sculpture Archives - Salcombe Art

23 September 2019 In Art

Chris Pring at Beacon House Gallery

Chris Pring is a potter who makes functional domestic stoneware and delicate porcelain pieces for the home as well as garden sculptures in stoneware and terracotta.

I bought one of Chris’s pieces – a gift for Anne, who was struck by the beauty of his work – so, it’s a great joy to have Chris exhibiting at Beacon House for the SHAF (South Hams Arts Forum) Arts Trail in October this year.

Chris Pring: Garden sculpture

Chris’ work is strongly influenced by the creations of Andy Goldsworthy and the simple forms of Barbara Hepworth and his thrown vessels show his appreciation of works by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada.

Chris Pring: Garden sculpture – Hepworth inspired

I’m sure you will love his work as much as we do!

Chris Pring: The Wheel

WHAT IS THE SHAF ARTS TRAIL?

This year, the SHAF Arts Trail runs from October 12th to October 27th. Two whole weeks, including half-term week, in which you can enjoy art in the South Hams!

SHAF membership is extremely diverse so, while some artists create in purpose-built studios, others produce their work at the kitchen table.

Consequently, the Arts Trail will lead visitors to some artists working in their home studios and to others exhibiting in galleries and exhibition halls.

At each venue, visitors will find artists happy to discuss their art-form, explain the processes involved and provide the opportunity to view, appreciate and buy unique pieces of work.

SHAF programme

Following the Arts Trail also gives visitors an unusual opportunity to explore the glorious South Hams as they map their route and discover more and more artists’ venues (as well as cream tea venues).

Beacon House is one of 27 venues at which, in total, 67 artists are showing their work.

BEACON HOUSE GALLERY ON THE SHAF ARTS TRAIL

I’ve lost count of the number of years we’ve been involved in the SHAF Arts Trail. As ever, we are open every day from 10am until 5pm, apart from the two Tuesdays.

This year, we are the only venue in Salcombe and you will find a warm welcome awaits you. Tea/coffee and cake is available throughout the day.

There is also preview evening on Friday 11 September. Invitations will be sent out by email to all those who have previously purchased my art, plus the gallery owners and shops who exhibit my work – and friends who enjoy seeing my art.

Invitations will also go out via Michael Hill who is exhibiting at Beacon House again this year, and via Chris Pring for whom this is a first visit to Beacon House.

If you don’t receive an invitation, and would like to enjoy an evening with wine and nibbles and good company, surrounded by wonderful art, contact me!

More about Chris Pring

Chris trained in ceramic design with Ian Wallace in Derbyshire and has been teaching pottery to children and adults for many years. He is a strong believer in working with clay as therapy and put this to good use helping vulnerable children in the Yeovil area.

Chris Pring: Porcelain plates

In 2012, he moved his pottery business from Dorset to Devon.

His work has been exhibited in galleries in Dorset and South Devon and he is a member of the West Country Potters Association and the South Hams Arts Forum ‘SHAF’.

Chris Pring: Blue vase

Chris offers pottery lessons for both beginners and the more experienced and is always happy to take commissions. His studio, in Kellaton, a rural hamlet in deepest South Devon, is open to visitors by appointment.

Further examples of Chris’ work can be seen on his website: www.kellatonpottery.co.uk and www.craftcourses.com.

Chris Pring: Trees

4 February 2019 In Art

Postcard from Lanzarote: The Magic of Manrique

Imagine: a fourteen-day cruise with stops at Lisbon, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, La Palma, Tenerife, and Madeira … each one with tours to take you ashore and show you the local sights and delights.

When the MV Ventura stopped for one day in Lanzarote, Anne and I took advantage of an excursion to discover the Magic of César Manrique, the Spanish artist, sculptor, architect and activist.

The visit included entrance to the César Manrique Foundation, situated in Manrique’s former home, Taro de Tahíche.

Outside the house, visible from far away, is this statue: Monumento al Campesino (a monument to the peasant). It’s constructed from scrap parts and stands tall above the coach park.

Monumento al Campesino

César Manrique was passionate about the landscape, keen to make use of it, to blend buildings in with it. He chose to site his house on the solidified lava rock created by an 18th-century volcanic eruption that transformed the Lanzarote terrain; he made use of the bubbles which naturally form when the volcano erupts.

The top of the first bubble is visible as you walk through the gates and into what we might call the front garden.

Garden | Postcard from Lanzarotte: The Magic of Manrique

Looking down into it, you see the room below.

Top of bubble | Postcard from Lanzarotte: The Magic of Manrique

The sculpture you can glimpse from up here … is within a room below and is indicative of his style. His sculptures appear all over Lanzarote, especially on the islands in the middle of the many roundabouts.

Red sculpture | Postcard from Lanzarotte: The Magic of Manrique

The decor of the rooms, cut into the volcanic earth, is simple, with single colour schemes. White …

White room | Postcard from Lanzarotte: The Magic of Manrique

And yellow …

Yellow room | Postcard from Lanzarotte: The Magic of Manrique

The emphasis is on clear cut lines. No fuss.

The paintings of César Manrique

There’s not enough space here to share all the paintings on show. His, and those of many famous artists of his generation, like Picasso, adorn the walls.

Anne liked this one the best – for its simplicity.

Line drawing | Postcard from Lanzarotte: The Magic of Manrique

His geometric lines are to be seen in the garden too.

Rainbow wall | Postcard from Lanzarotte: The Magic of Manrique

When you are inside the house, you are acutely aware of the outside – the view across the volcanic black earth to the sky through massive windows. Within the space, a pool is cut into the rock and the black volcanic rock painted white. Even the man-made structures are made to look natural.

Pool | Postcard from Lanzarotte: The Magic of Manrique

If ever you are in Lanzarote, take time out to visit the César Manrique Foundation. Rather than taking a coach tour, which limits you on time, make your own way there and enjoy every part of the experience to the full.

This post is one of my POSTCARD series, sharing all things ART with you when I go travelling. My previous postcard focused on the sketching I did while aboard MV Ventura.

Next week’s blog shares the art we discovered when we returned to the UK.