Living from Art at Parabola Arts Centre 26 April 10- 8
- Anna Poulton
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
May 24, 2024
4 min read
Updated: 6 minutes ago
An introduction to the Living from Art members featured at this event
14 different Living from Art members have work at Parabola Arts Centre for our open day on Saturday 26 April between 10 and 8. The hung work will stay in place until 7 May, so staff, girls and visitors to all the different events also have an opportunity to look at the work and buy a piece if they wish.
I’ve been fortunate to put on exhibitions at PAC for 6 years now. It's always hard work, but worth it! I get great pleasure from being able to support people who’ve never exhibited before, as well as welcoming back more experienced artists. Each year I look round all the different pieces and marvel at the variety and diversity of the work, and think how I can do more to encourage visitors to learn more about the art they like and the art that doesn’t move them. It’s wonderful when someone finds the work that speaks to them.
Living from Art members are already a very diverse group, but in the last year it has been invigorating to have worked with many people from other countries who have sought sanctuary in Cheltenham. They have brought their energy , resilience, their different techniques and specific cultural references to the work here. Almost half of the work here is by people with origins or connections to other countries, and I think the exhibition very much benefits from this diversity.
I know many people don't want to read about art , they want to look at it! For some though - and I'm one of those people, the artists story as well as a little about the subject can intrigue and encourage us to see more when we do look at a piece.
And so - let's look a little closer at two of the artists, Sahar Chalegi and Dalia Obretin
At first glance, you might not think their work is similar. They have very different colour pallets and density in their work, and you perhaps wouldn't put them together.
They both make their work affordable by selling prints.
Sahar sells her prints through her website, https://www.saharkhaleghi.art/ for the client to arrange their own framing.
Dalia is taking this one step further where people can order the image printed on canvas and already framed through her website, https://www.daliaobretin.com/
Some would say that good art should not not be on a totebag. I disagree. It gives me real pleasure to use mine.
Dalia and Sahar both have work on the walls here so you can check the quality yourself and buy ready-framed work to take away. I hope this will be a very successful exhibition for them both.
Do you like your art to look real? It's a comment I hear often, 'I don't like all this abstract stuff, I want to see nature or landscapes as they really are.' I'm delighted that work from new member Sean Dunn, meets this brief.
He paints in water colours, and offers a more muted palette to contrast with the vibrant colours of many of the other artists. His paintings show birds and animals in great details a well as local buildings which are very accurately represented. He knows his style may be considered 'old-fashioned' but he just says 'This is how I want to paint'
I have two wonderful young women from Ukraine at PAC this year, Olha Barvynka, and Oksana Fursovich.
I am proud to have both of them in the group and admire their energy, resilience and excellent English . They both care very much about Ukraine and it is an integral part of their work, but in somewhat different ways
Olha is currently studying fine art at the University and is exploring many different styles. Her website https://olhabarvynka.art/ shows the development of her work over the years. The pieces at PAC are from 2023 and tell powerful stories about Ukraine. I learnt a lot from reading her accompanying script to the chosen pieces
Oksana has a new series of paintings at PAC this time, having sold many pieces here previously. They all have strong connections to Ukraine and Ukrainian culture. They have fewer specific stories to them, but Oksana is proud to share their Ukrainian connections.
Oksana is also bringing merchandise to go alongside the jewellery and necklaces of Andreea Dragne. Her handmade bags, flowery garlands for pets as well as people, crocheted animals will all add colour and Ukrainian style to brighten our days!
I've only shared information about a third of the artists -do tell me if you've found it interesting or has encouraged you to come along on Saturday.
And here are some more images to tempt you to visit. Parabola Arts Centre 10 - 8 on Saturday 26 April
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