David Risk Kennard (Photo by George Wright)
In a unique addition to this year’s Marshwood Arts Awards, Lord Bath, who recently starred in the BBC documentary series, All Change at Longleat, met with organisers of the South West based Arts initiative, to choose his favourite piece of work from the exhibition. The exhibition is comprised of work from artists and makers in six different disciplines.
Lord Bath is one of two collectors who were approached and asked to view the judges’ selections and give an indication of which piece of work they found the most interesting. He chose a painting entitled ‘Jazz Age’ by Seaton based artist Maggie Luff, whilst another collector, Sarah Wild of Puncknowle Manor Estate outside Bridport, chose a wood cut painting by David Risk Kennard from Powerstock.
Lord Bath met with Victoria Byrne to look over the entries. “He was very generous and enthusiastic and definitely knew what he was interested in,” said Victoria. “Agreeing that there was a ‘lot of talent’ amongst the entries, Lord Bath chose what he explained was the work that he ‘would be most likely to buy’ if he saw it in an exhibition.”
Sarah Wild viewed the entries before the exhibition opened and was impressed by the diversity of entries. She chose David Risk Kennard’s ‘Long Landscape’, made using graphite and Ink on engraved sycamore as her Collectors’ Choice.
‘Jazz Age’ by Maggie Luff
Both Lord Bath’s and Sarah Wild’s choices were announced when the exhibition opened at Bridport Arts Centre.
Kate Malone, a previous judge in the Ceramics category and judge in BBC2’s new series The Great British Pottery Throw Down, also visited the exhibition after it opened. She was fascinated by Bettiscombe potter Tim Hurn’s firing techniques and also enthralled by the surface finish of Ceramics judge Christopher Taylor’s pots.
Now in its third year, the biannual Marshwood Arts Awards has always attracted a fascinating final exhibition of work from artists and makers. It has also proven to be a unique and absorbing collection of work from categories as diverse as Photography and Sculpture and has become one of the most anticipated exhibitions in the South West.
This year has been no exception, with entries in some categories of such high quality, especially in Painting & Drawing, that some judges requested to be allowed to include extra works that they felt were worthy of mention.
A short film made by Lawrence Moore of Earthrod Productions is also being shown at the exhibition including interviews with past winners, past judges as well as this year’s judges. It gives some fascinating and thought-provoking insights into the importance of the arts in the South West and beyond. It also shows the value of initiatives such as these awards.
The final exhibition at Bridport Arts Centre will run until November 21. Opening times are Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10am-4pm.
