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Get your walking shoes on for Artweeks
(By Karen David, Oxfordshire Life, May 2007)
Artweeks contains so many treasures that in my experience it’s impossible to see absolutely everything, although part of the fun is to seek out exhibits that interest you and to take off on a trail. As Artweeks happens at my favourite time of year, and hopefully the county is awash with spring sunshine, it’s always good to explore the exhibits that literally get you out and about, around the villages, gardens and town walks. There are too many to mention in one go, so if you like this idea, pick up an Artweeks Guide, or visit the Artweeks website www.artweeks.org to give you everything you need to plan your trip.
Out and About with Artweeks
Here we give a selection of outdoor exhibits and suggested trails. Check the Artweeks Guide or website for full details and opening times
Week one - City Week, 12th to 20th May
Artweeks at the Castle features lots of exhibits in the Castle Grounds and the O3 Gallery, giving the perfect opportunity to explore this historical site and sample the rich diversity of work around Artweeks. Open daily.
Swap your walking for dancing shoes at Summertown Street Festival where live music, street performers and kids’ fancy dress combine with Summertown artists’ exhibits for a fun, traffic-free festival for all the family. Saturday 12th May, 11th to 2nd.
Artweeks Walking Tours are fascinating discoveries of “Treasures of the University.” 19th and 26th May at 10:00. Meet at Clarendon Building, Broad Street.
Outside exhibits in and around the city include Mannish Trousers an indoor/outdoor happening in a studio set in a woodland garden at Badgers Wood, Bedwell Heath, or on a narrow boat along the Thames Towpath at Elvenoak Ed Thompson is displaying travel photographs from Asia. The Turrill Sculpture Garden in Summertown never disappoints with work from talented local sculptors, or visit architect David Hyams’ environmentally sustainable extension complete with green roof at 19 Meadow Prospect. Over in Cowley, Restore in Manzil Way is showing vibrant work in its beautiful garden oasis featuring a straw bale eco-building.
Week Two - South Oxfordshire 19th to 27th May
There are many villages in which to pass a few pleasant hours exploring exhibits. At Sutton Courtenay Art at the Abbey features work from Oxford Art Society artists in the atmospheric grounds of this medieval manor house, then it’s onto the Matrix Arts Centre and finally to Nathalie Hamil ceramics. Carry on further south to Wallingford and
Week Three - North Oxfordshire 26th May to 3rd June
The wonderful grounds of Kirtlington Park are the setting for a group of renowned painters, printmakers and sculptors, Allyson Austin, Sarah Spackman, Rachael Edgar, Sue Cave and Frederic Chevarin and nearby at Tackley two of Oxfordshire’s finest ceramicists Jane and Dylan Bowen are opening up their studio to show new work. Elsewhere in the north, two major centres for urban trails are Banbury and Chipping Norton. In Banbury students from Oxford & Cherwell College are showing work at The Mill Arts Centre, along with MAP, figurative work shown in unusual locations, and there are several artists exhibiting around the town. If you’re too busy or worn out to follow a trail, then go to Chipping Norton Town Hall where artists from nearby villages are showing work, although those in search of the truly unusual should make it to North Aston Ancient Futurists, a cob cottage earthworks sculpted by local people with local materials. For interesting outdoor sculpture, Sophie and Andrew Thompson’s Heath Barn in Milton-under-Wychwood is alive with striking animal sculptures and Oxford Sculptors are taking over the formal gardens of Eynsham Hall.