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WYLYE VALLEY ART TRAIL The biggest open studios event in the county is taking place this year from Saturday 1 to Sunday 9 May. ROSE EVA tells us more.
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akers from all over this most gorgeous corner of Wiltshire will be throwing open their doors and, with all necessary precautions in place, welcoming art lovers into their studios. From sculpture to jewellery, from ironwork to glass, from furniture to installation and every type of painting from photorealism to abstraction, there’s definitely something for everyone on the Trail.
Nick Andrew 'Acquilarea'
It's 20 years since painter Nick Andrew first conceived the idea of the Trail. That first event took place in the aftermath of foot-and-mouth disease, "From sculpture to jewellery, from ironwork which wiped out so much of our to glass, from furniture to installation there’s agriculture. The similarities between definitely something for everyone on the Trail." then and now are unsettling: that first Trail was almost cancelled, as was the safety of visitors; some operating style, so if you don’t fancy looking this one, as the whole world grapples a one-way system around their at landscapes or furniture you can with the Covid pandemic. Both times, exhibition space while others will always go and look at some very fine the decision to continue was a hard restrict the number of visitors inside glassware or some gorgeous pottery one; it was most definitely worth it at one time. Some venues are entirely – all in Covid-secure environments. in 2001, and it will be this outside, while others are in year. As Nick Andrew, large and airy barns. Along with every sector of life, the arts still the co-ordinator of have been hit hard by the pandemic. the Trail, has said: “We There really is Now the vaccine rollout is proceeding have had to steer a something for apace, we are all itching to get out delicate and twisty everyone on the Trail. and on with life; what better way to do path between the For those that like to that than going on the Wylye Valley urgent desire to bring see how things are done Art Trail? visual art and craft there are painting, stitching out of lockdown and and stained glass • wvat.co.uk into the open again, demonstrations, Handwoven scarves by Sarah Truscott and the important while for those considerations for the that like to have safety of visitors and a go themselves Hiro Takahashi 'Moon Boat' exhibitors alike”. there are mosaic and ceramic workshops. There Of the 48 venues on offer, some are are photographers, sculptors, purely virtual, while others offer a printmakers, jewellers, glassblowers, virtual event with studio visits by furniture makers, mosaicists, textile appointment. All physical venues will workers and blacksmiths as well be taking every precaution to ensure as painters in every conceivable 10
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