Art in Action 2008

“Art in Action is one of the UK’s
largest and longest-running art
and craft festivals. Not many
festivals have run so successfully
and for such a length of time —
it’s now in its 31st year — and yet
managed to stay fresh and vibrant...”

SET IN THE GROUNDS OF WATERPERRY HOUSE in Oxfordshire, Art in Action is certainly one of the UK's largest and longest-running art and craft festivals. This year, in addition to the many marquees in which some 400 artists and craftsmen set up their studios and where visitors could observe them at work, there was the additional treat of music and dance in the new and intimate classical amphitheatre from a wide spectrum of cultures.

These included performances of chamber music from the baroque and classical eras, storytelling for children and performing arts such as Kathak dancing, West African music, a terrific Latin American harpist — Ricardo Carcia-Curbelo — and, last but not least, a performance by the world-renowned sitar player, Gaurav Mazumdar. Gaurav studied the sitar under the world famous Ravi Shankar and has not only been nominated for a Grammy, but was the first Indian musician to play in the Vatican.

Besides the performances in the delightful little theatre, various musicians played on the lawns amongst the numerous food and drinks stalls. We particularly enjoyed a brief retreat in the ancient (dating from 1235 AD) and beautiful Waterperry Church, where, seated in its boxed pews, we listened to the music of a Dutch choir singing Gregorian Chants. Tranquil and uplifting.

Art in Action has always provided practical classes for ceramics, textiles, jewellery, woodwork, glass blowing, sculpture and wine tasting. Many of the classes are also available for children and young people, including the very popular pottery throwing classes. Regrettably we did not have time to participate in any of these as we had to so much to see and absorb in the time available to us.

However, here are just some of the highlights —

Jeremy James: Large standing Hare (50cm high)

Jeremy James: Large standing Hare (50cm high)

Amongst the 200+ artists and craftsmen from around the world taking part in the festival was a medicinal and culinary herb garden created by Jekka McVicar, crowned the 'queen of herbs' by Jamie Oliver and one of Rick Stein's food 'heroes'. Jekka runs a small organic herb garden near Bristol and her lectures inspire horticulturalists all over the world. She has many RHS gold medals from both Chelsea and Hampton Court. The herb garden — created in collaboration with Jeremy James' hare sundial sculpture and Philip Koomen's sculptural furniture — was absolutely beautiful. The textures, colours and scents truly assailed the senses.

Jewellery

Ram Rijal creates innovative handmade Himalayan jewellery in 22-carat gold, uniquely crafting and hand-beating the gold into a variety of styled pieces. His choice of precious and semi-precious stones are those which are often rejected by other jewellers due to their imperfections. But one man's meat is another man's poison and Ram uses these stones to stunning effect. His rings set with a single stone such as tourmaline, ruby or sapphire worn together in a trio or whatever you choose, can be 'mixed and matched' according to your whim. They are also extremely good value at Ł200 for each ring should you obtain them direct for him. A range of his jewellery is available from Harvey Nichols and need I point out that these rings would cost you considerably more from there.

Erica Sharpe has studied her craft with an Indian goldsmith and worked with some of the leading figures in modern jewellery. However, she has now created a perfect replica of the original Saxon 'Wedmore Ring' discovered buried in a Somerset garden in 1989 more than 1,400 years after it was originally made.

Erica Sharpe: Wedmore Ring

Made for a man, the ring has an unusual knot and was probably a gift from a lord to his servant. There was a custom of Saxon Kings to reward loyalty with such a ring and although Wedmore was a site significant to King Alfred, no other jewellery has ever been found.

It is the only ring of its kind in existence because of its unique knot, and to own a replica made by a jeweller in the same village in which the original was found really captures the imagination. As Erica says: 'It is really exciting to create a little piece of Wedmore history for modern-day wear'. Prices range from Ł135 (silver) to Ł1,140 (platinum).

At the other end of the scale in sophistication and price is Kayo Saito's delicate and feather-light jewellery. Kayo is a highly-skilled contemporary designer and acknowledged to be one of the rising stars of new designers and craftsmen in the jewellery and silver trade.

The petal collection she was showing was stimulated by her interest in aggregate structure that is inspired by the plant world. She uses silver, gold or a combination of silver and gold to great effect and the resulting jewels are both delicate and beautiful. This is one designer's work I would kill for — particularly her necklaces and earrings.

Before I manage to drag myself away from this category, I wonder if any of you have ever thought about making your own ring — say in silver, fully hall-marked and all within one day? Well now you can — for just Ł60. The Bishopsland Postgraduate Workshops run four courses a year for up to ten people. What a great birthday or Christmas present that would make.

Pewter Work

Now I am sure Fleur Grenier has been influenced and inspired by Salvador Dali as her fluid pewter pieces certainly reminded me of Dali's melting clock. Her small pieces — a combination of sculpture and function, with soft flowing lines and curves — are extremely tactile and beautiful. I meant to go back and buy a charming small vase which is on her website for only Ł25. Be warned — the website photographs simply do not do her justice.

Furniture

Yet another designer that I am sure has been influenced by Dali but in a different medium is David Lilley. David is a designer craftsman with an exciting and very contemporary style producing sculptural pieces of innovative furniture in sympathy with the particular grain of an individual piece of wood. David often incorporates wooden hinges as a prominent part of the design to great effect.

At first sight your instinct is to stroke and feel the wood in order to satisfy yourself that it is actually static and not moving. Very individual but functional one-off items to treasure.

Now I hope you are all sitting comfortably; because this is really a lesson and an inspiration to us all. Nathaniel Lloyd, who is just seventeen, was rejected by our educational system and thrown out onto the scrapheap, so to speak, just two years ago. But what a star and a credit to his tutors at the Building Crafts College Nathaniel has proved to be.

Nathaniel's apprentice piece of a serpentine desk demonstrated the highest design and woodworking skills. The subtle flowing curves were brilliantly highlighted by the long slithers of draw handles that puts just the right amount of emphasis on the movement of lines. To have learnt to design such a sophisticated piece within two years would have been a superb achievement but to go on and build it is exceptional. It is certainly worth thousands of anyone's money should it have been for sale. He has now been offered a place at the prestigious Barnsley Workshop for a further year's training and certainly the world is now his oyster.

Collectable Boxes

Now every girl needs a trinket box in which to keep not just her jewellery but also her secrets; and I have found just the thing. Robert Ingham Designs makes the most beautiful collectable boxes in unusual woods. He combines different woods to decorate boxes that would grace any dressing table or chest of drawers. Part of their beauty is in the figuring and grain of the woods and the use of imaginative combinations to create unusual effects. A jewel box that lifted on either side was decorated with the most unlikely wood: bog oak which is thousands of years old, but the contrast of colours was truly amazing and all for just Ł370. True works of art and just what you would expect from someone who had taught David Linley some of his woodworking skills. By the way, Robert also designs and makes furniture of equal appeal.

Now for something really weird and different — wooden sounding bowls are a new instrument both conceived and made by Tobias Kaye. Tobias is a wood sculptor and discovered the wonderful harmonious acoustics in the flowing spiral curves of his turned forms. Guided by an image arising in meditation, Tobias fitted strings to a specially formed bowl and was amazed at the resulting sound. He has made dozens of variations and these musical instruments are now used by performers and healers as far away as Japan, Australia and the U.S.A. It may be a little new age for some but the resulting sound is rich and harmonious, follow the link to hear them and then make up your own mind.

Metalwork

National Champion Blacksmith 2007, Joff Hopper of The Metal Pig Forge, has been producing high quality forged artwork for over twenty years. His stunning contemporary ironwork is extremely elegant and ethereal. The best work always looks easy; the lines flow so fluidly one would have thought they were made of plasticine. Hard to believe that anything made by a blacksmith could be so elegant — but just take a look on his website and see what I mean. Joff will design and make anything from garden sculptures, gates (they are truly wonderful — with a pair like these you would be the talk of the town for all the right reasons), furniture, candlesticks and fire braziers. A really accomplished designer and artist.

Painting

Jeffery Courtney: The Three Pigeons, Richmond upon Thames

Jeffery Courtney: The Three Pigeons, Richmond upon Thames

It may or may not be what this artist wants to hear, but I feel that Jeffery Courtney is perhaps the poor man's Caneletto. Jeffery is a figurative painter who paints the most beautiful pictures and his landscapes are suffused with light and the most incredible sparkling water. Jeffery's talents are wider as his wonderful still life paintings are so detailed you feel that you could lift them straight from the canvas. How envious does that make many an aspiring artist?

Last but not least, Ali Yanya a Turkish artist who paints affordable oil sketches and watercolours usually featuring people. One style that he has been developing with great success is a ghostly theme; but these are without doubt extremely atmospheric and not at all creepy. Keep a look out for his studio sale in late November in Notting Hill Gate as they would make really good Christmas presents. Contact Ali — ali.yanya@btinternet.com.

Once again, Art in Action was an inspiration and delight. We found just as much that was fresh and new to interest us as last year and enjoyed every minute of the two days. The freshness is assured as artists may only participate for a limited number of years before an enforced break. Indeed it has been hard to select so few of the talented artists and equally hard not to spend every penny we have. Join us next July when the next four-day Art in Action festival is staged. — Bonnie and Tim Stevens

home | top of page | all lifestyle reviews