A special event to coincide with Sacred Earth: Water, Tree, Stone, on show March 31st – May 10th.
This evening is a great opportunity to view the new exhibition ‘Sacred Earth’ in the company of the artist Fiona McIntyre, and to hear from two of the contributors. DOORS OPEN 6.30pm.
Programme:
- 6.30pm: Meet the artist Fiona McIntyre and view the exhibition
- 7.30pm light snacks
- 8.10pm: Short talks by Fiona McIntyre, Nicola Moorby, Curator of Historic British Art, 1790 – 1850 at Tate Britain and Christiana Payne, Professor Emerita of History of Art at Oxford Brookes University
DONATION ON THE NIGHT. Please book your place in advance here
Mother of Pearl Butterfly by Phillip Grieve (south Africa. b.1922)
Animal A-Z
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, in all its forms, from genes and bacteria to entire ecosystems such as forests or coral reefs. Biodiversity forms the web of life that we depend on for so many things, including food, water, medicine, a stable climate and economic growth.
Over half of global GDP is dependent on nature. More than 1 billion people rely on forests for their livelihoods. And land and the ocean absorb more than half of all carbon emissions.
But nature is in crisis. Up to one million species are threatened with extinction, many within decades. Irreplaceable ecosystems like parts of the Amazon rainforest are turning from carbon sinks into carbon sources due to deforestation. And 85 per cent of wetlands, such as salt marshes and mangrove swamps which absorb large amounts of carbon, have disappeared.
The main driver of biodiversity loss remains humans’ use of land – primarily for food production. Human activity has already altered over 70 per cent of all ice-free land. When land is converted for agriculture, some animal and plant species may lose their habitat and face extinction. But climate change is playing an increasingly important role in the decline of biodiversity too. It has altered marine, terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems around the world and has caused the loss of local species, increased diseases, and driven mass mortality of plants and animals, resulting in the first climate-driven extinctions.
climate-driven extinctions.
In response to this, the UN Environment programme has many initiatives, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted by 196 parties at COP15 in December 2022 under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. It is a landmark plan to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve ‘living in harmony with nature’ by 2050. It includes 4 goals and 23 targets, such as protecting 30% of land/seas by 2030 and mobilizing billions of dollars annually for nature. The framework was unexpectedly encompassing, and provides hopes for building a new relationship between people, the economy and nature.
Just before the framework was agreed in 2022, the WWF Living Planet Report was released. It estimated a 69 percent average decline in wildlife populations since 1970. A frightening statistic.
So, this display has brought together a special selection of works for each year of the 21st century highlighting 26 animals, one for each letter of the alphabet. Together, they remind us of the diversity and wonder of nature and encourage us to not only celebrate the skill of the artist, but be reminded again, through their work, of the fragility of much of nature in the world today.
Rather than place the diverse exhibits together in one room, the 26 items, both 2D and 3D, will be scattered throughout the museum, to be searched out on an ‘art safari’. Younger visitors can follow a trail to help them discover the exhibits.
CRUCIFIXION
BE STILL | BE QUIET
“The greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world is to see something, and tell what it saw in a plain way. Hundreds of people can talk for one who can think, but thousands can think for one who can see. To see clearly is poetry, prophecy and religion, all in one.” John Ruskin
In seeing Darrell Warner interprets and creates natural history paintings in watercolour that may be uncomfortable at first. That is of course the intention, to arrest the viewer into a reality that they may not care to think about. And there’s the rub. In doing so, Warner eludes to a life lost yet his paintings, predominantly of our own indigenous birds are testimony to those birds’ souls continuing to sing, even in death.
At the beginning of the covid pandemic when our world was last at rest it seems, Warner would come across deceased everyday common or garden birds struck by a passing vehicle. Being Spring of 2020 and the likelihood that those unfortunate birds would be in or entering breeding season weighed heavily on the painters mind, so much so that he was unable to cast them aside, instead seeking to record their deaths in watercolour. And so begun an odyssey to record those lost souls that entered his orbit via friends and family, be it from the humble Blackbird to the elusive Water Rail.
What became apparent is how many deaths are caused by or related to human actions or environments, from vehicle to conservatory window strikes. Considering the small community in which he lives, Warner began to wonder of the overall number of avian life lost on a daily basis across both county and country. That thought became the catalyst to this exhibition. The call to raise awareness of the loss through these paintings. It is apparent that our natural world is under very serious threat from both increased green belt development and a general apathy towards what nature is and does. Small incidental deaths don’t factor into this equation but certainly add to nature’s fine balance. As we enter further into the 21st century one can only hope that Warner’s observations and recordings of these beautiful creatures remind us of what is at stake and what were once very common could become rather rare. A crucifying thought. Darrell Warner is an Internationally acclaimed artist & illustrator known predominantly for his work on large Hollywood Blockbusters. Yet his personal work has also gained international recognition whilst being a quiet testament to his true skill as a draughtsman and artist, seeking to ask questions of how we look and relate to both art and nature.
Meet Darrell amongst the exhibits all day Saturday May 23rd
Join us for an illustrated evening talk by Darrell on Saturday June 12th.
An illustrated talk by Simon and Carol Trapnell
Renowned for its ancient wonders, rich history, and vibrant culture, Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs, evokes awe and has long held a universal fascination for people. Their great monuments, tombs, temples, and artwork all celebrate life (and often nature) and stand as reminders of what once was and what human beings are capable of achieving. Join us on an inspiring journey that also interweaves some of the places that inspired prints included in the Ancient Yesterdays II exhibition. An evening for all!
Lesley Connolly and Lucy D’Auvergne
Wildlife Art Society International Annual Show
One of a series focusing on our desire to highlight and encourage active creative groups celebrating the natural world.
Over 300 works in a huge variety of media celebrating artistic endeavour and the diversity of nature. Artists at work every day.
May Half Term Activities
We have loads of outdoor nature-themed activities keeping us busy through half term.
Morning session: 10am – 11:30am
Afternoon Session 1pm – 2:30pm
Here is what we have going on each day:
Tuesday 26th May – Yoga and Rock Painting.
Wednesday 27th May – Salt Dough and Seed Decorations.
Thursday 28th May – Sun Prints.
Friday 29th May – Nature Journals
Tickets cost £8 per child. This includes one child entry to activity and one child and one adult entry to gallery. Tickets are all available for booking here: https://natureinart.org.uk/activitydays/
Come and join in for some yoga fun and games with our Education Officer! Either in the Education Centre or in our lovely garden, we will be doing some exercises, games, balancing, mindfulness and so much more.
Age: 3 – 12
Yoga mats are provided! Adults encouraged to join in with their little ones.
Make sure you are wearing comfortable, breathable clothing to move around in freely.
Either book online, call in or just ask at the shop if there are spaces available.
Balancing commercial illustration vs personal painting. Come and hear Darrell Warner talk about the differing mindset of an artist practising in two very different fields. As an international award-winning illustrator in the film industry, the pressure to deliver within a time frame calls for some extraordinary commitments for both self and family whilst donning the creative painting hat presents other more profound questions of personal quest and fulfilment. Both approaches in turn feed an artistic want whilst informing one another. An evening for everyone!
Doors open 7pm to view Darrell’s exhibition. Finger buffet 7:30pm, followed by talk. Finish 9.15pm
£13 + booking fee – click here to book
If you are a student, call us on 01452 731422 and we’ll book you in at 50% off.
Kaspar: Prince of Cats
Based on the book by Michael Morpurgo
Step into the heart of the Savoy Hotel with Kaspar: Prince of Cats, a magical family adventure brought to life through enchanting puppetry, original music and vivid storytelling.
Follow Johnny Trott, a young bellboy, and Lizziebeth, a spirited American girl, as they form an unlikely bond with the extraordinary cat Kaspar. Their journey takes them across oceans, in a story of friendship, courage and survival that will captivate audiences of all ages.
👨👩👧👦 Age Guidance: 3+
🕒 Running Time: 1 hour (no interval)
🚪’Doors open’ 45 minutes before the performance begins for picnics
Find out more at alfrescoactors.com
Reviews from our previous shows by the same team:
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ‘Great fun’ ~ The View From the Stalls
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ‘Absolutely outstanding. I was captivated throughout’ ~ What’s Good To Do
★ ★ ★ ★ ‘A magical sixty minutes of skilfull puppetry and acting’ ~ North West End
Around the World in 80 Days
Pack your bags and hold onto your hats – the race is on! 🌍⏱️
Join a fearless troupe of actor-musicians as they hurtle across continents in this riotously entertaining, globe-trotting show inspired by Jules Verne’s much-loved classic.
With the clock ticking, Phileas Fogg and his quick-thinking companions attempt the impossible: travelling around the world in just 80 days.
Expect dazzling live music, outrageous characters and inventive storytelling as London, Bombay and beyond burst into life. Featuring trains, boats and plenty of theatrical mayhem, this joyful open-air adventure is packed with fun, flair and surprise at every turn.
Based on the novel by Jules Verne, Adapted by Chris Fung, Directed by Tara Noonan.
👨👩👧👦 Age Guidance: 10+ (perfect for families and explorers of all ages!)
🕒 Running Time: 2 hours (including a 20 minute interval)
🚪’Doors open’ 45 minutes before the performance begins for picnics