Exhibition:
This display features a wonderful collection of Chinese folk art – embroidered children’s hats roughly 100 years old.
Silk has been used in China since ancient times and embroidery has become a common folk art in China. Many of the children’s hats contain animal imagiary, which is believed to invoked good fortune, outwit evil forces and help bring happiness and longevity.
Exhibition:
A display by Dutch lace maker Yvonne Scheele-Kerkhof and her interpretations of Asian motifs.
She describes her work as ‘painting in thread’ and through these exquisite pieces she takes us on a journey to discover the beauty of the Orient and the meaning and symbolism of the designs.
The Beauty of the Orient is on show until April 24th.
This display complements another exhibition on show at the museum entitled A Mothers Love. Find out more here.
Exhibition:
Inspired by nature in a single seedpod or insects sheltering in the tree canopy, a found treasure or beloved artefact, the work within this exhibition is constructed using material such as handmade paper, rusty wire and recycled lace, charting a creative textile journey to a place that is On the Edge of traditional stitch practice.
www.stitchtextileartists.co.uk
On the Edge is on show until April 10th.
Easter Holidays Art Activity Days:
This Easter we are running a range of our popular art activity days for children aged 3 years and over. They include:
Tues 31st March – Marbling
Wed 1st April – Animal Snappers
Thurs 2nd April – Easter Bunny Trail… a chocolaty treat awaits once you find them all!
Tues 7th April – Inspired by Henri Matisse; Paper Cuts
Wed 8th April – Copper Embossing
Thurs 9th April – Twinkling Wire Wishing Tree
Fri 10th April – Candle Making
Each workshop interprets the day’s theme using age appropriate materials and techniques. The different times are:
10.30-12.00pm: for 3 – 7 years
1.00-2.30pm: for 3 – 18 years
3.00-4.30pm: for 8 – 18 years
Each activity costs £6 per child and includes free entry to the museum for one accompanying adult. All activity must be booked in advance via our online booking system.
To see full details and to book please visit our Activity Days home page, here.
Fundraising Raffle
Help support Nature in Art Trust by taking part in the museum’s fundraising raffle. Tickets are ONLY available via the shop desk on-site, so please ask a member of staff when you are next visiting if you would like to purchase one.
The first prize is a copper-wheel engraved vase (currently on display) by the world renowned artist Michael Fairbairn. There are also another 10 prizes up for grabs:
– Simon Combes framed signed limited edition print
– Latest Gary Hodges signed limited edition print
– Textile wallhanging by Sue Waters
– Elizabeth Gray signed limited edition print
– Geoffrey Dashwood Monograph
– Signed book by Jill Moger
– Elizabeth Gray signed limited edition book
– 2 tickets to a Wallsworth Evening of your choice
– 1 ticket to a Dare to Dabble art session
– Cream tea for 4 in Nature in Art coffee shop
Michael is a world renowned glass engraver and has engraved this 29cm high lead crystal vase with a Chinese dragon specifically as a prize for the museum’s raffle. He uses the challenging copper-wheel technique where the glass is moved over the tool rather than the tool over the glass. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a piece by this remarkable maker.
Raffle tickets will be available to buy until 5pm on Sunday 5th June. The draw took place at 12pm on June 6th. The winner of the glass was I. POTTER. Other winners were: K Yerbury, E Green, H Watts, H Channon, J Cox, A Albright, T Hancock, V Winfield, P Orme and A Poole.
Artist in Residence
Claudia Hahn is a published freelance illustrator and wildlife artist based in Cranleigh, UK.
“I have been around the globe on assignments, commissions, missions, exhibitions and sometimes just plain stalking for new inspiration. My love for details and vibrant choice of colour combinations are trademarks of my pictures. I don’t seem to be able to leave paintings alone until they look right to me, and I will always find something on them I can improve.”
Art Course
with Helen Lomberg
Maximum Participants: 12
On this 1-day course you will make Plant Climbers, Plant Supports, Trellises and decorative Garden Hurdles, all out of willow grown in Somerset and here in Gloucestershire.
Helen will guide you through each stage of the process, whilst introducing you to the different varieties of willow which you can use to make your creations unique.
By the end of the day you should have been able to make 3-4 items to take home to put in the garden.
Course Cost
Members: £40
Non-members: £50
Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Advanced
Materials List
All materials will be supplied by Helen Lomberg, at the cost of £10 per participant, payable directly to her on the day of the course.
Artist’s Profile
Helen has been working with willow for over 20 years. She currently teaches at Waterperry and Highgrove and has done so in Steiner Schools and Further Education Colleges as well.
In recent years she has set up the Gloucestershire Arts and Crafts Centre based in Gloucester where county based artists and craftspeople can sell their work directly to the public on the High Street and pass on their skills through classes. Helen sells her work from her shop in 5, College Court, Gloucester GL1 2NJ.
www.glosartscrafts.co.uk
Art Course
with Claudia Hahn 10am – 5pm
Maximum Participants: 12
What to do when there is no paint at hand? Paint with what you have in your kitchen, such as tea, coffee and beetroot!
This course is designed to show that expensive art materials are not necessary to create wonderful art and to be creative in a fun way. You will paint flowers, animals or landscapes in colours you can source out of what you would normally drink or eat.
It is easy to forget that in the not too distant past, all dyes and paints had to be obtained from the natural world, directly from minerals and plants. The resulting colours may not be as bright or long lasting as those obtained from chemical sources, but they have a beauty and wonderful subtlety of their own.
Course Cost
Members: £40
Non-members: £50
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
ART COURSE BOOKING FORM
Materials List
All materials will be supplied by Claudia Hahn, at the cost of £3 per participant, payable directly to her on the day of the course.
Artist’s Profile
Claudia Hahn is an award winning illustrator and wildlife artist based in Surrey, UK. Wildlife art, scientific illustrations and natural history illustrations are her main subjects. Her work has been published in books such as school books for children, field guides, and science books.
She is active in conservation work and feels passionate about wildlife and our environment. Growing up in the Black Forest, art and nature were the two things which have always surrounded her. Of all subjects, the beauty of nature and wildlife is most important to Claudia and her main inspiration.
www.heliocyan.com
Artist in Residence
Terence is a renowned wildlife painter with work in public and private collections worldwide. His work has been reproduced in over 40 books including all the illustrations for ‘Collins British Birds’. After the inspiration of observation in the field, seeing birds as they are, Terence strives to capture not just the details but the personality of his subjects in his paintings. He also refers to his extensive collection of specimens. His work is regularly on show at Nature in Art and he has been an artist in residence and tutor many times.
www.terencelambert.com
Dare to Dabble
Choose from 2 sessions: 10.30am – 1pm or 2pm – 4.30pm
An action packed workshop that will look at many types of paper art including dip dying, folding and cuts. You will go home with lots of material that you can use in other art works, give as gifts or simply enjoy them within their own right.
Bookable after 4th January.
Book Now