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Fiona Davies
0117 973 5129
fionadavies@rwa.org.uk
sponsors of the 157 Autumn Exhibition |
157th Autumn Exhibition
1st November - 13th December 2009
Emotions are Running High at the RWA.
This year’s Autumn Exhibition at the Royal West of England Academy in Clifton, Bristol has a tender touch. The RWA Autumn Exhibition, sponsored by Smith & Williamson, now in its one hundred and fifty seventh year is one of the most popular exhibitions in the region’s calendar, attracting visitors and exhibitors far and wide. With over 600 works on display, selected from open submission, its appeal is largely due to the huge variety of works on display by both professional and amateur artists.
This years invited artist is British Pop-Art icon - Peter Blake RA, exhibiting a piece entitled ‘I Love You’. The piece is made from large letters in a mixture of fonts from crafted signs or shop fronts in gilded gold, red, blue and yellow. His second piece, a screen-print, is one of the many works he did based on a photograph of Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe.
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Top: Peter Blake ‘I Love You’, mixed
media; bottom left: Paul Brason RWA 'Ghost II’, oil on Canvas;
bottom right: Mary Down ‘Generations’. |
Sue Whale’s work sees love notes shaped and pinned down like butterflies, fleeting moments captured and kept under glass. Meanwhile in a quiet corner hangs a babies christening gown ‘Generations’ by Mary Down - delicately made in white cotton lawn. Printed faintly on the dress are black and white images of a sailor and his beau, taken circa 1940’s indicating the child’s heritage and a remembrance of the past in the future.
In contrast, Paul Brason RWA’s oil painting ‘Ghost II’, captures a moment of intimacy, a chair draped in black lingerie is accompanied by a pair of red-soled stilettos thrown to the floor in this quietly evocative painting.
As well as work with an emotional edge there are many other themes within the exhibition including travel, wildlife and portraiture. The exhibition is a great first time step for the uninitiated and there are both traditional and quirkier pieces on display. On many of the Saturdays throughout the exhibition there are ‘Walk and Talk’ sessions where artists will lead a tour of the exhibition selecting a few of their favorite pieces for discussion, these are a great introduction to viewing and understanding art.
Sponsors of the 157th Autumn Exhibition.
Smith & Williamson provide a unique blend of business and personal financial services ranging from tax, audit and corporate finance to personal financial planning and investment management. Smith & Williamson were one of the founder members of the RWA Gallery Club and are great supporters of the RWA. For further information regarding Smith & Williamson, Bristol visit www.smith.williamson.co.uk/bristol
For further information / images please contact:
RWA Education and Marketing Manager
Fiona Davies
0117 9735129
fionadavies@rwa.org.uk