West Berkshire Heritage Events Winter/Spring 2019: May

West Berkshire Heritage Events Winter/Spring 2019: May

Open Studios Exhibition: Hidden Ties

1-26 May 2019, West Berkshire Museum, 10am-4pm (FREE)

Featuring talented local artists whose work includes paintings, sculptures and drawings, covering a wide range of media.

Artists taking part in this exhibition include Sadie Brockbank who sculpts in many different media, focusing on natural forms combined with man-made structures, and Petra Giede-Barnes, who combines organic materials to show new beginnings, contrasts, harmonies and connections. Lone Hudson has a background as an architect and designs and makes contemporary stoneware ceramics, while Arty Pumpkin explores the interaction of words and images using a variety of media. Other contributors include Mandi Bainbridge, Sadie Brockbank, Lenny Cornforth, Gail Davis, Ben Honisett, David H Jones, Sydney Klugman and Gemma Kirby.

Open Studios West Berkshire and North Hampshire was set up in 1988 by the late Pat Eastop as a non-profit organisation, run entirely by unpaid volunteers, to celebrate the diversity of visual arts available within the local community.  During May, members of the public are encouraged to visit artists’ studios, as well as seeing exhibitions at venues throughout the region. Open Studios hopes that this creates a dialogue between the artists and the community.

‘Hidden Ties’ will be open in Gallery 5 at the Museum Wednesdays-Sundays 10am-4pm. The gallery is available to hire: for more information about hiring this, please email [email protected] or telephone 01635 519562.

Workshop: Bridal Flowers- Wedding Favours & Decorative Flowers
Wednesday 1st May, 6.15 – 8.30pm, Shaw House, £35

Tutor: Kim Harrison, Lavendars

Details: Wedding favours are a tradition. Creating your own is a special memory. Come along and learn how to make a flower favour for your guests to take away and can also be used as a named place setting.

It is always a beautiful picture to see the wedding venue full of flowers.

During the second part of the evening you will create a hanging design suitable for pews or decorating pillars and can be easily transported to the reception.

All materials will be provided. Suitable for beginners full instruction from Kim and her Lavenders team. www.westberkshireheritage.org/whats-on

Blaze’s Buddies

Thursday 2nd May 2019, West Berkshire Museum, 11.00-11.30am (FREE)

Come and meet Blaze, the museum dragon, and join in with an action poem, story, simple craft, treasure hunt and sing-a-long!

Held in the museum’s comfortable and child-friendly learning space, Blaze’s Buddies will encourage your child to take part in fun and interactive activities, including a simple craft, linked to the treasure (museum object) Blaze has found that day.  The session closes with a hunt to find a museum object or a sing-a-long.

Today’s theme is rabbits and hares.

Open Air Sculpture Exhibition
Saturday 4th – Monday 27th May 2019, Shaw House, 11am – 4pm, Free
 The Orangery Lawn at Shaw House will be transformed into a sculpture trail by the Friends of Open Studios, where you can discover artworks by acclaimed sculptors in this lovely historic setting.

The exhibition is under the umbrella of the annual West Berkshire and North Hampshire Open Studios Scheme.

Open Studio brochures will be available from the House and the works on display will be available for purchase.

The House will also be open to the public at weekends and during May half term, entry is free. www.westberkshireheritage.org/whats-on

 

 

 

 

 

Workshop: Kiln Carving

Friday 10th May 2019, 10.30am – 1.30pm, West Berkshire Museum, £25

 

Tutor: Christine Wolfe, Allasa Glass

Details: Kiln carving is a simple kiln forming process which adds texture and relief to glass. It refers to the “carving” effect given to the glass which takes place in the kiln during a firing cycle, using fibre paper to create a design, with the glass fired on top of this to create relief. We will look at the materials and techniques needed, kiln firing and precise temperature control, to create a spoon rest and a hanging decoration or serving platter, made from upcycled wine bottles.

 

Starting with kiln flattened wine bottles and ceramic fibre paper, of various thicknesses, you will create two ‘positive’ designs, which will later be applied to the bottles, by firing. All this whilst taking in a brief history of the fascinating craft of fusing glass. You can bring your own imaginative ideas or take inspiration from the specimens provided on the day.

 

The bottles and fibre paper designs will be taken away to be fired, finished and delivered to your house. Materials and postage are all included.

 

NOTE: Due to the firing and cooling down processes involved with all glassmaking it is not possible for participants to take work home on the day it is made. Work needs to be fired and cool slowly in a kiln. www.westberkshireheritage.org/whats-on

 

 

Watercolour Painting on Location – Session 1: Shaw House

Friday 17th May 2019, 10.30am-1.30pm, Shaw House and Museum, £35 per session or £125 for all 4

 

Tutor: Isabel Carmona

 

Details: Learn how to record what you see in order to create a series of study sketches using watercolour paints directly. 

During the first session, based in the grounds at Shaw House, you will practice various techniques to record shapes, light and shade, and practice composing a picture.

 

All artist quality materials will be provided. These workshops are suitable for beginners and those with some experience who want to clarify concepts and explore new techniques.

 

Please note:This workshop is mostly based outside and will go ahead whatever the weather. Please, dress accordingly and bring your own seating if you need it. www.westberkshireheritage.org/whats-on

 

 

Watercolour Painting on Location – Session 2: St. Mary’s Church, Shaw (Meet at Shaw House)

Friday 24th May 2019, 10.30am-1.30pm, Shaw House and Museum, £35 per session or £125 for all 4

 

Tutor: Isabel Carmona

 

Details: On our second session, based at St. Mary’s Church next to Shaw House, you will practice colour mixing and choosing colours that go well together to create a harmonious picture.

 

All artist quality materials will be provided. These workshops are suitable for beginners and those with some experience who want to clarify concepts and explore new techniques.

 

Please note:This workshop is mostly based outside and will go ahead whatever the weather. Please, dress accordingly and bring your own seating if you need it.

www.westberkshireheritage.org/whats-on

 

 

 

Shaw House Open Days

 

Sunday 26th & Monday 27th May 2019, 11am – 4pm, Shaw House, Free

 

Join us for the Shaw House Open Days where you will have the opportunity to access many areas of the House which are not normally open to the public, including the ‘Forbidden Corridor’ on the second floor, the basement tunnel running along the length of the House and for the first time the Elizabethan bake house.

 

The bake house was discovered during the restoration of Shaw House and is one of the very special features of the House. Public access is not usually possible due to its location below the café but during the open days you will have the chance to climb below the ground floor and discover the well preserved elements of the 16th century kitchen.

 

You can also visit the exhibition rooms and the Open Studio’s outdoor sculpture trail.

Booking to view the bake house is essential and spaces will be limited.  Access is via a descending  fixed ladder which has a handrail on both sides. Anyone booking to visit the bake house must be physically capable of completing this manoeuvre as there is no alternative entry/exit.

 

Please note that the café service on these days will be limited in order to create safe access to the bake house.Book online or by phone 01635 279 279.

 

Bake house viewings: 11.30 12.30 13.30 14.30 (30 minute duration) (maximum 12 per viewing). www.westberkshireheritage.org/whats-on

 

 

Family Activity Day – Happy hedgehogs

 

Wednesday 29th May 2019, Shaw House, 10am – 3.30pm, £2

Make a multi-coloured model 3D hedgehog using a polystyrene shape for the body, wooden sticks for the prickles and Deco pens to make him or her colourful.Dress for mess! Disposable aprons will be provided.

 

There will be a free hedgehog-themed activity trail available. For 4-11 year olds but younger and older children are welcome.  No need to book, drop in. www.westberkshireheritage.org/whats-on

 

 

Family art workshop: Civil War Banners: Roundheads & Cavaliers

 

Thursday 30th May 2019, 10am-12.30pm & 1.30-4pm, West Berkshire Museum, £8.50

 

Get a closer look at some of 17th century objects from the museum’s Civil War collection and learn to draw them with the Armadillo Art Experience, along with famous people from the Civil War and some colourful local characters.

 

You’ll create your own brilliant pictures to take home and help to paint some large Civil War-style banners to adorn the museum’s Cloth Hall. You may wish to bring an apron or overall as we will be using acrylic paints; the museum will provide disposable aprons.

 

Suitable for age 7+ (accompanying adult is free)
Places are limited and must be booked in advance online or at the museum. www.westberkshireheritage.org/whats-on

 

 

Family Activity Day – Fly your flag!

Friday 31st May 2019, 10am-3pm, West Berkshire Museum, £2

 

Design and make a colour inspired by the Civil War flags carried by roundhead and cavalier regiments, using calico, fabric crayons, a stick and other materials. This year marks the 375th anniversary of the Second Battle of Newbury. 

For 4-11 year olds but younger and older children are welcome.  No need to book, drop in. www.westberkshireheritage.org/whats-on

 

 

Talk: Bats at the Museum

 

Friday 31st May 2019, 9pm – 10:30pm, West Berkshire Museum, £5

 

A talk and walk by local bat expert James Shipman about the life of these amazing creatures. Did you know bats can live for up to 30 years? James explains where they live, how they fly in the dark, and why they are so important and protected by law. After a short talk, James will help us see and hear several species that emerge at dusk near the museum (weather dependent).

 

Tickets can be purchased at the museum or online at www.bbowt.org.uk/whats-on

 

 

 

Mrs. Farquhar’s Afternoon Tea

 

Friday 31st May 2019, 2.00pm, Shaw House, £14.95 standard or £18.95 with Prosecco

 

Treat yourself to afternoon tea in the Elizabethan splendour of Shaw House. Afternoon tea includes a selection of Fair Trade tea, finger sandwiches with fillings of smoked salmon, grated cheese, Wiltshire gammon, egg mayonnaise and cress, a scone with clotted cream and locally produced jam and a generous slice of homemade Victoria sponge and fruit cake from £14.95 per person. And for a special occasion, why not add a little sparkle to your afternoon with a glass of Prosecco.

Afternoon tea is served at 2pm, you are invited to sit back and relax while your tea is prepared and afterwards you will have the opportunity to look around the House and exhibition room until 4pm.

 

Places are limited and to avoid disappointment we advise you book early. Please call 01635 279279 or book online www.westberkshireheritage.org/whats-on.

 

Group bookings for special celebrations are welcomed, please enquire for availability.