ARTS & EXHIBITIONS

STATE OF THE ART

Still, Beaux Arts Bath, 1–29 May

During May, Beaux Arts Bath in York Street offers a respite from the busy streets outside with a showcase of still life drawings and paintings entitled Still.

The exhibition features an exciting array of artists and mediums, including oil paintings by renowned Wiltshire artist Helen Simmonds, and the magical and amazingly detailed pencil drawings of Lewis Chamberlain. There is also the tranquil and contemplative work in egg tempera of Atsuko Fujii, works in oil by Nathan Ford, Harriet Porter Alex Callaway, and Rob Pittam. Ceramics are by John Jelfs. It’s well worth a visit.

beauxartsbath.co.uk

Image: Night Interior with Seated Figure by Lewis Chamberlain; pencil on paper; 25 x 32cm.

Picasso & Sylvette, David Simon Contemporary, 8–31 May

This exhibition is a recognition of the relationship between Picasso and his muse Sylvette David, featuring a substantial collection of original, signed prints by Pablo Picasso with contemporary paintings by Lydia Corbett, née Sylvette David. The collection also includes ceramics created by Picasso in Vallauris, where he first met Lydia in 1954. The impact of the painter/muse aspect of this relationship has helped form the voice of Lydia Corbett’s own painting practice and this show is a rare and exclusive opportunity to see the works of both Picasso and his muse in one place, creating a unique and beautiful conversation between these artists’ works.

Lydia Corbett, born Sylvette David in Paris in 1934, met Pablo Picasso in the 1950s. This chance encounter was an important moment for both Picasso and Lydia, or Sylvette David as she was then known. For Picasso, Sylvette became the subject of large and important body of work, including more than 60 paintings, drawings and sculptures. For Sylvette, her youthful beauty was immortalised and she would be remembered as a muse of the great artist, ‘The Girl with the Ponytail’. Picasso’s work and their platonic relationship would become a constant source of inspiration for her own painting many years later. See also our interview with Lydia on page 34.

davidsimoncontemporary.com

Images: Ma Tante avec des Fleurs by Lydia Carbett and Vallauris Exposition, 1954 by Pablo Picasso

Oversized paintings, The Fine Artist

As the weather warms up, so do the colours of the city. The Circus is looking magnificent as the warm honey tones of the Georgian architecture are highlighted by sunshine. Tracey Bowes has completed a large painting of this glorious scene. This piece is part of a collection which includes uplifting scenes of the south west. Tracey produces large artworks which allow her to create high quality giclée prints which are large enough for feature walls. Her smaller framed prints make superb gifts alongside her eye-catching greeting card collection.

thefineartistshop.com

Image: Pulteney Bridge, Bath Weir, 2021 by Tracey Bowes; acrylic on paper

Spring Exhibition, Gallery Nine Bath, until 31 May

Gallery Nine’s spring exhibition features jewellery by Rachel Eardley, ceramics by Pru Cooper and Emily Myers and original works on paper by Paul Rudall.

Rachel carefully hand-cuts designs from obsolete coins and sets them in silver. Prue Cooper makes press-moulded earthenware dishes, decorated with quotations and images illustrating the ways of the world – witty and narrative. Emily’s thrown vessels, domestic in scale, are often carved, faceted and altered, at the leather-hard stage, to create new and interesting shapes and surface textures. Paul Rudall, one of Britain’s most respected post war artists was an obsessive painter. He most often worked on board or paper in oils, but often in distinctive combination with meticulous pen and ink.

galleryninebath.com

Image: artwork by Paul Rudall

Shooting Stars: Carinthia West, Britain and America in the 1970s, American Museum & Gardens, 21 May – 31 October 2021

Carinthia West’s intimate photographs of rock and film stars of the 1970s in America – and in particular on the glorious beaches of Malibu in California – present an upbeat and buoyant view of the decade that should remind us of the outstanding music and the great design of this much-maligned period. The exhibition’s colour, fun, and vivid exuberance are just what we need as we emerge, bleary-eyed, from the nightmare of Covid.

The traditional picture painted of the 1970s is one of doom and gloom: the inevitable hangover after the party of the Swinging Sixties. However, as Carinthia West’s fascinating photographs demonstrate – alongside home interiors, fashion, posters, album covers, and the music of the Seventies – this is only part of the picture. The 1970s was a decade of bright colours, of fun, and of self-expression.

americanmuseum.org Image: Mick Jagger ‘Diamond Smile’ California 1976

Bear Flat Artists’ Open Studios Art Trail, 29–31 May

This year’s Bear Flat Artists’ art trail is set to go ahead over the May Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend –11am to 5pm daily. The event takes place in socially-distanced spaces and gardens following a successful art trail last September. Discover the creativity of more than 20 artists –all within walking distance of each other, and only 10 minutes from the town centre.

Visitors can expect to see a dynamic mix of painting, ceramics, jewellery, printmaking, photography, sculpture, woodwork, glass and much more.

The weekend is an opportunity to meet the artists, find out about their processes, and browse and buy original artwork direct from the maker in a relaxed setting.

Visit Bear Flat Artists’ website to view the full trail. The Open Studios is a free event, open to everyone.

bearflatartists.co.uk

Image: Milsom Street by painter Ben Hughes

May Fair, Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair, 9 May

Bath Contemporary Artists’ Fair is delighted to finally welcome everyone back to its May fair. Bath Contemporary Artists Fair is committed to bringing the best of contemporary art from the city and beyond right to the heart of Bath.

Following on from the successful and popular fairs last year, the next event is on 9 May, where visitors can browse the brilliant works of local artists and admire fine art, photography, sculpture and textiles, all under the vaulted glass roof of Green Park Station. For updates and exhibiting artists visit the website.

bcaf.co.uk

Image: artwork by Richard Gibson