Two exhibitions in a week - something of a record in recent times. The annual Bath Society of Artists open exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery was a must, what with having a piece in the show (tucked very cosily in the furthest corner, but hey, not everyone can be centre stage), and was as enjoyable as ever. I need another visit with more time on my hands, but I thought I'd better make sure I went when I could in case, oh I don't know, cars or something. A favourite piece has to be Patrick McGrath's Hare on a Chair - an absolute delight, and 3D - but there are plenty more up there with it. Many favourite artists are in the exhibition year after year and begin to feel like (unknown) old friends. Anyway, here's a selection, with the artists named in the captions.
The second but last picture there is by Katherine Jones, who has had a year-long residency at Rabley Drawing Centre - not that far from Marlborough but nevertheless out in the wilds of Wiltshire, where the modern group of buildings snuggles down among the fields and is just about as peaceful a spot as you could ask for. I knew an exhibition of her work was due to finish before I could visit again, so I hared (and crawled) out there giving myself a whole 10 minutes before closing time (I managed to put myself behind some of the slowest people on the roads that day, I swear!). Um. Except that I hadn't checked whether the centre was open. And it wasn't. Not that I knew - in I waltzed and started looking round before I was alerted to the fact by a very generous lady who nevertheless gave me ample time to immerse myself in the work. At first I thought the work felt new and different, something of a dislocation from previous prints (of course I concentrated on the prints) but after a while I couldn't quite work out why I'd ever thought that, and the longer I was there the more it got under my skin. I wish I could go again, but don't I always? I'm just glad that I went and that I wasn't turned away.
A selection of not particularly illuminating photos - I was trying to avoid reflections as much as possible.
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