Graham Burgess and the Carnival Queen open the Fishing for Art show on Sunday, 18th January, 2009 at the Gill Nethercott Centre.
Dozens of local artists displayed their art and entertained the public this past Sunday at Whitchurch’s Gill Nethercott Centre as part of Whitchurch Arts’ Fishing for Art Show.
The show was opened at 10:30am by the Whitchurch Carnival Queen and Graham Burgess. There were artistic demonstrations every hour throughout the day, including Eric Dunlop on his Steel Guitar, Vincent Lindsey Clark on his classic guitar, Brian Shrubshall on his squeeze box (the old fashioned, non-technical kind) and the Yallah Belly Dancers.
Cllr Keith Watts discusses art at the show.
Youngsters from the Oak Tree Nursery made artistic fish, which were on display throughout the venue. Small fry who visited the show were able to enter a competition to find all the fishy things (sardine cans) spread around – the winner was Adam Jones. Congratulations, Adam!
Local musicians Eric (on steel guitar) and Vincent (on classical guitar) jam together.
The show also saw the kick-off of the new “Off the Walls” project: Whitchurch Arts will be coordinating the display and sale of art by local artists in local businesses.
The response from the public was positive, including these comments left in our register book:
“A wonderful idea giving the community a focus”
“Lovely opportunity to see some wonderful artwork. Very inspiring”
“Very enterprising. First time I’ve been in the Centre. Encouraging to see a Community Arts event in Whitchurch”
“I was very surprised to see how many artists exhibited. Looks like our little town is a melting pot of many different talents. Well done to the organisers, it’s nice to see these things happening in Whitchurch.”
Young critics...
Some suggestions for improvement at future shows was given, too. A couple of the ideas were: to have a “top-tier” show where the best-of-the-best local art is shown; and, to make the pricing/sales of artwork less prominent (make the show a show rather than what appears to be just a sales opportunity).
There will be another art show in the summer.
A poem written in moments at the end of The Fishing for Art Exhibition January 18th 2009.
FISHING FOR ART.
What rod could hold or take the strain
Of Arty Fish contrived by artist’s brains
What hook could stay firm and un-curled
When gripping images brought to us from another world.
From deep within the oceans of the mind
Where artists, happily fish with kindred kind.
Most of these fish will swim away
But we hope to see the artists
Another day.
Graham Burgess.
Whilst I am a member of the Yallah belly dance troupe, and always happy to have my name publicly associated with them , I ought to point out that our dance troupe is actually called just Yallah! I’m not in charge or anything, I just happened to be the one to arrange the gig on this occasion.
We all had a lovely time – many thanks to all the organisers.
Thanks Sally – I have fixed the main article. It did rhyme nicely, though didn’t it?!
~Andrew~
[...] is a photo and short article about last weekend’s Fishing for Art show in this week’s Basingstoke Gazette Newspaper (page 22)! Tags: Events, [...]
[...] papers covered our Whitchurch Arts “Fishing for Art” show a couple weeks ago. Paintings on display (photo used in Andover [...]
[...] papers covered our Whitchurch Arts “Fishing for Art” show a couple weeks ago. Paintings on display (photo used in Andover [...]