the simple portrayal of a place. Amanda Wheeler’s semi-abstract paintings are inspired by the sea and coast. She has been venturing beyond the shaggy beauty of St Lawrence to paint obscure Island bays, the colours and movement somehow portraying the thrill of being immersed in the cold freedom of the ocean, or battered by bracing winds. While ‘the father of the house’, award-winning watercolourist David Firmstone, will be away for the Summer Exhibition he will be previewing a brand new work in the central foyer. Expect something extraordinary.

From left: Artwork by Amanda Wheeler, Matthew Chambers, Sue Paraskeva, Celia Wilkinson, Lisa Traxler, Molly Attrill, Jane Cox, Lincoln Miles and inset David Firmstone

A brief walk away is The Bunker, a wartime structure restored by architectural designer Lincoln Miles as a studio. He and partner Lisa Traxler also designed and live in the adjacent house. Lincoln will be showing some of his ever-inventive designs, while Lisa will display wartime-inspired Dazzle work, alongside her threedimensional ‘exploded paintings’. “Time stood still during lockdown. I could go backwards and forwards between paintings and my threedimensional work.”

The Binnel Studios artists have said goodbye to two of their number since last year, but welcomed new custodians of the studio who will ensure the creative community can continue.

Unlocked takes place from Sat 29th to Monday 31st Aug, 11am – 4pm. Covid-avoidance guidelines will be in place. Binnel Studio, Old Park Road, St Lawrence, PO38 1XR