WHAT’S ON

14 July – 26 July

The Oxmarket Gallery will re-open with an exhibition of mixed media work in the John Rank Gallery.  Nine artists will occupy the large, attractive gallery space with a variety of artworks in different media. They have named their show ‘Fresh Start’ to celebrate the relaxation of lockdown.

Returning to the Gallery are three local ceramicists and relief printmaker Caroline Shields. Caroline’s vivid stylised images celebrate the countryside. The potters, Rose Bates, Ollie Chappell and Diana Wren all enjoy making works in raku. Ollie also experiments with smoke firing. She says, “All my work in some way gets the smoke treatment.” Rose specialises in figurative work and pieces inspired by the garden. Diana by contrast has a taste for the gothic and surreal.

These artists will be joined by Sara Pitkeathly, a local painter whose inspiration is the sea and natural objects. Sue Hurhangee has wide interests and makes decorative pieces from fused glass, ceramics, and framed natural objects.

Vicky Swift makes beautiful sculptures of birds and natural objects from re-cycled cutlery, driftwood and found objects. Lorna Wright’s lovely jewellery is inspired by Ancient Egyptian designs which were popular with the Pharaohs. Lorna has adapted these to incorporate modern colours and beads.

Sue Meredith likes to focus on the often-unnoticed architecture of local streets, and assembles her hand drawn images into collages, making use of textured media, watercolour, pen and ink, and the occasional photograph, to achieve her final pieces.

This eclectic group of makers will be working together to give the public their first sight for many weeks of local artistic talent.

14 July – 23 August

John Gillespie is a marine welder and fabricator and being unable to work because of Lockdown has found time to try some metal sculpting. The result is ‘Unity’.  A sculpture dedicated to all keyworkers during Covid-19.

John says “It represents the coming together of so many people for one cause creating a web to defend as strong as steel. I started with the head and shoulders and the idea of the keys came from some metal art I saw many years ago and as you can’t buy stainless keys I had to manufacture them.

I started to stamp keyworker roles onto them and through Facebook, requests were received from workers far and wide requesting key roles to be added.

I have always intended to donate ‘Unity’ and the decision was made to try to place her where she can benefit all local people within Chichester. This process is well underway but is still on-going.

‘Unity’ has been a rollercoaster of emotions for me and I find thank you to be inadequate to describe the help I have received from MMP Polishers, Oxmarket Gallery, those involved in sorting her final location and the donations received in metal and plaques, etc.  It’s the unity of all involved that has made this happen, all I did was to shape some steel. Thank you to everyone for your help and support through these times.”

14 July – 26 July

A love of reflected light and landscapes features prominently in his work but living in Emsworth on the south coast of England, inevitably, seascapes are never far away.

Vince is currently experimenting with the presentation of his work in various mediums, as well as the traditional framed photograph.

On exhibition will be pictures printed on canvas, but more unusually images bonded under glass, and directly printed onto aluminium.

Vince is also exhibiting a direct print on wood, a process which deliberately allows for the grain and texture of the wood to be part of the final image.

14 July – 26 July 2020

An exhibition of ring-linking (chain mail) jewellery fashioned from natural and anodised aluminium, silver, titanium and niobium and brass.

Moira started making jewellery 10 years ago after finding herself at home for several months due to illness.  In 2012 she discovered ring-linking, learning the various techniques used in chain mail and has continued to enjoy exploring how these could be used for designing and making jewellery.

February – December 2020

Gael Emmett will be the Gallery’s resident jeweller for 2020.

Gael’s jewellery is carefully designed and handmade in her studio in Chichester and uses sterling silver, with copper and 18k gold inclusions and enamel in her designs. Gael also works with semi-precious beads and gemstones.

Gael’s work is inspired by the simple rhythms and shapes found in nature and the concept that jewellery can be ‘playful’ with elements that can twist or turn and be stacked in different arrangements.

Until 16 August 2020

Katherine Lawrie will be exhibiting her jewellery at the Oxmarket Gallery.

Katherine has been making jewellery professionally for around twenty years and studied at Northbrook College in West Sussex, the Surrey Institute of Art and Design and Edinburgh College of Art.

Working mainly in Sterling Silver, Gold and Silver Gilt the jewellery predominantly use textures and forms found in the natural surroundings of the South Downs. Colour is incorporated into the jewellery using precious and semi-precious gems, and beads.

Katherine offers jewellery making workshops at her Studio just outside Walberton, nr Arundel, West Sussex. Katherine believes that “it’s important for crafts people to pass on their skills. Creative thinking is a vital tool in today’s world.”

14 July – 13 September 2020

Katrin Eagle is an artist and designer based in Petersfield. She explores the world of wool by hand spinning, weaving and needle felting and developing ideas and themes through painting and drawing.

Inspiration for her wool art pictures comes from drawings, paintings and photographs. Some of these images are available as printed coasters, cards and placemats. A series of illustrations featuring cats and sheep are also available.

14 July – 13 September 2020

Kim Tattersall comes from a textile background, specialising in print, and is very much driven by process and materials. Her continued fascination with surface, texture, light and shadow is now evolving into unique, tactile glass pieces, inspired by nature.  Thoughts, memories, words – captured within glass, set free by transient light.

A collection of multi-coloured glass is on display at the Gallery.

14 July – 13 September 2020

Louise Marie Jones, founder of BezaLou will be exhibiting her jewellery at the Oxmarket Gallery.

Louise’s jewellery is a creation of vibrant resin pieces of art that can be worn. Jewellery is hand stamped with angel wings and vintage keys, with messages which are uplifting, edifying, and encouraging.

Louise has a background in contemporary dance and performing arts and leads dance, creative movement and art workshops. Look out for other work of Louise’s throughout the year at the Gallery.