Archive for February, 2009
Nature in Art
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art on February 26th, 2009
Nature in Art is a fantastic exhibition space for a wonderful collection of art. As the name implies, the common theme is ‘nature’ and this embraces paintings, sculpture and photography inspired by locations from Antartica to the nearby Severn Estuary. The setting is a Georgian mansion and the collection spills out to the outdoor sculptures and a workshop where there is usually an artist in residence to meet, watch and talk to.
Cheltenham Art Festival and Open Studios
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art, Events on February 26th, 2009
One of the themes of our ‘Rural Capital of Culture’ campaign is the idea that the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean offer exciting opportunities to get a bit closer to artists, events and cultural happenings. 
Cheltenham Art Festival is a perfect example. It’s as simple as it sounds – Cheltenham artists offer the chance to see their work in their own homes or studios. It can be an inspiring experience.
This year’s event runs between 6th and 14th of June, with over 200 artists expected to exhibit within a 15 mile radius of Cheltenham..
Stroud Open Studios
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art, Crafts, Events on February 25th, 2009
This years festival promises a ravishing and eclectic mix of exhibitions, art, image and performance that will take place in and around Stroud, the Gloucestershire town that does so much to champion the arts. SVA, the organiser behind site09, will open up its doors for the whole month of June as the main site for the festival. Open Studios, an essential ingredient to Site09 is taking place on the weekends of 13th – 14th & 20th – 21st of June, with more than 100 participating artists.
Congratulations Kate
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events, Film on February 23rd, 2009
Congratulations to North Cotswolds’ resident, Kate Winslet on her Oscar for The Reader in last night’s awards.
Garden Art Exhibition at Showborough House
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art, Events on February 20th, 2009
Showborough House at Twyning will be hosting its second Affordable Garden Art Exhibition this Spring. Around thirty sculptors will be exhibiting works in a range of media, including stone, bronze, metal, wood, glass and ceramic. Styles will include abstract and representational, grand and intimate, serious and whimsical.
The theme of Affordable Garden Art attracts sculptors at the beginning of their careers and offers a rare opportunity to acquire original garden art from British sculptors at affordable prices.
Pieces are priced from tens of pounds to no more than £2500.Thursday 9th April until Sunday 7th June 2009. Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays 10.30am to 4.00pm.
Edmund de Waal commission
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events on February 19th, 2009
Potter Edmund de Waal will be working on a commission inspired by the nationally designated Arts and Crafts Movement collections at Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum.
de Waal, who famously criticised Bernard Leach’s shortcomings and has defined ‘minimalism’ for many people, plans a trail to run until the 3 May. de Waal is interested in ‘redomesticating’ the Arts and Crafts collection, taking on key Arts and Crafts pieces made by William Morris, C R Ashbee, Voysey and Gimson. His work operates tantalisingly between craft and contemporary art. de Waal will talk on his recent work on 18 March (1.00-2.00pm) (tickets £4.00).
Creative use of vacant shops
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art, Events on February 18th, 2009
“In Dursley, Gloucestershire, artists have colonised a parade of disused shops where they sell their paintings, photographs and ceramics. The flaking window frames of a closed skateboard shop, photography shop and an upholsterer have been repainted and the displays given over to a rotating gallery of 20 artists.” …. from the Guardian newspaper on 18th Feb 2009
God of Carnage
Posted by Culture Vulture in Theatre on February 18th, 2009
God of Carnage played to packed houses, at Gielgud Theatre earlier this year becoming one of the most successful plays in the history of the West End. Originally starring Ralph Fiennes, Ken Stott, Janet McTeer and Tamsin Greig, it now plays the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham before returning to the West End with an equally stellar cast of Richard E Grant, Lia Williams, Roger Allam and Serena Evans. Running from 18th – 21st Feb 2009.
Madeleine Peyroux at Cheltenham Jazz Festival
Posted by Culture Vulture in Live Music on February 17th, 2009
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see critically acclaimed Madeleine Peyroux performing in the small and intimate setting of Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre on Saturday 2 May at 9.30pm.
Returning to Cheltenham following her sell-out performance at the Centaur in 2007, she will be introducing her self-penned and highly confessional new album Bare Bones, follow up to the million sellers Half the Perfect World and Careless Love.
Stroud International Textile Festival
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art, Events on February 11th, 2009
Some of the countries leading artist-makers will be appearing at the Stroud International Textile Festival in May 2009.
The Festival is now in its fourth year, and is the UK’s only Festival that celebrates and profiles contemporary textile art linked through to traditional textile culture. It takes place in venues throughout the Stroud Valleys in Gloucestershire. 2009 will see new work from Matthew Harris – Trace Elements ; Jacy Wall – tapestries; Hilary Bower- textiles & mixed media; Mary Butcher – willow and reclaimed materials; Michael Brennand-Wood, Margot Selby, Rachel Gornall andRuth Waller & Lee Hewett will delight and surprise our senses with colour, texture and movement; and Dawn Dupreewill be bringing printed textiles alive.