Black Swan Arts in Frome is hosting a prestigious touring show of artists’ sketchbooks, ‘SKETCH 2017’, over the summer.
The SKETCH competition and touring exhibition aims to promote the diversity and importance of drawing and the role of the sketchbook in contemporary creative practice.
The works on show in SKETCH 2017 have been selected from an international submission of over 500 sketchbooks. The panel of judges included painter and printer Tom Hammick, sculptor Peter Randell-Page RA and Gill Saunders, a senior curator from the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Meryl Ainslie, founder and director of Rabley Drawing Centre in Wiltshire, who launched the SKETCH Open Sketchbook Drawing Prize in 2005 says, “The handling of a sketchbook takes us to the heart of the space inhabited by the artist. The turning of a page brings a flow of ideas; fragments of images to come, references to places visited, experiences absorbed and thoughts provoked. It is a unique and privileged position, the prospect excites and the time spent rewards.”
To run alongside the show, a half-day sketchbook workshop, ‘Grow with Your Sketchbook’, which is aimed at young people aged 8+, is being led by artist Duncan Cameron and curator Aya Kobayashi. The workshop, which is sponsored by Visual Arts South West, takes place on Saturday 22nd July from 10am to 12.30pm and aims to give young people the chance to get creative during the summer holiday.
Participants will work from an array of interesting natural objects (which will be provided) and respond to both the sketchbooks on show and Duncan Cameron’s work. The workshop will cover observation, collecting evidence, mark making and annotation through an experimental booklet of sketches in mixed media. Tickets cost £16.50.
SKETCH 2017 is on from 22 July to 3 September, with a preview evening on Friday 21st July from 6–8pm. For further information or to buy tickets for the workshop, please visit www.blackswan.org.uk or contact Black Swan Arts on 01373 473980 or office@blackswan.org.uk.
