Tuesday 8 June 2010

Gardens and the outdoors

As the middle of June approaches it's hardly surprising that much of what's on is happening outdoors this week - open gardens, open air theatre and festivals. However, in true British summer-style, I am typing away to the sound of constant rain and not much in the way of sunshine. But looking on the bright side - the rain can change to sun as quickly as it changed from the glorious weather we had over half term to today's drizzle.

So, here are a few ideas for this week:

Saturday, June 12th from 12noon - 4pm - Ampleforth Summer Gala - Barbecue and beer tent, bouncy fun, falconry, face painting, pony rides. The gala is followed in the evening by Amp'Fest where six of the hottest local bands play the best of Rock and Pop. For more info call 01439 788648 or 07967 961553.

Saturday, June 13th from 1-5pm - 18 Hidden Gardens of Coxwold. £3 admission, children free. Tel Jean on 01347 868356. Lovely village to look round including Shandy Hall, home of 18th century author Laurence Sterne.

Saturday, June 12th from 10.30am-3pm - Hovingham Market - A very popular market where you'll find local produce, crafts and gifts. Refreshments in the village hall.

Sunday, June 13th from 2pm-5pm - In the Garden at Helmsley Arts Centre. A kind of gardeners' question time with Paul Radcliffe, former head gardener at Helmsley Walled Garden and Rosanna James, Hands-on-gardener at Sleighholme Dale Lodge. To be held in the garden, weather permitting. Bring your questions, photos to discuss design and layout. Free Entry.

Sunday, June 13th from 10am to 12.30pm at Pickering Library - Drawing is Fun! A family workshop with children's author and cartoonist Steve Weatherill. This is part of the North Yorks Open Studios. £5 -booking is essential. Tel 07731 019566 or email steve@babygoz.co.uk. See below.
Saturday, June 12th from 10am-3.30pm - Mini Paper Shoes with Serena Partridge at Helmsley Arts Centre. During this workshop which is also part of the open studios event, textile artist Serena will help you create a miniature pair of shoes using a variety of papers and trims. £5 booking essential. Contact Jean Kershaw on 01439 771109 or email jeanhelmsleyarts@yahoo.co.uk

And if the rain is here to stay, Malton Cinema has Robin Hood, Sex and the City 2 and Creation showing this week.
Helmsley Arts Centre is showing I am Love on Wednesday, June 9th at 7.30pm. A film, starring Tilda Swinton as a wealthy Milanesewife of a Russian businessman who embarks on an ill-advised affair.

REVIEW
Lee Miller's War - May 1st - June 20th 2010
We took the kids for an afternoon out to Nunnington Hall over half term. Although there isn't a play area as such here, the garden is just a lovely place for them to run around, play hide and seek and of course, make a wish at the wishing tree. But what has always impressed me about Nunnington is the top quality exhibitions it puts on here. We saw a great photographic exhibition by the rock star Bryan Adams a couple of years ago which really showed another side to his talent.

Their recent exhibition is a series of photographs by the photographer Lee Miller. Miller was a a top fashion model in New York in the 1920s before she moved to Paris to work as a fashion photographer mixing with among others the groundbreaking artist, Man Ray. Her photos currently on display at Nunnington are a world apart from the Parisian catwalk. During World War Two she became a war correspondent for Vogue magazine, an assignment that saw her covering the Blitz in London but also events at the Nazi concentration camps at Buchenwald and Dachau. There are some thought provoking photographs here, frozen images of the dying days of the Nazis. They are not always easy to look at but they are moments that actually happened  - and not so long ago.


PREVIEW
North Yorkshire Open Studios - June 11th/12th/13th and June 19th & 20th
Over this weekend and next, hundreds of artists will throw open their doors as part of the North Yorkshire Open Studios, giving us the chance to meet the artists and see their work in the place they are creating it. From harbourside huts in Scarborough and remote locations on the North York Moors it's a chance to experience some excellent local talent.

I like the work of Ian Mitchell. His linescapes are slightly Hockneyesque in their minimalism but I always find that despite his stripped down detail each of the places is still recognisible. His studio is at 1 Sliptop Cottage in Staithes, which is always worth a visit at any time.

Sue Slack's colourful representations of the local landscape are also easily recognisible. Her studio is at Barn Studio, Sunny View, Lockton on the North York Moors.

Jennifer Tetlow is a sculptor in stone who creates very tactile works of animals and birds. She is also based in the NY Moors at Lastingham Lodge, Low Street, Lastingham.

At Rosedale Abbey Gillies Jones crafts art in glass. The studio is behind the village churchyard at Rosedale Abbey.

Clare Belbin runs the Camphill Trust in Malton and works around the theme of nature. Her work is on display at Greengate House, Greengate, Malton.

Sculptor Peter Coates, who has a studio in Brawby, makes work in stone, wood and metal in relation to the surrounding landscape and architecture. His work can also be seen at the garden at Scampstson Walled Garden.

There are also a number of other artists whose work is on display under one roof at the South Street Gallery in Scarborough and also at the Woodend Creative Workspace at the Crescent in Scarborough. Woodend is an interesting place to visit in its own right - it is here that the famous Sitwell family once lived, including Edith, Sacheverill and Osbert.

There are also some events and workshops that link up to the event. I've listed these under the what's on section above.
Coming up......Just a few things happening in the next week or two:

North Yorkshire Open Studios continues over the weekend of the 19th/20th June. Much ado about Nothing on June 19th at 7pm - an open air production at Nunnington Hall.

Midsummer Tea Party and Mouse Hunt - June 19th/20th from 10.30qam-4pm - Enjoy tea and cakes, a mouse hunt for the kids and the chance to explore the creative architecture of five churches in the area.

Scarborough Fossil Festival from June 17th - 20th. Events and activities for all including experts from the Natural History Museum who will descend on Scarborough to share their knowledge on all things palaeontological.

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