'Made in New Mills' - 28 November

Amanda and Daisy sell their wares at the recent exhibition in New Mills where local artists and crafts people got together to promote and sell locally produced art and craft.

New Mills Christmas Lights Switch-on - Monday 30 November

New Mills Original will be open for the evening on Monday 30 November for the Christmas Lights Switch-on in New Mills and visitors will be able to come and 'decorate' some candle holders.


There will be lots to see and do around Town - hot food and drink, brass band and carol singing, mulled wine and mince pies, a visit by Father Christmas a fun fair on Market Street as well as events and promotions run by the local shops who will be open late.


4:30-8:00pm Fun fair for all ages on Market Street
6:30-7:00pm Switch-on ceremony at New Mills Town Hall

The Pilkington Lecture

Title of the Lecture: 'Around the Houses'
Location: Whitworth Art gallery
Speaker: Richard Wentworth, Professor of Sculpture, the Royal College of Art.

A thoroughly enjoyable evening at the Whitworth with some excellent links into my home town of Folkestone  


Richard Wentworth, British artist and sculptor, is the newly appointed Professor of Sculpture at the Royal College of Art in London.
 
Recent exhibition projects have included work for the New Walsall Art Gallery and 'Racinated', a series of ten text plaques in Folkestone's public thoroughfares.
 
An inveterate collector he curated the Study Studio's 'cabinet of curiosities' for the reopening of the Whitechapel Gallery. He has just presented 'Installation, walking sticks' at the 2009 Venice Biennale.
 
He has also joined in the protests by major British artists condemning the British Council for abandoning its popular overseas exhibitions and turning its back on young artists.
 
 

 

Title: Racinated
Location: various sites around Folkestone

Racinated, Richard Wentworth’s ten-part deep-blue enamel sign piece, is spread across Folkestone’s promenades, alleyways and avenues. The text on these signs reads like a fusion of poetry and botany, highlighting the provenance of some of Britain’s non-native trees.


Alternatively, it can be understood to allude, via the tree metaphor, to the many migrants who disembark in Folkestone over the centuries to make their homes here or elsewhere in the country.

All change at New Mills Original

Today sees the first 'All change' at New Mills Original when all the artists change the work they are exhibiting and selling and everything gets re-hung to give an entirely different set of work in the upstairs gallery.

If you haven't visited already, now is the time to do so (some great ideas for Christmas) - and if you have already visited then now is the time to do so again to see a great new collection starting Tuesday 10 November.

Rag Rugs

A reminder that this Friday (10:30am till 12:30pm) sees the start of several 'Introductory' workshops that will show you how to 'Rag Rug' at New Mills Original - no previous experience is necessary and all 'tools' are provided (see left)

You will quickly find out how relaxing Rag Rugging is whilst at the same time finding a use for those items of clothes that you will never wear again but can't bear to part with !

You can book in advance at New Mills Original or turn up on the day and join in with all the fun !

Workshops

Some great feedback below from the recent workshops I have run in the past week at New Mills Original.

Take a look at the bottom of the blog for the next series of workshops which are fast filling up.

"Great fun Amanda, I've already booked for the Exploring Drawing workshop"

"Very good, relaxing and freeing the pencil !"

"Was great fun, thank you"

"Excellent class, really enjoyed it"

"Very enjoyable, good fun"

"Enjoyable Hour"

"Very good value"

The big draw - 10 ways to draw and more

As part of Octobers 'Big Draw' Amanda will be showing you lots of fun ways to get an image down on paper - confidence boosting and inspiring.

More than 10 different ways to draw an object !

Drawings will be done in a sketch book which you can then take away with you to continue working in.

There are two one hour sessions tomorrow at 'New Mills Original' - 10am - 11am and 1:45pm - 2:45pm

Unit 4, Rock Mill Lane, New Mills, High Peak, Derbyshire, SK22 3BN (behind Barclays Bank)

All you need is £2.50 per person and everything else is included !

Art from school workshops

Underwater mobiles from recycled materials - Y6

Joseph's multi colour dream coat from plastic bags - whole school

Apples and Pears painting - Reception

World War II interactive display - Y2

Melon and Kiwi wall hanging, applique and embroidery - Y6

Weaving - Y1

Weaving with mystery objects - Y1

Indian designs with Batik - Y5

Aboriginal print making and painting - Y4

Flower painting - Reception

New Mills Original - launch weekend

Over the next few weeks, starting 10 October with 'the Big Draw', I will be running a series of taster sessions, including fun drawing sessions and rag rug creation - you can get further details either from the New Mills Original website or come along to the launch weekend.

Launching over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, New Mills Original is a new venture that aims to help local people establish themselves as creative professionals and bring arts, crafts and other creative work to a wider audience at more affordable prices.

As a Community Interest Company, New Mills Original is set up differently to commercial galleries, and is run and staffed by volunteers. "We are able to charge our contributors much lower commission and fees" says Angela Fuggle, one of the Directors, "so they get a fair reward for their work but products and workshops are priced within reach of most of us"'

Thanks to links with Buxton Film, New Mills Original has a series of free screenings of original short films by local film makers during its launch weekend. To celebrate the opening, the first 200 visitors will also be offered a locally-made mini-cup cake, so why not pop in to see whats on offer, talk about getting involved or find out about becoming and "Original Friend".

New Mills Originals launch weekend runs from 10am on Friday 28 August to 6pm on Bank Holiday Monday, and they can be found to the rear of Barclays bank, off Union Road in the Centre of New Mills.

Derbyshire Open - 27 June - 4 September

Set in the wonderful surroundings of the Buxton Museum and Art Gallery the Derbyshire Open is the annual highlight for local artists.

I have been fortunate enough to have one of my pieces chosen for show

Preview: Friday 26 June, from 4pm Prize giving for children at 6.30pm, and Open Awards from 7.30pm

The Derbyshire Open exhibition is an annual highlight. Professional and amateur artists of all ages are encouraged to submit work for consideration by a panel of independent judges.
The top prize is worth £750 and the work is usually acquired for the museum collections.
Derbyshire County Council, Tarmac Ltd and the Friends of Buxton Museum and Art Gallery are among the sponsors.

Derbyshire Open Arts - day 3

Another beautiful High Peak day with plenty of sunshine was bound to bring a last minute rush and so it did with one long tea, cake and art party.

Keeping up with visitors was a bit of a challenge but well worth while, below is some of the feedback from visitors to West Mount and to the outdoor installations at Torrs Hydro New Mills :

London, "Wonderful"
Sheffield, "Please keep going"
Kettleshulme, "Inspirational"
Oxfordshire, "Excellent work, well done !"
Mellor, "Colourful, exciting and well worth a visit"
Chesterfield, "Great show"
Whaley Bridge, "Absolutely inspirational"
Stockport, "A very welcoming artist and a lovely environment"

Derbyshire Open Arts - day 2

The nicest day of the year so far - blue sky's as far as you can see.

It felt a little quieter than yesterday, but on checking numbers at the end of the day it was just as busy. The amazing thing about the weekend is you get to meet and talk to such a cross section of people - artists, students, people on holiday or just out walking the dog - my husband turned into a 'dog sitter' for a while for 'Jack' whilst its owners had a look around 'West Mount'.

Must mention the cakes - my good friend Kate bakes amazing cakes and so far for the Derbyshire Open Arts we have had Coffee and Walnut, Cherry and Carrot - Mmmm.

One more day and we can get back to some normality and hopefully more sunshine tomorrow too.

Derbyshire Open Arts - day 1

It was great to see familiar faces and lots of new faces from far and wide (London, Oxford, Macclesfield and even Sweden!) - the feedback in the visitors book has been wonderful and the general interest from visitors has been so positive.

It was great to see my 'sculptures' finally in position in the Torrs as well - giving the weekend a whole new dimension.

Derbyshire Open Arts - preview evening

If only there were more than 24 hours in a day !

My preview evening for the exhibition was from 7:00pm till 9:00pm and ended up being  a lovely relaxed evening, some lovely wine, and lots of familiar faces and lots of new art on show - the feedback was excellent and the weather for the weekend is really good so we I am now looking forward to a very busy weekend of opening my home up to the world !

Derbyshire Open Arts - May 23-25

My next exhibition is only four weeks away and means turning our home 'West Mount' into a gallery for the three days of the Spring Bank Holiday - last year was great fun meeting so many people.

I was really pleased to see one of my pieces on the front page of this years brochure !!

The brochure for Derbyshire Open Arts 2009 is now available and can be downloaded from this page or picked up from your local library, tourist information or participating artist. You can also be sent a brochure by post if you fill in your details on the mailing list page.

This year the event has even more venues and over 130 artists taking part with a high standard of art to occupy all tastes over the three days of the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend.

All the artists look forward to seeing you all there and creating a wonderful atmosphere and a lovely weekend in the beautiful Derbyshire landscape.

Traders of the Lost Art

The great thing about my home town of New Mills in Derbyshire is the never ending source of opportunities for artists to work with the local community

For the whole of March the New Mills Traders Association have worked with local artists turning the many shops and businesses in New Mills into art venues.

With such a varied selection of shops and businesses the displays have looked fantastic - from Sett Valley Cycles to the wonderful Blakes hairdressers and many many more besides.

The month long festival ends on Saturday 28 March with all the artists displaying and selling their work in New Mills Town Hall from 10:00am until 3:00pm. 

How much for an old blue and pink carpet ?

Well quite a lot in the end as bids for couturier Yves Saint Laurent's private art collection have hit 206 million euros ($408 million), making it the most expensive ever auctioned.

Six world record bids for works by major modern artists and dozens of lesser sales confirmed the global reputation of the collection amassed over half a century by YSL and his lifelong companion Pierre Berge.

Hundreds of buyers gathered under the spectacular glass and cast iron vaults of the Grand Palais exhibition hall on the banks of the Seine in Paris, transformed for the historic three-day event into a cavernous high-tech auction house.

The biggest bid so far was for a Matisse painting, Cuckoos On A Blue And Pink Carpet, which went for a record 32 million euros, smashing the auctioneer's pre-sale estimate of 18 million euros.

By contrast, the much-anticipated Pablo Picasso work Musical Instruments On A Table flopped. Bidding fell short of the 25 million euro guide price - the biggest in the collection - and the piece was withdrawn unsold.

Nevertheless, works by other artists including Dutch abstract painter Piet Mondrian, Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi and French innovator Marcel Duchamp earned record sums, well above earlier estimates.

Buyers in furs filed past a marble minotaur statue and elegant hostesses in YSL's trademark dark tailored suits ahead of what had been widely dubbed the "Sale of the Century".

Bump Art

Here's one form of art that I hadn't come across until recently and it certainly gives a whole new meaning to 'stretched canvas' !

Apparently, pregnant body painting, or bump-art as the professionals call it, is increasing in popularity - its certainly different !

Meanwhile I've taken a few days to recharge my batteries (after a ridiculously hectic start to 2009) down in Kent and may try and get across the sea to France whilst down there - I bet they don't do 'Bump art' in Boulogne.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School - Sale

Amanda has just finished a two weeks 'artist in residence' project at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Sale working with the reception class all the way through to Year 6.

The focus over the project was textiles and print making and where possible linking in with curriculum topics.

The classes produced some amazing pieces - wall hangings, large boxed canvases, banners and beany frogs to name but a few.

Over half term Amanda is finishing the display items (using her new Janome sewing machine !) to display throughout the school.

The children were so enthusiastic and thoroughly enjoyed the change over the last two weeks as did the very supportive staff at St Joseph's.

Eco Artist goes back to School

Throughout February Dukinfield Library hosts an exhibition of Eco-Art and Textiles by North West artist Amanda Whewell.

The exhibition features work by four local Primary Schools created in Amanda’s successful cross curricular school workshops as well as displays of Amanda's own style of Eco-Art.

Come along to meet Amanda in person and find out more about her work as an artist and her Eco-friendly school workshops on :

Monday 16 10am -1pm
Tuesday 24 3pm - 6pm

Friends of the Whitworth

A New Year brings new challenges and new networking opportunities and none finer than a gift my husband Sean bought for me at Christmas which means I am now officially a 'friend' of the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester.

The Friends of the Whitworth is a lively group of people who have chosen to get more involved with the Gallery and its work.

The Friends organise a full programme of events to complement the Gallery's exhibitions, as well as visits to other venues and abroad.

The Friends also support the Gallery financially. Since its foundation in 1933, the organisation has contributed to many acquisitions for the Gallery. A number of activities at the Gallery such as the Art Cart and the Sunday concerts programme are made possible through support from the Friends.

Many members help at the Whitworth as volunteers. A team of specially trained guides offer introductory Eyeopener tours every Saturday at 2pm, sharing their affection and enthusiasm for the Gallery with the public. Another group of the friends are on call to work with special needs groups using a resource called the Art Treasure Chest. Volunteers do all the administration for the Friends organisation, which helps keep costs to a minimum, allowing more money to be used to support the work of the Gallery.