A week has passed by in a blur of coughing and paracetamol. Ten days ago, I was
ahead of the game, this morning I realise that this is no longer the case and the annual Christmas panic, the panic I was hoping to avoid this year, is upon me once more. It’s
part of the tradition, I suppose. On the bright side, the girls made some paper chains, and there is a half-decorated tree in the sitting room.
I had planned a few more Bristol Christmas shopping posts, but time is running out on that front. I will however, mention two nice shows which are worth visiting if you are in Bristol and still searching for one or two special presents.
The first is the annual Centre Space Studios Christmas exhibition, Spruce, a mixed show featuring prints, paintings, textiles and sculpture. Prices range from £5 to several hundred pounds. The gallery is open daily from 11am to 5pm until Thursday 20th December. The gallery is on Leonard Lane, just off Corn Street and a stone’s throw from St Nicks, so you can easily combine a visit to both.
The second show is The December Gallery Group at Bristol Guild, which includes works by five Bristol-based artists, the most interesting of whom is Joanna Wright. I must register a slight bias here in that I have known Jo all my life, but the fact remains her paintings, her prints and her exquisite screen-printed, appliquéd and beaded cushions, are all really wonderful. I am a huge fan of her work, not least I suppose because so many of her images contain my two great passions – plants and lovely old bits of china.
My photographs really do not do justice to her work, but the show runs until Christmas Eve so if you are rushing about on Park Street over the next week or so, make a point of popping in to The Guild, and head up to the top floor gallery space.
Her work is lovely, I can see why you like it. It somehow reminds me of the work of Elisabeth Blackadder and a bit of Mary Fedden, both of whom I admire. Has she a web-site that we might visit?
Glad you like my work. Google Joanna Wright cushions to see more or email me on joroberts41@yahoo.com
I will find out for you and if there is I’ll post the link – and yes, you’re right some of her work is reminiscent of Elizabeth Blackadder and Mary Fedden, both wonderful.
I think I’ve got one of Joanna Wright’s pictures – bought at Nether Stowey in an exhibition a couple of years ago. Although it might be another artist by the same name, as the picture is very different: a very bright and abstract landscape on a fragment of board. I love it. I also love these and am going to find out more.
I’ve just had a quick Google and it is the same Joanna Wright. My picture (called Quantock 2) is actually on her Blogger website at http://joannahmwright.blogspot.co.uk/p/land.html.
Weirdly enough it’s actually a different Joanna Wright. Here is a link to Jo’s work which was on show at Tinsmiths a while back. http://blog.tinsmiths.co.uk/index.php/05/26/joanna-wright-textile-showcase/
The painting by your Joanna Wright is lovely by the way!
Oh, that’s utterly confusing. But not surprising. Have a lovely Christmas.
Jo’s cushions truly are beautiful. Sent my heart into a little flutter. All the bits you’ve shown are great. Good to see genuine talent and creativity.