Tuesday 8 August 2023

Internationally acclaimed artist, Ian Davenport, comes to the Burton.

The Burton at Bideford will welcome acclaimed British artist, Ian Davenport, to the gallery on Saturday 16 September to celebrate the opening of a new exhibition of the artist’s work. It marks another significant coup for the gallery, which continues to bring high profile exhibitions to North Devon.

Ian Davenport studied at Goldsmiths College, where he graduated in 1988 as one of the generation of Young British Artists who participated in the seminal exhibition, Freeze, organized by Damien Hirst.

In bringing together works from throughout Davenport’s career, the exhibition will provide a rare opportunity to clearly see the evolution the artist’s work from his early days as a student at Goldsmiths to the present day. Many of the works have never been displayed together before, making this exhibition a must-see for all art enthusiasts.

Ian Davenport is well known for his abstract paintings, which explore the materiality and process of applying paint. In recent years, his work has consisted of carefully poured lines of acrylic paint down a surface, which puddle and pool at the bottom. This technique allows him to explore complex arrangements of line and colour. Over the past ten years, he has also turned his attention to screen-printing and etching, building an impressive body of graphic work.

In 1991, he was nominated for the Turner Prize and remains the youngest ever nominee for the prestigious art prize. He has exhibited extensively all over the world and his work is held in important museum collections including: Arts Council of Great Britain; Tate in London; Centre Pompidou in Paris; and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

A new fully illustrated catalogue will accompany the exhibition. Designed by Herman Lelie and Stefania Bonelli, it is the first of Davenport’s exhibition catalogues to be narrated by the artist himself.

The exhibition has been produced in collaboration with the Cristea Roberts Gallery in London, the exclusive worldwide representative for Ian Davenport’s original prints.

Olivia Desborough from the Burton says,

Ian Davenport’s work has a significant place in the history of contemporary art in Britain and we are honoured to be exhibiting it here at the Burton.

The exhibition will allow visitors a rare insight into the evolution of an artistic practice and into the workings of a creative mind. Furthermore, the exhibition catalogue will bring a fresh new perspective with words from the artist himself.

With an immediate appeal to visitors of all ages, we hope everyone will come along and enjoy what promises to be a remarkable exhibition.

As ever, we remain grateful to Torridge District Council and the Arts Council of England whose generous funding makes what we do possible.

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Exhibition launch and opportunity to meet the artist:
Saturday 16th September, 6-8p
m
All welcome | FREE entry

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Ian Davenport: 'Works on Paper' opens Saturday 16 September 
and runs until Friday 3rd November.
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The gallery, museum and shop are open daily. Admission is free.

Kamuro © Ian Davenport, 2019. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates (All Rights Reserved)

 Kamuro Copyright Ian Davenport, 2019. (All Rights Reserved). 
Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates 

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 TAP HERE visit their website to keep up to date with the latest special events and workshop activities  

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The Burton at Bideford, Kingsley Road, Bideford, Devon EX39 2QQ


The Burton at Bideford has been a registered charity since 2016

Wednesday 19 July 2023

The art of bringing stories to life with the Burton at Bideford

We enjoyed two of the recent exhibitions at the Burton at Bideford, 'Celebrating 40 Years of Michael Morpurgo's War Horse' was an emotive journey through time illustrating his iconic novel written in 1982, its stage adaption in 2007 culminating in the award winning film, directed by Stephen Spielberg, in 2011. This ran alongside 'The Permanent Collection Curated by Community Groups' bringing together contemporary work created by local people in response to the Burton at Bideford's Permanent Collection of art, an interesting concept, which included work by the Burton Young Photographers, Women's First and Devon Recovery Learning Community.

Celebrating the history of the area with local art & ceramic exhibitions and a host of art and craft workshops for all ages, we are so lucky to have such a bright spot in Bideford. The graphic designs on the exterior walls were created back in June 2021 by exhibiting artist Lucy McLauchlan, a nod to her amazing exhibition: Woodlands, Wastelands & Waterways.

The Burton Art Gallery and Museum is situated on the Pill beside Victoria Park so you can check out the exhibitions and collections, take a coffee break at the Cafe du Parc and finish with a stroll around the park.
 
Bideford bright spot - Photo credit Pat Adams
The Art Box Burton at Bideford - Photo copyright Pat Adams North Devon Focus (All Rights Reserved) 
The Art Box & Kiln, Burton at Bideford - Photo credit Pat Adams
Artist, Lucy McLauchlan, a nod to her amazing exhibition: Woodlands, Wastelands at Burton at Bideford 2021.Photo copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved) 
Artist, Lucy McLauchlan, a nod to her amazing exhibition: Woodlands, Wastelands at Burton at Bideford 2021. Photo credit Pat Adams
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Current Exhibitions

'Revealing the Human Form' is a new exhibition showcasing the work of renowned British sculptors including Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Jacob Epstein and Antony Gormley. 15th July-5th September

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Jam Westwood: Don’t Look At My Jugs… And Other Stories - A collection of reimagined historical artefacts made by Jam Westwood
17th June-19th September

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The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery and Museum are open daily. Admission is free.

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 TAP HERE to visit their website to keep up to date with the latest special events and workshop activities  

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The Burton at Bideford, Kingsley Road, Bideford, Devon EX39 2QQ

The Burton at Bideford has been a registered charity since 2016

Saturday 15 July 2023

Volunteers celebrate four decades of devotion to Devon nature reserve

A dedicated group of volunteers has celebrated 40 years of work conserving one of the North Devon’s best-loved nature havens.

Halsdon and Dolton Local Group was formed in 1983 to help promote local the preservation of wildlife and specifically to look after a local nature reserve. Ever since its volunteers have worked in tandem with the Devon Wildlife Trust to conserve the charity’s Halsdon nature reserve, a 57 hectare site near Great Torrington. Its combination of beautiful woodland and a stunning section of the River Torridge, makes it popular with visitors and a home to huge numbers of wildflowers, butterflies, moths, birds and much more besides.

The Group recently celebrated its significant birthday staging a public open day at the nature reserve. The event included walking tours, moth identification, badge making, a cake stall and river dipping in search of aquatic insects. Joining the Group’s volunteers and local families were Devon Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive Harry Barton and Mike Moser, Chair of North Devon’s UNESCO Biosphere Partnership.

Local Group member Marion Philips said:

“The idea behind today’s event is trying to get local families involved. I have lived in Dolton for 40 years and been involved with Devon Wildlife Trust much of this time. Back then, local young mums and I used to get involved doing facepainting and pond dipping. We also organised work parties to help look after the nature reserve. The focus then was clearing the invasive rhododendron. We once had 90 people come to a work party. It was exciting and we got a lot of work done.”

Dawn Lenn, Devon Wildlife Trust’s Volunteer Coordinator said:

“We are so pleased to be able to celebrate 40 years of wonderful service by Halsdon and Dolton Local Group. Over the decades they have contributed countless hours of hard work, helping to maintain Halsdon nature reserve as a haven for people and wildlife.

But that is not all the Group has achieved. Each year they have also staged a programme of regular nature-based walks and talks, bringing the wonders of wildlife to hundreds of local people.”

The event also gave Halsdon and Dolton Local Group an opportunity to celebrate a special award for one of their founder members. Local-resident and former schoolteacher, Diana Goodacre was presented with a Devon Wildlife Fellowship – the charity’s top accolade for its volunteers and supporters. The award was in recognition of her four decades of volunteering in the cause of local wildlife and its conservation.

Diana Goodacre said:

“I volunteer because it’s part of who I am. You feel you’ve done something worthwhile, and my upbringing showed that the natural world is so important.

The bluebell woods in spring here at Halsdon make me think this is what heaven must be like. But I love all of the nature reserve.”

For the latest volunteer opportunities and public events organised by Dolton Local Group go to the Devon Wildlife Trust website at www.devonwildlifetrust.org

Halsdon and Dolton Local Group’s Diana Goodacre receives her Devon Wildlife Trust fellowship award
Halsdon and Dolton Local Group’s Diana Goodacre receives her Devon Wildlife Trust fellowship award from Mike Moser while Harry Barton applauds