The Bingley Gallery’s Christmas Exhibition
It always seems too early to be preparing for Christmas in November, but with my commercial hat on, I’m behind the curve. I just hope the Lockdown is able to be lifted to allow people to visit the gallery to see the many good things that our artists have on show there. Meanwhile though, I’ve endeavoured to get everything on the gallery’s website so that we can continue to trade. If you find something there of interest it can always be moved to the window to allow close observation. If it helps, we are also able to deliver works to customers in the locality.
The Christmas Exhibition opening on 19 November, features some of our favourite artists. Jane Fielder and Amy Charlesworth, in particular, have been working hard to produce new work. Jane’s includes some vibrant local scenes, many featuring Bingley itself including a rare work in acrylic from that now well-known balcony in Limefield Mill. There are also more delicate studies of wildflowers.
Jane Fielder JF331JS ‘Everything you Could Wish for, Bingley’ Framed Original Painting in Acrylic on Canvas 127x38cm £1500
The story goes that Jane won a packet of seeds at The Chip and Ern pub. When the time came she scattered them in the garden and was subsequently overjoyed when a great swathe of plants, then flowers emerged providing a beacon for many bees and other insects.
Amy Charlesworth AC056 ‘I Feel Like a Ballerina’oil on canvas 39x39cm £130
Amy has (we’d be disappointed if she hadn’t) painted a new series of robins, all individually characterful. There’s also a series of snowy landscapes featuringRibblehead viaduct, prior to the scaffolding that currently encases it. I have also made a point of holding over some of Kate Stewart’s deliciously beautiful coloured and embroidered textiles. The list of further artists includes myself (I’m particularly pleased with an atmospheric interpretation of a steam barge at Saltaire based on a historic photo by Bill King), Jan Whittock has some gorgeously embossed etchings, Mike Bentley has turned wood and Gavin Edwards wooden panels. One of our most sought after lines this year has been Nettleton Pottery’s, free-form ceramics, impressed with patterns of heritage textiles externally and deeply glazed inside. Add to these Lis Holt’s hand-built ceramics, Clarke Avery’s new moorland scenes, our last Judith Levin oipaintingl, Carol Sterritt’s wire sculptures and Mick Kirkby-Geddes’ welded ones, not to mention a few others with just one or two pieces.
For those on the lookout for Christmas presents we have a range of smaller gifts, mugs, coasters, glass chopping boards and framed prints featuring my designs. We also have a small stock of Skyware walking guides and copies of Alan Cattell’s Bingley Living History booklet. For those who opt on the safe side, vouchers can be made up to any amount.
David Starley (ds583) Steam Barge at Saltaire (After W. King) 40×30″ £650
Although many art events have been cancelled this year, I’m pleased to say that the Saltaire Living Advent Calendar will go ahead. Many of you will be familiar with this annual event but for those who aren’t; a series of houses around the historic village of Saltaire will ‘reveal’ an illuminated window (after an initial 15 on the first of December) until Christmas Eve. Once revealed they will continue to be shown each evening until 1st January. My own design will appear at 75 Albert Rd on 2ndDec. The Bingley Gallery is one of the sponsors this year and will also be selling packs of greetings cards (12 different designs based on last year’s windows at £6 a pack) to help raise the required funding.
I know we get tired of being pestered to reviewing any service, whether it be for buying a house or a paperclip but in the internet age, it does encourage people to find small independent retailers and tradespeople at a time when the multinationals dominate consumer spending. If anyone who has enjoyed the gallery (whether they bought anything or not) can find a little time to review the gallery on sites such as Google or Trip Advisor, it would be much appreciated.
Our web site is http://davidstarleyartist.com/bingley/and the gallerycan also be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
davidstarley@yahoo.co.uk 07792 242143
Do keep safe and happy