The Beetroot Tree

Exhibitions

2008 Programme

Current exhibition

Special Events

Artist Showcase

Men Only
2 August – 14 September
Private View Friday 1 August
Three eminent, young, male Contemporary favourites of the embroidery world: James Hunting, Gavin Fry & Richard McVetis combine together to give a fantastic show. See a range of their past work plus pieces created especially for this exhibition.
Twisted Thread described Gavin Fry's work at the Knitting and Embroidery Show 2004: "There is no set format in his work, and technique is employed according to the desired effect rather than for its own sake. He describes his pieces as collages. He uses imagery which isn't intended to shock, but to tell a story. He reinvents the familiar to challenge myths and he says, 'sex rears its ugly head to laugh at life and death'."
Richard McVetis “white felt, cut and stitched into an organic form which is then embroidered with black thread and what must be endless patience” quote from carpe diem blog by Sarah
"Through mark-making, colours and textures each piece is representative of moments of time, either the past, present, or future. They are creating environments where the viewer is half dreaming and half recognising, the story is begun but not yet written, the pieces seem quietly comforting, almost calmly melancholic, enjoy and walk in them" by James Hunting
(use ‘amputated detail’ for Richard McVetis, ‘a case of you’ for Gavin Fry, James Hunting – use images directly from emails in Men Only email file as keep crashing from short term exhibs file)

Autumn Glow
with an Eco Edge
20 September – 2 November

Private View Friday 1 August
Raw metal, manipulated wood, muted lighting and finely textured textiles, combine to make this exhibition evocative of the Season. Be heartened by the warm colours of autumnal leaves. Where possible, we are using artists who are conscious of environmental impact and incorporate it into their practice.

In the Cafe...

Special Feature Exhibitionsby individual Artists

Pricilla Jones	Particle Article - Claire Benson & Amy Nightingale	Karen Shapley
10 May - 4 July	5 July - 5 September	6 September - 31 October
Priscilla Jones creates unique works which engage us both visually and intellectually.Her obvious pleasures in domestic traditions are interpreted into works of art. The associations prompt nostalgia that can be both comforting and provocative. Her work is created by manipulating and reworking textiles through processes of embellishment using paint, collage and stitch. Her use of familiar materials and objects produce the field on which Priscilla develops a visual narrative provoking the viewer’s own semantic explorations. We recognize and react to the familiar, remembered and implied links to things past.	Intricate, quirky sculptures of winged creatures created from abandoned and reclaimed materials. Fragile figurines often resemble insects, fairies, angels or hybrids of these. Inspiration is drawn from insects fused with childhood imagination, fairytale mythology and legends. Each creature has a unique name and a short narrative describing their secret mischievous activities. The creatures are members of an unclassified species; the protectors and preservers of common everyday objects, the value of which has diminished in our modern age. They come to life when humans are absent, scurrying through the mundane and unused items people keep but never use. They aim to show the unrecognised beauty of every day discarded objects and question the throwaway society that we live in.	Karen is a ceramic/textile artist who creates a range of objects resembling domestic tea ephemera. Her pieces are a playful and contemporary reflection of a bygone age when tea parties and domestic decadence were everyday occurrences. Her inspiration comes from an era when time was taken to enjoy the social niceties. The sourcing of vintage objects such as textiles and cutlery found in junk shops and markets enable Karen to add layers of comfort, colour and nostalgic memories. Development of these often neglected items allows them a new lease of life and helps facilitate Engaging Domestics.

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