Somerset hosts a celebration of the arts

Somerset Art Weeks 2009, a county-wide celebration of the huge variety and quality of contemporary visual art that can be found within Somerset, will take place between Saturday 19 September and Sunday 4 October.

Bringing art to everyone, the initiative will feature over 400 local artists and makers showcasing their work in more than 90 venues across Somerset. Group exhibitions, community projects and special events, plus activities for all ages, will truly reflect the diversity of cultures and talents that Somerset can offer.

Artworks covering a diverse range of practices will be on display from ceramics, watercolour, textiles and jewellery to glass, wood, stone and metal work as well as photography and digital media. The exceptional variety of work will encompass established artists of national and regional repute as well as emerging talented artists and makers. Many of the works shown will be available for purchase and visitors can also commission their own pieces.

Amongst the more well known artists are former war (now landscape) photographer Don McCullin; landscape painter James Lynch and his wife Kate, who is recognised for her book and touring exhibition ‘From Lamb to Loom’, which follows sheep and crafts people through the seasons. Don McCullin’s and James Lynch’s work will be displayed in the Chapel at Bruton, while Kate Lynch’s exhibition will be at the Black Swan Arts centre, Frome.

Also of special interest will be a studio exhibition of exquisite textile designs from England and Japan with Liz Clay, Annie Fewlass, Mayumi Maeda and Kazuko Yamanaka. Designs by Liz Clay have been featured in collections by Stella McCartney and Givenchy. ‘Connections…English eclectic meets Japanese aesthetic’ will be held at Westbury-sub-Mendip, near Cheddar.

This year’s art projects will include ‘Border’, which takes place at various venues across the Blackdown Hills on the Somerset/Devon border with family activities and a mix of artists showing works with strong links to Somerset food, culture and landscape. ‘Transform’ at the Strode Theatre, Street is a multi-media exhibition created by the art group at Shepton Mallet Prison using digital techniques, animation, watercolour, acrylics and pencil to produce imaginative work rarely seen by the public.

The huge range of venues also includes galleries, dedicated art centres, village halls, schools, historic buildings, public spaces, hospitals, artists’ studios, gardens, local shops, pubs and cafés.

Entry into the various Somerset Art Weeks venues is free although some special events and workshops must be booked in advance and carry a small charge. A free colour guide with maps showing the location of all exhibitions and special events will be available in July. It will also list opening times and the artists showing at each venue and include colour illustrations of some of their work. The guides will be available from local libraries and Tourist Information Centre.

For more information, visit Somersetartworks.org.uk.