| AUTUMN OPEN EXHIBITION
Saturday 24 August - Saturday 12 October
featuring the collections below
Ped4ir Môn Photography Collective We're delighted to welcome back Ped4ir Môn, a group of four fine-art photographers, Hanna Baguley, Sharon Eynon, Siân Monument and Joan West, all with different styles and all based on the Isle of Anglesey. The exhibition showcases a range of atmospheric images, with subjects ranging from landscape, wildlife and nature to buildings and people. There are also some stunning images of the night sky. New work by Kay Boyce Kay is now firmly established as a leading figurative artist. In particular, her ability to paint and draw the female form and to capture the texture and softness of material has made her one of the UK's most successful published artists. Her work also graces many private collections.
More recently, Kay's study of the structure and dynamics of trees rekindled her interest in the medium of pen and ink, not used since her college days, and has opened up a whole new portfolio of work, THE BLACK ON WHITE COLLECTION. There are wonderful details in Kay's new work, in which architecture too plays a rôle.  LEFT: Dancer - Mixed media RIGHT: Graceful Tree - Limited-edition print on box canvas Cydweithio - Collaboration Collaborative works by
Shropshire & Powys artists & poetsPoets and artists across Shropshire and Mid Wales come together to celebrate the long tradition of visual art responding to poetry, and vice versa - one illuminating the other to deepen our understanding of both. First shown at the Workhouse in Llanfyllin last year, the exhibition includes paintings, ceramics, wood-cut prints, cast metal and photography displayed alongside a range of poetry.
 Meet the Artists and Poets Saturday 14 September, 11.30am
Artists and poets paired off to see how they could create together. Importantly, image and poetry had to interact and relate to one another.
 Mixed-media textile art by Sylvia Stead
Textile and mixed-media artist Sylvia brings together objects such as wood, metal, paper and leather with fabrics, adding stitches to create a final piece of artwork. Often based on inspiration drawn from the natural world, each piece is unique and can take months to complete.
Woodland Walk
Photo printed onto fabric with hand embroidery, Lutradur fern leaves and tree bark
Stitched landscapes by John Peacock
On retirement as senior costume designer for BBC Television, John's interest turned to mixed-media stitched collage, with the use of period fabrics, stained and oiled brown paper, coloured papers and newspaper. John is continually drawn to nature, to trees and woodland, and his work is often enhanced with hand stitch, coloured inks, dyes, paint and bleach. Frozen River
Mixed-media stitched collage  Landscapes & Seascapes by Mark WarnerGrowing up on the coast has had a huge impact in the way Mark developed his particular plein air approach to painting and how he views the landscape. He is also an accomplished painting tutor, offering workshops and painting holidays in the UK, France and Italy. Sunset Waves
Oil on board | | | A WAY OF SEEING WITH REG TURRELL
DIVING GANNETS
 This summer, I achieved an ambition: I went on a boat trip to watch gannets diving for fish. The whirling and sudden plunge is etched in my memory. I used plastic paper so that the watercolour puddled and mixed in swirls. I repeated the same effect in the sky but used a different blue. The gannets were drawn onto masking tape, cut out and pressed onto the paper before the paint was applied. Details such as the black wing tips were added once the paint dried, using water-soluble pencils. To create the drama of the spray as the gannet entered the water, I splattered white acrylic ink from a stiff brush.
I look at this picture every day and am taken back to that memorable experience. | | | Café update In recent weeks, regular customers to the gallery will have missed the cheery face of café assistant Michaela Turner. An engineer by training but also a baker of delicious cakes and brewer of excellent coffee, Michaela is taking some time off in order to prioritise family life. Another big ongoing commitment for Michaela is with our local Attfield Theatre Company, both acting and directing. It is therefore certain that Michaela is going to stay busy, but she will keep in touch - and we hope she will be back with us before long.
Meanwhile, we have welcomed a new (and equally cheery) member of staff, chef Angus Berry. After an early career in print and design, Angus followed his passion for food and catering. He has previously run a country hotel and vegetarian restaurant in Cumbria, as well as a vegetarian restaurant and takeaway specialising in falafel in Shrewsbury. He has also managed food and drink provision in a residential home, worked as catering manager at Whittington Castle tearoom, sold Bratwurst sausages in Oswestry Market, and bakes for private clients. Now semi-retired, Angus is very much enjoying his new rôle at the Willow - one that keeps him active and involved in the community. Best wishes, Angus, on this new chapter in your life! 
From street food to afternoon tea and fine dining,
Angus has a wide range of culinary expertise Background painting: Einblast - Semi-abstract in oil/Artist: Freudenberg | | | | Local author launches new book
Local  author Bernard Pearson has unveiled his latest novel, One of Our Own, at a book launch hosted by the Willow Gallery. Published by Leaf by Leaf Press, Bernard's new book is the next in a series of crime thrillers in which his sleuth, Detective Inspector Mycroft, pieces together clues in order to solve another baffling mystery.
The event was attended by a mix of lovely people, welcomed to the Willow by gallery curator Anthony Smith. Short and intriguing passages from the book were beautifully delivered by fellow authors Vicky Turrell and Ron Turner, and Bernard was kept busy signing books. He also did a Q&A session with his nephew, the critically-praised British screenwriter and producer Jesse Armstrong, in which the audience was closely engaged. (Jesse was the creator of Succession; also co-writer of The Peep Show and The Thick of It.) Bernard is also a published poet, short story writer and spoken-word performer. One of Our Own is available to buy direct from Leaf by Leaf Press or from Amazon. Photo by Reg Turrell Poet & novelist Bernard Pearson (centre),
local fellow-author Vicky Turrell (left)
and TV & film writer Jesse Armstrong (right) | | | | Upcoming at the Gallery
Borderland Visual Art
and
Cheshire Artists' Network
Saturday 19 October – Tuesday 24 December
Craft Fair
Saturday 2 November
Meet and converse with our talented local craftspeople who create one-of-a-kind products you won't find anywhere else | | | WORKSHOPS Whether you're a beginner, want to refresh your skills or to advance your knowledge, we offer many different kinds of art and craft workshops - and are always adding new ones. Places are limited to a maximum of 10, with plenty of opportunities for individual support and advice. Full details on our website.
Gel Plate Techniques with Josh Bowe | | | Other Local Events & Information | | HERITAGE FOR FREE  Heritage Open Days return this September - 6th to 15th - and there's plenty to see and do across Shropshire, all for free. Click here for full programme of events. | | | | Hidden mosaic discovered at Wroxeter Roman site
The 2000-year-old mosaic was found by archaeologists carrying out excavations looking at Wroxeter Roman City near Shrewsbury. Wroxeter, or Viriconium as it was known, was once as large as Pompeii, with a civic bath house, marketplace, county hall and judicial centre as well as around 240 houses. Today, a small number of ruined buildings are all that remains above the ground of the lost city, cared for by English Heritage.
The mosaic depicts brightly-coloured dolphins and fish. It was uncovered during work to search for the main civic temple. 'Our excavations were in the hope of discovering the walls of this building, but we never suspected we would find a beautiful mosaic which has lain hidden for many centuries,' said Win Scutt from English Heritage. Paul Belford/Heritage Innovation The mosaic depicts dolphins and fish, still in bright colours. The dolphins are the larger ones with red tail and grey bodies. | | |  Weave a giant willow newt Saturday 14 September, 2-4pm
Llanymynech Heritage Area, North Road,
Llanymynech, Oswestry A family event where children can make their own willow dragonflies and other creatures - and also help construct a marvellous newt from willow. This event will be expertly led by willow weaver Caroline Lowe.
Booking: email oswestry@shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk | | | Repair Café Oswestry & Borders
Saturday 14 September, 12-3pm Public Institute, Llanfyllin A team of skilled volunteer repairers give their time and expertise for free to help people fix items that might otherwise be thrown away. Please book your item in beforehand at osbordersrepaircafe@gmail.com, so organiser Elaine knows which experts to invite and what tools they need to bring.
You can also bring your repairs in to the Midweek Mend sessions at the Climate Action Hub in Oswestry's Bailey Street
(Wednesdays 11am-2pm)
| | | Prestigious award for Ludlow heritage experts
A small group of conservation professionals based in and around Ludlow are part of a team that have scooped a prestigious Europa Nostra award 2024 for the conservation and adaptive re-use of the 14th-century fortified church at Alma Vii in Transylvania.
The project, led by Colin, Joe and Dan Richards of CJR Heritage Services, has for the past 28 years taken local building professionals from South Shropshire and North Herefordshire to Transylvania and undertaken restoration work on the Saxon Villages World Heritage Sites, training local craftsmen in the skills of building restoration. This work has included the restoration of the defensive walls and towers of Sighisoara, the restoration of fortified churches, farmhouses and bridges, and the construction and operation of wood-fired brick, tile and lime kilns. At Alma Vii, the team undertook stabilisation works to the citadel walls, underpinned gate towers and completed extensive repointing in lime mortars. 
The group's work on the Saxon church in Alma Vii has seen a boost in tourism | | | Art World Mark Rothko: The Seagram Murals
Tate St Ives, Cornwall, until 5 January  Jai Monaghan/Tate The abstract paintings, commissioned for the Four Seasons restaurant in New York's Seagram Building but, given by Rothko to the Tate in 1969, cast their spell all over again.
Mark Rothko (1903–1970) was born in Russia. In 1913, he left Russia and settled with the rest of his family in Portland, Oregon. From 1925 he lived and worked in New York. | |  A vibrant, not-for-profit art space packed full of contemporary artwork from local and national artists. We host exhibitions, art classes, craft fairs and other community-focused events - bringing together creative individuals and art lovers from our local communities and beyond. CONTACT US Tel: 01691 657575
email: willowgalleryoswestry@gmail.com
Website: willowgalleryoswestry.org
Facebook: Willow
Address: 56 Willow Street, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 1AD Gallery/Café open Tues-Sat 10am-4pm (3.30pm café last orders)
Closed: Sundays/Mondays/Bank Holidays Editor: Hilary Moorcroft
September 2024 | | |
