Art in Nature exhibition at Riversdale Gardens
The Art in Nature exhibition at Riversdale was launched on Friday evening at a spectacular Private View party, with approximately 150 people attending the event.
The exhibition, which initially was meant to take place only in the gardens and grounds at Riversdale, was also held in the Old Village Laundry – the 16th century half-timbered barn that adjoins the main house. This was quite an historic event as the barn hasn’t been used for any purpose, other than for storage, for more than two generations. So the Art in Nature exhibition was quite an exciting opportunity for people in the area to see the work that has been done on the building to get it to a state where it could be used for the exhibition.
For many people who walk or drive up and down Broom Lane, it must feel rather strange to see lights and activity coming from such a forlorn and unused old building. Although quite a lot of work has been done over the last ten years by the owners to keep it structurally sound and watertight, there has never been a justifiable reason to spend a lot of money on it to convert it into residential use, which perhaps would have spoilt the building. James MacRae, who owns Riversdale, has always wanted to use the building as an art gallery and cafe. Part of that ambition has now been achieved, and this event may well bode well for future similar events.
The Village Laundry
The history of the barn is that it used to be used as the village laundry and there is still evidence of this in the old copper boiling kettle that is still there, although not now in situ. To call the building a barn is misleading as there is no evidence that it was a barn at all. There are no original barn doors. The current double doors on the west gable end were clearly put there in the early 1900’s. And inside there is a large fireplace and bread oven. One can also see that there might have been a first floor at one end of the building where there is evidence of a partition wall.
Originally the barn formed part of a small-holding called Sunnyside. There was a small half-timbered house on the site of the current Edwardian house. This cottage was apparently destroyed by fire at the end of the 19th century and Riversdale was built in 1904 to replace it. There were several alterations and extensions made to the building in the early 1920’s by the Levick family who bought the property as a summer residence. Old photographs from the 1890’s and early 1900’s show the transition from a small black and white farm cottage to an Edwardian cottage to the larger more substantial house as it is today.
When the barn roof was repaired in 1998, it was discovered that the stone tiles came from Shobdon Court when part of the Court was destroyed by fire in the early 1900’s.
Historically the barn would have had slate tiles rather than stone or thatch. The sheer weight of the stone tiles may have contributed to the upper half-timbered section of the building leaning over at a rather alarming angle into the lane. There hasn’t been any further movement of the building since, certainly within the last thirty years or so that the building has been in the same family.
Art in Nature exhibition
The Art in Nature exhibition was inspired by Herefordshire Council’s annual sponsored art events week called ‘h.Art’. Invitations were sent to many artists and sculptors in the area for them to take part in a sculpture and art show in the barn and gardens. Nearly all the exhibitors are from the area or at least have some connection with the county.
Over 25 artist and sculptors participated in the exhibition which is a very respectable representation of the arts community in Herefordshire. The organisers were very pleased to have the opportunity of exhibiting the work of Walenty Pytel, an internationally renowned sculptor who specialises in birds and beasts, and who lives and works in Herefordshire. We have two large pieces on loan, a pair of dolphins and a humming bird. There are also two small bird sculptures on display in the barn which are for sale.
Alexander James Hoda, whose parents live at ArrowLawn, is also exhibiting a pair of sculptured dogs, made from concrete and resin. Alex has a reputation as a contemporary sculptor of the grotesque genre and is rising rapidly in the art world – and the prices of his work accordingly. His work is now in several public and private collections. His recent one man exhibition in Sydney, Australia generated huge interest and all his pieces sold.
The other artists who took part in the exhibition, although less well-known on the international stage, are certainly very accomplished and very successful. Peter King, who lives and works in Leominster, makes the most amazing metal work sculptures – from exotic palm trees to huge screens and abstract pieces, which are beautifully executed and would enhance anyone’s garden. There are five or six examples of his work on show.
Another sculptor whose work is displayed are the creations of Hereford based sculptress Jenny Pickford. She designs, creates (and carries!) huge pieces to exhibitions and clients all over the country. She has four major pieces on display and it is worth coming to the exhibition for these alone. There is a sensitivity and strength to all her work and her trade mark signature is the beautiful use of blown glass which is integrated with every piece of metal sculpture that she creates.
There is also the work of several other sculptors on show, including Dido Windham, Penny Chantler and Margi James, who all specialise in animals and the human form. Also, Huw Morris who makes beautiful garden benches and furniture from oak.
There is also a display of work of painters and photographers. These included the work of Jenny Taylor, from Ross, Raphael Sagage from Hereford, Mike Johnson from near Knighton (who used to live in the village), Sally Swingewood, whose parents live in Eardisland, and Frances Knight from Holland. Photographers Jeremy Bulmer (John Bulmer’s nephew) and James MacRae also exhibited a collection of abstracts, still lifes and landscapes.
In addition to the sculptures and paintings were two land artists who executed three creations in the grounds at Riversdale. Kate Raggett from Longhope and Justine Cook from Old Radnor took the time and energy to create some very innovation designs from materials or features which they found in landscape.
Finally, the organisers are grateful to Boarder Oak who created an abstract structure from oak consisting of three cubes. It creates a very striking feature in the middle of the field beside the river.
The organisers would also like to thank the all the artists and also the following for their kind co-operation and assistance in helping to make this exhibition so successful: Border Oak, Kingsland, Burgoyne’s Marquees for supplying carpets and coir matting for the barn, Leominster Reclamation for supplying garden statuary and ornaments, and The Workhouse Studio Gallery, Presteigne for supplying beautiful Kilims and carpets which enhance and decorate the barn so beautifully.
To see pictures of the exhibits and the Opening of the exhibition please log on to the riversdalegardens.co.uk website.
