so… this is not a progress report we are simply moving websites into this oh-so-much-more-convienient wordpress site, and, having little content for the moment it seemed a good idea to copy over out Spring Farm Arts news page (below) before starting to build up this site in earnest.
26th January 2012
We are running a competition in this week’s Central Somerset Gazette, out today – buy it for more details of how to win Helen Jones’ beautiful sparkly heart necklace – see photo. It’s in Sterling silver with a little pearl hanging from the heart. (Sorry, this is only any use if you live in Somerset!)
Clio Graham’s work is currently on show at Slimbridge WWT Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire, in the Cheng–Kim Loke Gallery from 15 January to 5 March 2012.
Of the exhibition, she says:
“This is the second time I have exhibited at Slimbridge, which is a great place to visit especially at this time of year for the winter wildfowl, and it is a wonderful opportunity for me to make pieces with wildlife as the main theme in the decoration. I have combined words and images on a wide variety of pieces, jugs with owls, snipe, and swans; small bowls and plates with wrens and hares and large one-off pieces with complex decoration featuring ducks, foxes and Common cranes.”
Clio is exhibiting with two painters, Simon Trinder and Jonathan Latimer, both internationally recognised wildlife artists.
November 2011
We are getting ready for our Christmas Arts and Crafts fair, at Spring Farm Arts. Silver Tree Crystal and Nancy Farmer are both making Christmas Baubles, Helen Jones is making beaded decorations, Anne Farmer has plenty of calendars for next year, and you can take all your goodies home with you in one of Jenny Graham’s ‘LandBags’…
August 2011
Throughout most of the month of August, Nancy Farmer is exhibiting her artwork at Ilminster Arts Centre and the Meeting house, and will be joined by guests Sheena Spacey and Jo Lucksted. This is a superb venue and the work of the three artists complement each other superbly, drawing, as each does, on a something of a shared pool of stories, but each interpreting the tales in their own distinctive ways in their own distinctive media.
For more information please see their exhibition page: www.nancyfarmer.net/truthandlies
May 2011
The spectacular craft of glass-blowing with its real ‘gee-whiz’ appeal, is a sight not to be missed this coming Bank Holiday. Silver Tree Crystal is the newest member of Spring Farm Arts, based in Moorlinch near Street’ where the latest Arts Open Days will offer the unforgettable sight of liquid glass at over 1100 degrees Centigrade conforming to the will of the master glassblower.
The workshops for this ‘magic’ traditional process were set up at Spring Farm over a decade ago , and the Spring Farm Artists are delighted by this new co-operative venture.
Jeweller Helen Jones is particularly involved having worked with Silver Tree Crystal to produce an exquisite range of jewellery and glassware called ‘Somerset Strawberries and Cream’. Helen said ‘As the name implies, the glass is a gorgeous deep pink with swirls of soft cream – delicious!’
Master Glass Maker Paul Larner has worked in Cornwall, Plymouth and Gibraltar. His Assistant Janey Pointing gained a BA in Applied Arts, specialising in glass blowing, from Plymouth College of Arts. She said ‘Spring Farm is such a creative environment – the other artists, and the beautiful setting – I feel really lucky to work here.’ Design and production is headed up by Chris Hurst, while Jerzy Niedzieiski is the glass cutter, with 35 years of experience.
The two-day opening will also give art-lovers the chance to renew acquaintance with painters and etchers Jenny Graham, Nancy Farmer and Susan Gradwell, and potter Clio Graham. Free entry is from 11am to 5pm on 29th and 30th May.
April 2011
At Spring Farm Arts we are delighted to welcome Silver Tree Crystal into our midst! Silver Tree Crystal make beautiful hand-made lead crystal, and they make it right on site here. This small company has been on the Spring Farm Arts site for some time, but never before taken part in our open days, now we are delighted to say they are joining us, and they say they will even be giving demonstrations in the art of glass-blowing. Keep an eye on the website for more information or send us an email to find out more…
November 2010
An exhibition by one of our Spring Farm Artists, outside of our usual stamping ground of Somerset. For more information please email mail@nancyfarmer.net.
Nancy Farmer serves up ‘A Feast of Invention’
Sudbury, 31st October – 3rd December
Nancy Farmer and her paintings return to Sudbury, Suffolk, for a solo exhibition at the Quay Theatre entitled ‘A Feast of Invention’. As the title suggests these pictures are a confection of extraordinary creatures, drawn both from myth and reality, blending everyday scenes with fairytale characters to produce paintings both humorous and decadent.
Amongst these characters you may find the attractive but suspiciously masked guests at ‘The Guilty Party’, enjoying an aperitif while they size up their fellow revellers. Then there are the generously proportioned and mellowing flower fairies, at the comfortingly mature ‘seed-pod’ stage in their lives. Borrowed from mythology, Medusa is here, too: a femme fatale, perhaps, but also an ordinary girl given to bad hair days. In all these images, there is an element of fantasy, but also many references to everyday situations, which gives Nancy’s art the ability to surprise and amuse.
Nancy’s work was immensely popular when it appeared in the Quay Theatre in both 2006 and 2003. This show will consist of a selection of new paintings, drawings and etchings not shown in Suffolk before. Admission is free.
August 4th 2010
Somerset Arts Weeks is coming up next!
Having had another, rather well attended, open day on the first of August (I believe the continuing good weather leant us a hand in that direction), we are now gearing up for Somerset Arts Weeks. This is a major event in Somerset’s artistic calendar, in which several hundred artists take part. For more information about that have a look at the Somerset Art Weeks website (now re-named Somerset Art Works) www.somersetartworks.org.uk. THe dates for this two-week and more event are: Saturday 18th September – Sunday 3rd October (closed Mondays). And if your join our emailing list we will even invite you to our private view!
We are soon to have a new artist – Susie Gradwell
We will soon me welcoming Susie Gradwell to our little group. Susie paints and makes etchings, of which there will be examples coming up as soon as I track them down…
May 4th 2010
Vote for Art
Spring Farm Arts had another successful bank holiday opening. They had to compete with other local distractions like Nick Clegg’s visit to Wells but their policy is ‘Give Art a chance! Fight them at the easels and the potter’s wheel, the jeweller’s bench and the drawing boards!’
Painters Jenny Graham, Nancy Farmer and Anne Farmer, potter Clio Graham and Jeweller Helen Jones helped many visitors forget about election blues (reds…yellows…greens) and chatted about their work to customers new and old.
Spring Farm Arts next opening, at Spring Farm, Moorlinch, free to all, is on Sunday 4th of July from 11 am to 5 pm. Star-spangled banners will probably not feature greatly!
April 21st 2010
Our latest postcard – please feel free to email it to everyone you know!
April 8th 2010
Easter Art: Success, we say!
We were delighted at the response to our Easter Exhibition, our first venture under our new Spring Farm Arts banner.
The five of us opened our galleries and studios in the first of a series of monthly openings.
It seemed just the kind of outing people were waiting for. Hundreds of enthusiasts braved the rather typical Easter weather to come and admire, and in many cases buy, the paintings, pottery and jewellery. Thanks to all who visited.
Spring Farm Artists are now gearing up for another Bank Holiday opening, from 1st – 3rd May, when we will again be open from 11am to 5pm and hope to welcome you – again, or for the first time!
April 6th 2010
New Group’s Easter Art Success
Extract from a review by Annette Rigler for Polden Post:
‘It seemed just the kind of outing people were waiting for’ said Jenny Graham.’ Hundreds of enthusiasts braved the rather typical Easter weather to come and admire, and in many cases buy, the paintings, pottery and jewellery’ The event worked well with a second venue, an exhibition in the Church Hall staged by Moorlinch Art Group, creating an ‘Arts Trail’ from one end of the village to the other.
Among other works Jenny Graham showed her evocative local landscapes with her trademark flowing lines and convincing portrayal of depth and tone. In quiet moments she picked up her pencil, working on some wonderful sketches, which we look forward to seeing on her wall soon.
Just across the courtyard, Helen Jones showed her exquisite hand made jewellery, which obviously found favour with customers. There was a wide range of necklaces, rings and tiaras to tempt spring brides.
Clio Graham has recently enlarged her selling area and her beautiful pots, which all harmonize with each other, ranged from a magnificent and huge plate decorated with a pomegranate design, to delicate daisy-sprigged dishes.
In her stunning new Cider Barn Gallery, Nancy Farmer showed her range of talent (and wit) from the gorgeously alarming series of paintings emanating from ‘The Department of Unusual and Dangerous Canapés, to striking etchings of other-worldly characters.
At the end of an artistic mystery tour one arrived inside Spring Farmhouse where Anne Farmer showed luminous watercolours revealing the effect of the past winter – ice, snow and floods, along with some more sunny scenes of warmer climes.
April 7th 2010
“Stunning work at the Spring Farm and Moorlinch Easter arts exhibition”
A review by Rory McKeown for the Bridgwater Mercury:
From:www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk
“A VARIETY of stunning art and craftwork has been on display at the Spring Farm and Moorlinch Easter arts exhibition.
Creative Jenny Graham, Nancy Farmer, Anne Farmer, Clio Graham and Helen Jones opened their galleries and studios in the first of a series of monthly openings.
Spring Farm Arts represents the culmination of several years of co-operation between artists based in the village and at Spring Farm, formerly Moorlinch Vineyard.
Painter Jenny Graham said: “It seemed just the kind of outing people were waiting for. Hundreds of enthusiasts braved the rather typical Easter weather to come and admire, and in many cases, buy the paintings, pottery and jewellery.”
Nancy Farmer, whose parents Anne and Peter Farmer used to run the vineyard, said: “We really are successfully making the transition from vine art to fine art, and looking forward to our next event over the Bank Holiday weekend at the beginning of May.”
March 15th 2010
Our postcard – feel free to email it to friends, family and pets:
