New Art West Midlands
This split-site, selected award exhibition profiles the best, critically-engaged work by recent graduates from the West Midlands’ university art schools. It aims to help provide a crucial bridge for young artists between training and the first steps in a professional career.
New Art West Midlands is a brand-new collaborative venture in partnership with Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and Grand Union, Birmingham, and is funded by Turning Point West Midlands and Arts Council of England.
'The Most Perfect Example of His Work': Robert Atkinson and the Building of The Barber Institute
The Barber Institute is widely regarded as an Art Deco masterpiece. This display explores its gradually evolving concept and actual construction up to its opening in 1939.
Thomas Bodkin, the first Director, and the architect, Robert Atkinson, travelled Europe for inspiration and the final scheme was much influenced by Dutch and Scandinavian building practice. Included alongside drawings, photographs, architectural plans and blueprints will be memorabilia relating to the official opening of the building by Queen Mary, just six weeks before the outbreak of World War II. The display will also include sections on later developments and future plans for the building.
Close to the Heart: 17th to 19th Century British Miniatures from UK Private Collections
Micro-masterpieces of British portraiture from two celebrated UK private collections are displayed in this exhibition, some for the first time ever.
The exhibits range in date from about 1600 to 1850, and include exquisite examples by such leading names in the field as Peter Oliver, George Engleheart, Richard Cosway, John Smart and Sir William Ross. Together they will provide one of the finest displays of miniatures to be seen anywhere in the UK outside London.
Monet's View, by Michele White
The windswept trees in the foreground of Monet’s painting, The Church at Varengeville, were the inspiration for Michele White’s new work.
Hand-crafted in silver, each layer was carefully constructed to represent the church in the background, and trees in the foreground. The glorious autumn colours were created by pausing the process of oxidisation at different stages. Here, White fuses the ancient craft of jewellery-making with the fine art of painting, striving to capture an emotional response in her work through the careful selection of precious metal and gemstones.
Visitor Information:
Date: Mon 18 – Fri 22, 10am – 5pm & Sat 23 – Sun 24, 11am – 5pm
Venue: The Barber Institute of Fine Arts (R14 on map)
Booking: Free admission, no booking required.
Organiser: The Barber Institute of Fine Arts
This event is part of the University of Birmingham Arts & Science Festival (Monday 18 - Sunday 24 March 2013). For full details of the festival programme, please click here.