The things that you don’t see ‘everyday’

What does ‘everyday’ mean to you?

Things you do every day: wash, eat, walk the dog?

Things you see every day: your kitchen, your workplace, your family?

Or things that are just, well, ordinary: a tree, a bicycle, a face?

To artists down the centuries, the commonplace, the mundane and the ordinary have proved rich sources of inspiration.

Cezanne’s apples, Warhol’s soup cans, Lowry’s factory chimneys - in the eye of the artist, the everyday acquires deeper meaning and takes on limitless possibilities.

‘everyday’ is the title of a fascinating new exhibition at Shaftesbury Arts Centre, on now until Saturday, August 8, set and curated by Sharon Beeden, visiting lecturer at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB).

Sharon says: “Universally human, everyday as a theme acts as a catalyst and has been interpreted by members of Southern Contemporaries in this lively exhibition, exploring everyday observations, reflections and insights, both large and small.” everyday features works in a variety of media by Southern Contemporaries, the exhibiting wing of the Bournemouth Arts Club, a 102-year old organisation with a rich history of upholding high standards through rigorous selection and constant development. everyday is open from 10am4pm and until 2pm on the last day, entrance is free, and all works are available for sale. The venue is Shaftesbury Arts Centre, 13 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, SP7 8AR. Admission is free. shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk. bournemouthartsclub.co.uk.

Sometimes seeking to represent reality, sometimes seeking to mystify by way of imagination, everyday highlights the overlooked, the ordinary and the commonplace, with humour, tenderness and remarkable power.

With an exclusive membership representing a wide area of Dorset and Hampshire, the Club continues, through Southern Contemporaries, to challenge perceptions of what a regional arts organisation could and should be.