‘Edges and Transitions’ 

Stamford Arts Centre 

6^th – 17^th August 2024 

ArtSpace Loughborough has an exciting new exhibition on the theme ‘Edges and Transitions’ from 6^th to 17^th August at Stamford Arts Centre. 19 artists have interpreted the theme in different ways. 

Many of the artists have produced work inspired by nature. Liz Macfarlane is fascinated by the interaction between man and nature in gardens. ‘Herbaceous Border, Kew Gardens’ is a vivid scene of summer flowers ordered and intersected by paths and ornamental buildings. Sally Reayer’s work is inspired by the shapes and colours of the changing seasons. Judith Eason focuses on the views from the mountains overlooking the Costa Blanca coast in Spain. Sue Barry’s work glimpses nature through the window of a speeding train. Jemma Bagley enjoys spending time in remote places where there is a sense of calm. 

Some artists have highlighted the destructive effects of climate change. Ingrid Kleins-Daniels’ ‘Where the Ice Meets the Sea’ is an icily beautiful painting inspired by rising sea levels and the edge of melting glaciers. Nita Rao has a similar theme in her sculpture of a polar bear, made from willow and stuffed with plastic packaging. Susan West’s ‘Tides of Change’ speaks of the fragility of our coastal ecosystems and the sea’s erosion. Pam Everard’s abstract painting ‘Blue 19’ is more optimistic about the interaction between man and nature. A riverside development is rendered calmer by being near water. 

Some artists have focused on the human world and the changes time brings to people and places. Erica Middleton’s painting of a christening gown follow the transitions in a family. Frances Ryan’s work focuses on women at the edge of something new in their lives. Gill Hugman Perkins’ painting of Stonehenge follows the transition of a man-made site over centuries. 

There is a significant interest in the exhibition in the narratives we make. Alison Folland’s 3-D dresses, made from old maps, hint at stories and memories. Mary Byrne would like you to respond to the dream-like imagery in her work rather than logically analysing meaning. Marion Reid’s images build as the narrative unfolds. 

Beryl Miles’s paintings focus on the spaces between figures and shapes: spatial concepts which are also like meditative pauses. 

Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, Stamford PE9 2DL (opening times Monday to Saturday 9am – 5pm)