Oxfam Gallery’s final exhibition ‘Future: Unknown’ celebrates the future

February sees the opening of the final ever exhibition at the Salisbury Oxfam Art Gallery; a celebration of the future of art in Salisbury by young artists from The Unit. The Unit is an independent, non-political social enterprise broadly aiming to use creative approaches to empower and nurture a sense of agency in young people.

This exhibition will be the last for the Oxfam Art Gallery as the venue will sadly be closing its doors in March 2012. The Oxfam Art Gallery was opened in 2008 as the first ever Oxfam gallery and has hosted exhibitions by various local artists. The gallery is staffed by a dedicated team of Oxfam volunteers.

This final exhibition, by promising young talent, is an eclectic range of emerging art ranging from giant origami sculpture to hand crafted brooches, photography and large scale paintings. The exhibition runs from 10th to 25th February at the Oxfam Art Gallery (above the Oxfam bookshop) in Catherine Street, Salisbury.

Contributing artists for ‘Future: Unknown’ became involved through the young people’s organisation, The Unit, based in Endless Street in Salisbury. Those taking part are all aged between thirteen and nineteen and had to pass through a rigorous selection panel before making it to the exhibition as competition for places was fierce. Two local graphic artists and friends of The Unit, Nich Angel and Stew Taylor, will be exhibiting their work alongside the young artists and shall be hosting the preview evening on Thursday 9th February 5 – 7pm. All are welcome to join us at the gallery on this very special evening.

Heather Minto, Project Manager at The Unit said: “ We are thrilled to have been asked to curate the last ever exhibition in the Oxfam Art Gallery. We work with some extremely talented young people and this will be an excellent platform for them to showcase their work. At the same time however, it is tinged with sadness that such a community spirited gallery is to close.”

On Thursday 9th February come and meet the artists and find out more about them, their art and The Unit anytime between 5pm and 7pm. Artwork will be on sale from this time. All are welcome to attend this informal gathering. The exhibition opens on Friday 10th February and continues until Saturday 25th February. The gallery is located at 10 – 14 Catherine Street Salisbury and is open Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm. Entry is free.

Take a look at the exhibition poster here.

2, 8, 13, 22 Late Night Shopping ’til 7pm

After that we’ll be closed a few days over the Christmas period itself…

23rd December: 9am – 5pm
Christmas Eve: 9am – 5pm
Christmas Day: Closed
Boxing Day: Closed
Bank Holiday (27th December): Closed
28th December: 9am – 5pm
29th December: 9am – 5pm
30th December: 9am – 5pm
New Year’s Eve: 9am – 5pm
New Year’s Day: Closed
2nd January 2012: 9am – 5pm

… then open as usual.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Salisbury Oxfam!

Since opening in 2008 the gallery, the first of its kind for Oxfam, has gone from strength to strength. The combination of donated items, synonymous with Oxfam, exhibited side by side with original art is also a relatively new idea and this exhibition further expands on the mix of the new and the more familiar as there will be both veteran and first time exhibitors at the gallery.

Amongst those to show at the gallery for the first time is Moira Ross. Moira produces stone carvings and has exhibited across the South including the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens near Romsey during 2010. Also new to the gallery is the work of Lisa Von Hallwyl. Lisa is a fashion and jewellery designer and a graduate of the Winchester School of Art. Lisa’s striking millinery has proved popular at weddings.

Veteran exhibitors include the Eeles Family Potters and Brian Hodgson. Both have an extensive following. Brian recently held a successful solo exhibition at the gallery during the September Salisbury Art Trail and regularly exhibits his evocative oil paintings in London. The Eeles family, from Dorset, are renowned for their imaginative and striking ceramics and they produce those using experimental techniques unique to the family.

Richard Eveleigh, a recent graduate and volunteer at Oxfam, says that he is delighted to work at the gallery. “The gallery is a lovely exhibition space. When it opened I held my first exhibition there and it has proved a massive boost both to my confidence and to my CV. The experience of exhibiting there has allowed me to develop my skills and I have since exhibited across the country, most recently in London. It is also very rewarding to know that art work is supporting such a good cause. This is something that many artists agree with and, next year, we will be pleased to welcome our first international artist to the gallery, Fareen Butt who is based in New York. ”

The exhibition opens its doors to the public on Friday 3rd December and continues until the 23rd December. The gallery is located at 10 – 14 Catherine Street Salisbury and is open Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm. Entry is free. More information about the gallery and this exhibition can be found at www.salisburyoxfam.org.uk/gallery

To be honest, we already knew that our customers were very generous people, judging by the wonderful donations of time and money we receive in store, but it’s great to hear it from someone else too.

Last year you spent £160,325 on life-changing Oxfam Unwrapped gifts for people in need, and we’re hoping to break that record this year with the fantastic new range already on sale in our shops and online at www.oxfamunwrapped.com

Oxfam Unwrapped gifts help those who really need them in all kinds of ways, amongst other things it has paid for safe drinking water for thousands of people, fed families worldwide, train teachers and educate children.

Once again, thank you.

Simple ingredients used with rare skill, provide unusual results. Oxfam Art Gallery is extremely proud to be hosting this exhibition of ceramics members of the Eeles Family Potters from West Dorset. The Eeles Family; David, Patricia, Benjamin & Simon Eeles work as a team and make a wide range of ceramics by hand including stoneware, porcelain and raku. Using basic ingredients such as ball clay from near Poole in Dorset, china clay from South Devon and fine alluvial sand from West Dorset remarkable objects are created.

The work is individually decorated with a variety of clay slips, colours & glazes, which are prepared by the Eeles Family with extensive testing & firing to produce the complete range of textures & patterns that their work is renowned for. Their work is exhibited across Great Britain and many of their objects can be found in public and private collections throughout the world.

Entry to the gallery is free. Open 10am – 4pm Monday to Saturday. 25% of proceeds go direct to Oxfam’s vital work in combating poverty.

“It is always a delight to see the unique work of the Eeles Family Potters. Their unusual style sits beautifully in the gallery” Richard Eveleigh, Oxfam Art Gallery Assistant

You can find out more information about Eeles Family Potters at their website at http://www.eelespottery.co.uk

Land Grabs

Since the food price spikes of 2008, wealthy companies have invested heavily in cheap agricultural land in poor countries, often for commercial use. But in many cases, the land sold is actually being used by poor families to grow food. These families are often forcibly evicted with little or no warning or compensation, and in many cases the land is either left idle by investors who know it will only grow in value, or used in ways that reduce food production. So it’s time for effective global rules to get land grabs under control – rules which ensure local communities see the benefits of investments and which help make sure that governments provide secure access to land for smallholder farmers, and especially women.

What can you do?

There have been major developments since we launched our land grabs report into evictions, some violent, in Uganda, where at least 22,500 people lost their homes and land and many have been left destitute.

Recently, members of the evicted community had reported feeling intimidated and harassed after questioning by workers from the New Forests Company (NFC). Since this action was launched, and thanks to pressure on NFC, we have now received assurance from the company that it will halt this questioning of community leaders and conduct an external investigation. We will continue to monitor the situation on the ground in order to confirm that this has happened.

However, we need to maintain pressure on the NFC to ensure that the external investigation results in justice for these vulnerable communities in Uganda. Send an email to the Chairman of NFC, Robert Devereux, demanding he take immediate action.

Click here to email the New Forests Company.

7th – 29th October 2011, Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm, Oxfam Art Gallery, Salisbury Oxfam

Oil paintings from three series: Cathedral Light; Reflecting in Light; Treasured Toys.

This exhibition of oil paintings presents observations on the everyday fabric of our urban and rural environment. With the effects of light as a companion the series of works endeavour to show how our experience of the structures around us are very much part of our sense of place.

The exhibition is also part of the Salisbury Art Trail, which you can find out more about here! As part of the Art Trail you can also Meet the Artist on Thursday 13th and Saturday 15th October.

Find out more information about Brian Hodgson at his website: www.brianhodgson-art.com

Zoe Snelson, a recent graduate of the Art’s University College,at Bournemouth is holding her first solo Exhibition at the Salisbury Oxfam Art Gallery.

Entitled “Movement” her sculptures, paintings & drawings are inspired by the poem “The Third Body” by Robert Bly.

Remember back in February when we said this?

For one month only, the nice people at PayPal are paying our running costs, so 100% of your money goes directly to fighting poverty.

Well, we were wrong… it wasn’t one month only, because they’re doing it again!

If you can’t remember what it was all about, take a look at our story from the time… here! Mind you it’s pretty simple:

This September, PayPal are covering all of Oxfam’s admin costs on all donations made through PayPal. 100% brilliant

We always keep our admin costs low, but some – paying bills, stocking the stationery cupboard and doing the paperwork – are an unavoidable and essential part of our work.

This September, though, PayPal have got them covered. So every penny of your donation will go on life-changing work. Like helping farmers in Bolivia earn a better living. Or ensuring communities in Cambodia always have safe water to drink.

But what it definitely won’t do is pay for those essential-but-less-inspiring things like staples or stamps. So you can be 100% certain you’re changing lives.

What’s more, you can make this special offer last beyond September – by setting up a regular gift PayPal will pay the admin costs for every donation every month for a year!

What can I do?

• Explore – You can find out more above 100% Giving at www.oxfam.org.uk/giving.
• Give – Click here to give now.

Salisbury Oxfam Art Gallery, throughout August, 10am – 4pm Monday – Saturday

Which is more important, the art or the intention of the artist? Æther is an intriguing exhibition that explores this concept. The five emerging artists involved; Richard Eveleigh, Zoe Snelson Sarah Sanger, Emma Devonald and Martin Billingham aim to challenge established notions of contemporary art (The term Æther identifies with the ‘mismatch’ that can occur between the physical appearance of art and its conceptual meaning).

Art on display will include painting, photography and sculpture. Richard’s paintings are visually striking due to the vivid colours he employs. Some of his most recent work is highly varnished making it reflective, causing the viewer to become aware of their presence whilst viewing the art. Martin’s photography is created using chemical deterioration. His aim is to represent the organic nature of memory and the sensation of trying but failing to recapture a memory. As is standard for exhibitions at the gallery, 25% of proceeds from sales will be donated to Oxfam. A further 20% will also be donated to the ‘Stars Appeal’ in aide of Salisbury District Hospital. Entry to the exhibition is free.

“This will be the fourth time that I have exhibited at the Oxfam Gallery in Salisbury and I am very much looking forward to the upcoming show.”

It has been an honour to have have been associated with such a brilliant young man and Artist and we look forward to hosting many more of his Exhibitions in the future.

Joining Richard will be Emma Devonald, also originally from Salisbury, is a costume designer by trade and has worked on numerous stage and television productions including the BBC adaptation of ‘Cranford’ and the musical ‘Wicked’ at The Apollo Victoria Theatre in London.

Sarah Sanger, from Slough, will be graduating from the Arts University College at Bournemouth this summer. In 2010, Sarah took part in the Larmer Tree Festival by exhibiting a large sculpture/installation piece.