Another successful Summer Showcase is, sadly, finished for this year, but we're already planning for next year's!
Highlights of 2014's Showcase were the Literature theme that acted as a thread to pull the show together with a number of members responding well to it with jars of 'preserved' books by mixed media artist Elizabeth Shorrock, jewellery by both Susan Brophy and Amanda Hunter, sculptures by Gordon Badderley, and paintings and mixed media work by Tania - all based on poetry. An eye-catching frieze of paintings interpreting stories by Edgar Allen Poe, by artist Suki Kyme, were the talk of the exhibition! There were also two participatory projects for visitors to try out and respond to. Adding a theme was popular with browsers and buyers as it created an extra element to explore among the excellent art and craft on display.
Visitor numbers varied with the weather, but overall there was a steady flow with decent sales. Whether people just stepped in out of the rain or to seriously browse and buy from specific artists and designer makers, positive comments about the exhibition were continuous, with most visitors saying that it was the most interesting and well laid out exhibition they had been to with plenty of surprises.
The location in the Bishop Bulley Barn at Rydal Hall is the perfect setting to showcase Lakes Collective members' work, as the room is lovely, the grounds beautiful, Rydal staff very helpful, and the cafe superb.
We're already looking forward to Lakes Collective Summer Showcase 2015.
