There's been a very good art gallery in Bingley for many years. (The Bingley Gallery, on Park Road, just up the hill from the canal.) It used to be managed by the artist Jane Fielder. You can see some of her paintings below. When she retired the gallery was taken over by David Starley, whom I've mentioned several times in my blog as he lives in Saltaire and contributes to a lot of the artistic endeavours in the village. David does big, colourful, impasto oils of nature, particularly trees, and local scenes. You can see some of them in the window. The gallery also has many other paintings, ceramics and other pieces, mostly by local artists. There were some beautiful textured wood panels by Gavin Edwards that caught my eye - and the ceramic sculpture 'Landladies' by Mandy Long was there, a piece I fell in love with at the Saltaire Arts Trail one year.
It's a lovely gallery to visit. They are really happy for you to browse and it needs a lot of looking as there is so much stuff packed in there. The gallery space in the cellar is particularly atmospheric; the rough hewn decor seems to set off the artworks very well. I enjoyed wandering round and stocked up on some greetings cards. I always try to buy a little something in galleries and craft shops, even if I can't afford (and haven't space for) the big works. Especially in these difficult times when so many exhibitions, art fairs and markets have been cancelled, I guess artists need all the support they can get.
It really is a lovely gallery. I fear temptation might well overcome me, were I to visit.
ReplyDeleteI would certainly love to see the art in that gallery, and I'm happy to hear that it's open. Yes, my friend artists and craftsmen have all had a hard time of it during this COVID pandemic. Without the art fairs, and even galleries were closed for months, many applied for unemployment assistance as small business owners, and many didn't get anything.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful place to visit!
ReplyDeleteVery well stocked.
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