Spring Newsletter and Upcoming Exhibitions
This Spring marks an exciting moment for Fen Ditton Gallery as Hannah gets ready to welcome a new baby into the world. It is lovely to be the bearer of such good news in our turbulent times and although, naturally, Hannah will be taking a step back from her regular work as Gallery Manager to adjust to motherhood, we know that she will remain part of the team both shorter and longer term.
With this sense of new beginnings, we are taking full advantage of the flexibility of being a small independent gallery, run by three women with busy, wider careers and family lives to introduce a slightly different kind of programme to you over the next few months. We look forward to sharing this with you in person.
Philip Eglin (b. 1959) Treacle, Earthenware. Image: Michael Harvey, courtesy of Oxford Ceramics Gallery
On Thursday 7 April, early evening (please hold the date in your diaries) we will be opening our doors again with a new collaboration with Oxford Ceramics Gallery. The gallery will be taking over our space for the month with a re-configured, updated version of their fascinating ‘Slipware’ exhibition, first developed in 2021 to show three generations of modern and contemporary artists working with this vibrant English pottery tradition: a tradition well represented in the collections of the Fitzwilliam Museum. Exhibiting artists include: Clive Bowen; Dylan Bowen; Michael Cardew; Philip Eglin; Sam Haile; Shoji Hamada; Bernard Leach and William Newland.
In May, Amanda is launching ‘In Dialogue’ a series of four cross disciplinary displays, each lasting a week, introducing two artists at a time. Each display will consist of a small number of works – sometimes just two, one from each artist – to give space for a different kind of looking. Each week will include an In Conversation with Amanda and one of the artists, or their representatives. Confirmed artists thus far are Colin Reid; Wilhelmina Barns Graham; Ann Sutton and Alan Davie. Painting, printmaking, textiles, glass, and drawing will all be found in the mix.
Kate Boucher, from Though Wishing Slanting series, 2021
In another first for the gallery, in June Lotte will be hosting the gallery’s first artist residency with landscape artist Kate Boucher who is looking forward to immersing herself in the Cambridgeshire Fens for a month, guided by Lotte. Kate, who is a tutor at West Dean College and was introduced to the gallery through Graham Murrell, will be holding a workshop and open studio weekend during her residency. More information to follow soon.
In the first two weeks of July, Cambridge Open Studios returns to Fen Ditton with Lotte exhibiting her black and white handprinted photographs alongside the vibrant abstract oil paintings of Rosemary Cullum and contemporary silver jewellery of Janet Powell.
Autumn will see the next in our series of annual art and environment exhibitions, first launched by Amanda with Trees Observed in 2018. This year we will be focussing on the theme of Rivers bringing together artists and makers for whom that subject is central. A percentage of sales will be donated to a relevant environmental charity. More information coming soon.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Fen Ditton Gallery next month.
Lotte, Amanda, Hannah