Penwith Gallery has opened a series of shows which will run through the course of the St Ives September Festival.
Stephanie Sandercock at the opening of her new exhibition
It’s that time of year when members of the Penwith Society of Arts stage their autumn exhibition, and, as ever, there’s a huge variety of fascinating work, which drew a big crowd on Friday evening.
Art ranges from Rod Walker’s colourful figurative work to Jenny Woodhouse’s textural coastal and field images, and Karen McEndoo’s science- and nature-influenced canvases to Paula Downing’s strong and colourful ceramics.
In separate rooms we find a solo show from Penwith Society of Arts member Stephanie Sandercock, entitled Imaginary Pathways, and a collection from the Corsham Alumni, who studied at Bath Academy of Art at various times between 1960 and 1975.
Stephanie’s work takes us on a wander around mostly the nearby Gwithian coast, with the beautiful ruggedness of the rocks and the veins of the Red River coursing through. Intricate textures lift the work from the two-dimensional.
“I created these paintings for my love of nature’s textures, especially the coastal rocks, and to feel a deep connection to something within me where I feel alive and truly free,” she says.
Stephanie is one of 27 artists taking part in Open Studios during the festival.
The Corsham Alumni possess a range of talents, and it’s interesting to see some styles change and develop over the years. “We remember our years at Corsham as halcyon days where we learnt how to ‘think’, to understand the importance of experimentation, of critique and discussion, gaining as much from our peers as from our tutors.”
There’s a final element to keep an eye out for as festival season approaches. The Sculpture Courtyard features work by North Cornwall’s Ben Barrell, a farmer’s son whose work reflects his understanding of the ebbs and flows of nature and the forces that shape and influence it.
“My aim is to honour the forces at work on land, at sea, and in the air, and to capture a moment and an emotion in my art,” he says.
