Art
Small art makes big visual splash at Wortley Village gallery
Hundreds of works from 250 aspiring and professional local artists are now on display at a gallery in London’s Wortley Village, all with two things in common.
They’re all one-square-foot in size, and they’re all for sale.
The 11th annual Square Foot Show kicked off Wednesday afternoon at the Westland Gallery with a grand opening event. The exhibit runs until the end of December and features more than 450 works of art that cover the gallery’s walls from floor to ceiling.
“There’s a huge range of mediums on display. Painting and drawing, of course, but also photography, collage, mixed media, and encaustic,” said Danielle Hoevenaars, Westland Gallery’s director.
“All the artwork will be staying on display for the first week of the exhibition, so if you want to get that full Square Foot Show experience, come on in the next few days.”
The show predominantly includes work from local artists, but Hoevenaars says people from other provinces and countries are also participating. They include everything from emerging artists who’ve never had their work displayed, to seasoned artists who have practised professionally for years.
“It’s a great opportunity for all these artists to come together for one community exhibition… There’s been a number of artists that we’ve been introduced to their work through the exhibition, and we’ve gone on to have great relationships with them over time.”
Among the emerging artists is Dan Rock, who has two paintings in the show, both made with acrylic on canvas.
One is of a toucan on a tree branch in the tropics, while the other is a landscape of Collingwood in the summer, featuring a lush forest and a pond, based off a photograph he had taken.
“I’m working on a triptych, which is like three canvases beside each other, and it’s of the same pond,” Rock said. “The other one, my daughter likes toucans, so I painted a toucan.”
Rock, a musician and Beer Store staffer, says he painted in his teens but took a lengthy 20-year hiatus from it.
He says he started picking up the brush again thanks to his 14-year-old daughter.
“My daughter likes to paint, so she kind of forced my hand… I showed her some of my old stuff, and she encouraged me to pursue that. If you’re good at it, you might as well try doing that,” he said.
“I find it calming… I think I got about five hours of painting into [the two paintings]. It flew by really quick. I hadn’t done it for a long time. I’d actually never painted a landscape before.”
Londoner Gail Gifford also has two pieces in the show, both of tulips made with oil on canvas.
“I’ve been in a flower thing lately… I love tulips,” she said.
“These ones here are orangey and yellow. I did another series that are all bright yellow, and I’ve done another series, and they’re all white… I’m probably gonna go on to landscapes next.”
Gifford attended Fanshawe College for advertising art, and worked at a sign company doing illustrations and construction drawings. Later, she says she used her artistic eye in the floral department of a local grocery store.
Like Rock, Gifford saw painting pushed off the priorities list by the demands of life.
Now retired, she says she got back into painting about a decade ago, has submitted art to the Square Foot Show every year, and has sold several works.
“It showcases a lot of talent in London,” she said of the show. “It’s interesting, it’s diverse.”
All artwork at the show is viewable online and for sale. Prices start at $150, with each artist pricing their own work based on time and materials used.
In the gallery, sold pieces are designated with a coloured sticker on the artwork label. Within an hour of the show opening, numerous pieces had coloured stickers.
“One so far. I’m probably going to stay, and my wife will probably come back to look,” said Wortley Village resident Dave Turnbull when asked how many pieces he had purchased.
“I’m sort of at the end of the road for this kind of show because I hardly have any room for small paintings. I’ve already got unhung ones at home.”
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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