Summer Exhibition at the Usher gallery
July 6th - September 1st 2013
The Usher Gallery is Lincolnshire's premier art gallery, officially opened in 1927 following a bequest to the city by Lincoln jeweller James Ward Usher. It is host to an annual exhibition by the Lincolnshire Artists' Society.
The Society was founded in 1906 as the Lincolnshire Drawing Club. Today its members work in a variety of styles and media but they share a love of creating beautiful things.
The Society was founded in 1906 as the Lincolnshire Drawing Club. Today its members work in a variety of styles and media but they share a love of creating beautiful things.
This exhibition presents a selection of members' work and continues a long tradition of shows at the Usher Gallery in Lincoln.
Out of 158 exhibits (which felt quite overwhelming) it was hard to select just a few for comment so I took the easy option and selected artists instead. I have chosen a diverse range simply to illustrate the talent in the area. Not all have a website and no photos were allowed so this will place some limits on what I can illustrate.
Moira West
Maybe because my final project for A Creative Approach was made in felt my favourite item was something that might very loosely be called a bag by Moira West. The piece was called Johari which refers to Johari's window (a psychological model that reflects the different faces we show to the world). I found it elemental which is no surprise as that is what Johari's model demonstrates. It was in heavy grey felt with the addition of other, hidden materials like lace. It was moulded into shapes so I expect there was a wire mesh structure in there somewhere. It gave me lots of ideas for things to try.
Maybe because my final project for A Creative Approach was made in felt my favourite item was something that might very loosely be called a bag by Moira West. The piece was called Johari which refers to Johari's window (a psychological model that reflects the different faces we show to the world). I found it elemental which is no surprise as that is what Johari's model demonstrates. It was in heavy grey felt with the addition of other, hidden materials like lace. It was moulded into shapes so I expect there was a wire mesh structure in there somewhere. It gave me lots of ideas for things to try.
The first idea was to contact Moira (who spent time studying with the OCA some years ago). I got a delightful reply and the offer of time with her when it seems appropriate on my course.
Moira has a website http://www.moirawestfelt.com/ that shows lots of her lovely work. This gives a flavour of what I saw in the show:
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| Moira West www.flickr.com |
Paul Harrison
http://lincolnartworks.com/artists/paul-harrison/
And now for something completely different. Paul has an engineering background and brings these skills to his very striking work. The pieces I saw, Stepping Stones and The Doodle, were highly polished with a design that I think might have been made with a grinderette. Additionally The Doodle had dribbles of bright colour. It was wonderful. Unfortunately I can't find a picture of it.
Cliff Baxendale
This artist presented two framed collages made out of paper and card. I wouldn't have believed there were so many different types of corrugated card to be had.
These were the two pieces I saw and I chose them as favourites for several reasons:
Cotton Fields reminds me of offices I've seen in India but rather tidier.
Jenny Hammerton
This work made me think immediately of "Manipulating Fabric" in my last course. Although it doesn't seem like it here this large image was very black. The only relief was the transparent nature of the fine fabric at the top and bottom. I think it was a fine knit.
Both the knit and the central silk like fabric seemed to have been coated with PVA and manipulated into shape. There was no title so I am left entirely at liberty to put my own interpretation on this work.
Jill Marschner
I chose Jill's work because she uses fabric and stitch to make incredibly detailed images. I think the background must be calico to be tough enough to take the wealth of fabrics that are used in these images. The detail, texture and additional colour seems to be free machined in. It isn't until you get close that you realise how it is created.
Wonderful.
http://lincolnartworks.com/artists/paul-harrison/
And now for something completely different. Paul has an engineering background and brings these skills to his very striking work. The pieces I saw, Stepping Stones and The Doodle, were highly polished with a design that I think might have been made with a grinderette. Additionally The Doodle had dribbles of bright colour. It was wonderful. Unfortunately I can't find a picture of it.
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| Paul Harrison from his website |
Cliff Baxendale
This artist presented two framed collages made out of paper and card. I wouldn't have believed there were so many different types of corrugated card to be had.
These were the two pieces I saw and I chose them as favourites for several reasons:
- they were so different to anything else I saw (or have seen elsewhere)
- they were neutral but varied in colour, a new concept for me to think about
- I liked the precise nature of the work even though I've been learning to be more relaxed about my own work.
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| Cotton Fields Cliff Baxendale www.flickr.com |
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| A Touch of Rust Cliff Baxendale www.flickr.com |
Jenny Hammerton
This work made me think immediately of "Manipulating Fabric" in my last course. Although it doesn't seem like it here this large image was very black. The only relief was the transparent nature of the fine fabric at the top and bottom. I think it was a fine knit.
 |
| Untitled 1 Jenny Hammerton http://www.axisweb.org/seCVWK.aspx?ARTISTID=5768 |
Both the knit and the central silk like fabric seemed to have been coated with PVA and manipulated into shape. There was no title so I am left entirely at liberty to put my own interpretation on this work.
Jill Marschner
I chose Jill's work because she uses fabric and stitch to make incredibly detailed images. I think the background must be calico to be tough enough to take the wealth of fabrics that are used in these images. The detail, texture and additional colour seems to be free machined in. It isn't until you get close that you realise how it is created.
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| Fairground 2 Bob Jill Marschner http://www.flickr.com/photos/97542653@N08/9268616084/ |
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| Fairground 1 Elsie Jill Marschnerhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/97542653@N08/9268616022/ |
Wonderful.
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