Review: Lodge Of Women Artists Annual Exhibition 2019

This calendar week has seen the 158th Annual Exhibition of the The Society of Women Artists' at the Mall Galleries. It's

• an international exhibition amongst artwork existence produced past times women artists from the U.K. as well as abroad
• comprises 459 artworks - paintings as well as drawings inward all media, fine fine art prints as well as ceramics, sculpture & other 3D works - as well as continues until 1pm on 29th September 2018.

A thought of the exhibition.

It seems to be a good attended show - it was for certain busy amongst visitors when I was at that topographic point yesterday afternoon. I ever estimate a exhibit past times how hard it is to observe a topographic point to receive got a loving cup of tea - it's an infallible marking of how pop a exhibit is!

First - an apology. This review should receive got been published earlier. However I've been fighting a põrnikas for most of the calendar week (or maybe my reaction to a recent influenza jab). Coupled amongst having to mitt concord my partner through the demise of his phone.  He doesn't do techie stuff thence I am the tech. translator / shopping companion as well as adviser / options appraisal assessor / counsellor / setter upper / trainer etc. piece nosotros got that sorted!  Anyway, like shooting fish in a barrel it most for certain is - but it's forthwith done!

Feel gratis to comment on Facebook nearly whatever typos or omissions every bit I've been real deadening writing this every bit soundless feeling "under par"

View of the Main Gallery yesterday from the steps

Below yous can:

• view photos of the 2019 exhibition
• read nearly what I thought nearly this exhibition
• take a await at the artwork which won prizes - which are non insignificant - as well as observe out who made it.

I also uploaded a folder of my photographs of the exhibition titled Society of Women Artists: 2019 Annual Exhibition of the exhibition to Facebook concluding nighttime - which are accessible to all - every bit I realised the põrnikas was dorsum as well as this transportation was non going to travel published quickly.

On the SWA website yous tin transportation away also find

• the list of the Selected Artists
• the list of Award Winners 

Conclusions nearly the exhibition

This is an exhibition which continues to improve includes examples of types of artwork I've never seen before. Indeed this exhibition has a wider diverseness of media than whatever other exhibition which shows at the Mall Galleries.

I get together this twelvemonth the SWA has gone for a 50:50 ratio for members:non-members artwork - which is brave. However to me it seems to receive got paid off inward spades.

That's because

• I'm seeing a lot of names of artists who are novel to me. (Indeed I'm wondering why they're non applying to other exhibitions at the Mall Galleries!)
• I'm seeing an apparent influx of Scottish artists.
• There's a much higher proportion of artwork which displays to a greater extent than originality, imagination as well as conception than inward most other shows inward the Galleries - including the fine art competition
• there's a lot of novel as well as impressive artwork
• the 3D plant are, every bit ever, for the most role exceptional.

This is emphatically an exhibition which is NOT going for the "same one-time same old".  Even where function is representational and/or figurative it oftentimes has an interesting twist inward damage of either underlying concepts as well as themes or the approach taken inward damage of utilization of media media.

A lot looks real contemporary - much to a greater extent than thence than some of the other annual exhibitions of fine art societies inward the Mall Galleries

It's also an exhibition which is extremely good hung. Again as well as 1 time to a greater extent than I constitute no difficulty inward finding sways of photographing the exhibition where the agency the artwork was hung on the walls complemented each other.

I loved the color palette of this role of the hang - amongst various but complementary works

I loved this display which met your oculus every bit yous looked through to the far North Gallery

At 1 indicate I had a fleeting sense of this was similar NEAC at its best - but better.  However I did nonetheless banker's complaint at that topographic point was a sure grade of uneveness inward the exhibition.

Main Gallery - showing all 3 large 3D works

The strongest function is unsurprisingly inward the Main Gallery - irrespective of whether it was past times members or not. The Threadneedle Space had to a greater extent than artwork which was grouped past times artist

View of plant inward the Threadneedle Space

The North Gallery contained to a greater extent than artwork past times the to a greater extent than traditional amidst the SWA members as well as also some which was weaker than the rest.  It didn;t hang together quite every bit good every bit the residue of the exhibition - giving a chip of a sense of "everything else". However that said at that topographic point were parts which worked extremely well. It also contained to a greater extent than of the portraits as well as figurative works.

View of role of the North Gallery - includes 2 prizewinners

I recollect the message for some members is that EVERYBODY needs to enhance their game because this is becoming a VERY competitive exhibition.

NOTE: Nothing to do amongst SWA but a indicate worth making. 
I am NOT H5N1 FAN of the novel scheme inward the North Gallery where the windows receive got been boarded over to supply to a greater extent than hanging space. This forthwith involves:

• much less natural low-cal as well as natural ventilation 
• what seems much to a greater extent than intense utilization of artificial low-cal to brand upwards the loss of natural light
• much to a greater extent than utilization of the fans to hold the temperature to something similar normal.

Like I said I am non a fan - as well as if this is an experiment it's a FAIL from my perspective.

2019 Award Winners

What follows are the prizes awarded at the exhibition. Across all reviews I forthwith grouping these into categories depending on the sponsors - starting amongst the prizes amongst a cash value - as well as starting amongst the most valuable award.

The SWA are to travel congratulated for generating such a broad arrive at of sponsors as well as some valuable awards.

I've excerpted some descriptions of some of the artists from their ain websites. You tin transportation away find out to a greater extent than nearly each creative someone past times clicking the link inward their name.

Cash Prizes

The SWA Special Fine Art Award (£2,000) - Bridget Dumper - Family Tree

The SWA had a much amend photograph of this artwork than me - which also has the payoff of having the creative someone who made it inward the photograph providing a chip of scale!

I recollect somebody may receive got moved this slice since the preview since it wasn't every bit good lit when I saw it.  Which was a pity.

Family Tree by Bridget Dumper
Galvanised wire

Karen Walker Prize (£1,000) for a Young Artist - Anastasia Shimshilashvili - The Magic light

I hold seeing function past times Anastasia Shimshilashvili inward various locations - including this year;s Sky Portrait Artist of the Year. She's Russian as well as lives inward Russian Federation but exhibits a lot inward the UK.  She produces classically painted portraits which oftentimes receive got a twist

Following graduation, I receive got focused a substantial amount of my fourth dimension on educational activity fine fine art to eager students, running a YouTube Art Channel, as well as lately publishing a 'self-teach' fine art majority based on my educational activity methods inward Russia.

Magic Light past times Anastasia Shimshilashvili
petroleum on canvas

Derwent Special Fine Art Award (£1,000) - Arina Gordienko for her torso of work

Russian-born, forthwith based inward the UK, Arina Gordienko is an internationally acclaimed creative someone oftentimes known every bit ‘ARINA’. She awarded amongst the ‘Associate Living Master’ Status past times prestigious Art Renewal Center (ARC) inward USA as well as is recognized amongst to a greater extent than than forty international awards inward the UK, USA, Europe as well as Australia.

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Sennelier Fine Art Award (£500) - June Carey RSW RGI PAI - The Night Pool

June Carey began her Art Education inward the 1960s at Glasgow School of Art. She has won many awards as well as had 10 solo exhibitions to appointment as well as has been invited to exhibit her function inward to a greater extent than than l prestigious grouping exhibitions at domicile as well as abroad. She has been elected to serve on the councils for most of the major Scottish Societies since 1989.

The Night Pool past times June Carey RSW RGI PAI
acrylic on panel

SWA Fine Art Award (£500) - Sally Friend ASWA - Sugar Rush One 

Sally Friend was elected to Associate Membership of the SWA inward 2016. She ia a graphic Design graduate from Brighton College of Art, who plant full-time every bit a painter as well as printmaker working from her Thames-side studio inward West London.

Sugar Rush One past times Sally Friend
Etching (Edition of 20)

The Great Art Award (£500) - Wendy Elia - Made inward Britain

This is a large epitome which dominates the terminate wall of the Main Gallery. I loved the job of smaller portraits along the top of the mirror - presumably of relatives of the girls inward the portrait.

Wendy Elia plant inward serial which explore the social as well as broader contexts of our times. In her portrait function she confronts our voyeurism as well as asks questions nearly the woman someone gaze as well as painting’s human relationship to authenticity as well as illusion. Elia moves from the personal to the political non solely inward the arrive at of content as well as shape inward the various series, but also inside private paintings: using a arrive at of pictorial symbols as well as signifiers to extend the meaning/narrative of the works.

Wendy is also a newly appointed academician of the Royal West of England Academy.

Made inward Britain past times Wendy Elia

The Premium Art Brand Award (£500) to a Young Artist - Katharine Le Hardy - Green Doors

Avoiding moving-picture exhibit postcard moments where possible, Katharine is drawn to structures, oftentimes abandoned as well as decaying, depicting how they inhabit the landscape to a greater extent than or less them. Working from retentiveness as well as photographic references, the procedure of applying layers of paint, scraping back, obliteration, allows the epitome to receive got its ain fluid class giving it a life of its own.

Green doors past times Katharine Le Hardy
petroleum on panel

The Cavendish Venue Sculpture Award (£300) - Liz Watts - for her collection of Ceramic pots

An instance of an creative someone who starts every bit 1 thing as well as and then becomes another. She trained every bit a Veterinary surgeon at The RDVS, Edinburgh as well as worked inward large as well as small-scale brute practise for 10 years. Then she became a sculptor as well as ceramicist producing function inward ceramic, primarily porcelain, along amongst bronze as well as papier-mâchè.

Ceramic pot past times Liz Watts

Product Prizes

St Cuthbert’s Paper Mill Award - Karen Stamper for her torso of work

Love her website. I wishing to a greater extent than artists took this unproblematic as well as accessible approach

I draw, collage as well as paint. My function celebrates the worn surfaces as well as structures of the urban shoreline: boats, harbours, decorative motifs as well as lettering. I desire to capture the retentiveness of a house as well as the sense of human presence, echoing the passing of time, increasingly at that topographic point is a potent abstract chemical factor but soundless amongst recognisable elements.

work past times Karen Stamper

The Rosemary as well as Co Award (£100 Brushes) for plant on canvass or newspaper - Bernadette Doolan - When everything was simple

Do receive got a await at her website - it's real moving. Particularly the page nearly her 196 installation

This is her Facebook Page

I am thrilled to non solely receive got function selected for the @swainfo Society Women Artists, annual exhibition. I but got discussion to tell I receive got been awarded the Rosemary & Co Award.Yippee, I'm thence raging I can't travel at that topographic point tomorrow for the opening. Anyone gotta jet plane?

When everything was simple past times Bernadette Doolan
Acrylic

Publication Awards

The Artist Editor’s Choice Award - Kate Newington - Two Brothers

I thought this was an fantabulous portrait from a distance as well as was amazed to encounter it was collage when I got closer.

The materials I utilization are real much “found” or “lighted upon” inward the spirit of Kurt Schwitters as well as the Surrealists. If at that topographic point is whatever sort of philosophy behind what I do, it is the appeal of the thought that a soundless life or a landscape or something every bit formal as well as prescribed every bit a portrait, tin transportation away travel rendered amongst random pieces of printed newspaper – that a chaos of re-cycled scraps tin transportation away travel ordered to either correspond something specific, or used to a greater extent than metaphorically, to evoke scenes, moods or ideas.

Recognition (Non-Cash) Prizes

President And Vice Presidents Award - Sheila Goodman for her torso of work

I'm a large fan of Sheila Goodman's pastel works

My dependent area thing is nearby - the landscape of the New Forest, the coast as well as inland waterways. Trees as well as H2O are a constant inspiration.

HRH Princess Michael Of Kent Watercolour Award - Sue Jelley - Ex Prisoner 337_88

Sue is a fellow member of the Societee de Pastelistes de French Republic as well as a past times President of the Society of Women Artists.

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The Barbara Tate Memorial Award (Silver Ingot) - Helen Sinclair - for her torso of work

Helen Sinclair's bronze sculptures dominated the Main Gallery

I receive got been making sculpture for over 20 years as well as the procedure is soundless a please to me. With every slice I make, I observe the working procedure both comfortingly familiar as well as refreshingly surprising......
Her customers include Lord Melvyn Bragg, Sir Robert Clark, chef Gary Rhodes, vocalist Bonnie Tyler, actress Sheila Hancock, thespian Arnold Schwarzenegger, poet Roger McGough as well as Keith Chapman (creator of Bob the Builder!).

On Tears as well as Pain
Helen Sinclair

The winner of The People's choice honor is going to travel announced on Lord's Day 29 September at the closed of this year's SWA exhibition at The Mall Galleries.

More nearly SWA Annual Exhibitions

See my weblog posts below for to a greater extent than nearly past times exhibitions

• Review: Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition 2018
• VIDEO Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition 2017 - which highlights pieces which caught my attending
• Review: Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition 2017 - which highlights changes made to the exhibition
• Review: Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition 2016
• Review - Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition 2015

About the Society of Women Artists

The Society of Women Artists was founded inward 1855 (as the Society of Female Artists). It held its outset exhibition inward 1857 at The Gallery, 315 Oxford Street, where 358 plant were displayed past times 149 woman someone artists (Archives Hub). In 1873 the grouping adopted every bit its elevate the Society of Lady Artists, this was later changed to the Society of Women Artists inward 1899. It has had a issue of famous women artists every bit members over the years, notably Dame Laura Knight 1877-1970 (the outset adult woman elected to total membership of the RA) - who was President from 1932-1968 when she became its Patron, the French creative someone Rosa Bonheur 1822-1890 - whose function was to a greater extent than pop inward England than France, Lady Elizabeth Butler 1846-1933 - who specialized inward epitome scenes from British armed forces campaigns as well as battles, including the Crimean War as well as the Battle of Waterloo as well as whose function was admired past times Ruskin as well as the illustrator Mabel Lucy Atwell 1879-1964.

Princess Michael of Kent became its Patron inward 1980 - but the Society has enjoyed majestic patronage inward previous years eg In 1865 the Society was reorganised nether the patronage of the Duchess of Cambridge.

After the Second World War exhibitions were held at the Guildhall (1947), the Royal Institute Galleries (1948 - 1969), the Chenil Galleries (1970) as well as the Mall Galleries (1971 - 1986). From 1987 exhibitions were held at the Westminster Gallery, Westminster Central Hall, an exhibition infinite founded past times the Society of Women Artists - until it returned to the Mall Galleries.

The Victoria as well as Albert Museum's Archive of Art as well as Design has custody of the archives, which give nifty insight into the fortunes as well as struggles of the Society as well as volition travel preserved for time to come generations. The Society of Women Artists Exhibitors 1855 to 1996, is a four-volume lexicon of all the exhibitors collated from one-time catalogues. Only the Royal Academy as well as the Scottish Royal Academy create such records.

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