April Newsletter Issue 10 - 7 April 2022 |
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A Week at the Races! Editorial piece by Andy Owen-Smith, artist and Sixteen Gallery owner. |
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Leading up to race week in Cheltenham several local retailers warned me to expect a quiet week unless you are a bar, taxi firm or providing overnight accommodation. As this was Sixteen Gallery’s first Cheltenham Racing Festival week, I truly had no idea what to expect. The title of the show was ‘The Art of Horse Racing’, which we hoped would attract a few of the 100,000 new visitors to the town each day. My co-exhibitor was Emily Johnson, an equestrian artist and horse owner who possessed an amazing understanding of racehorses as well as the people and the unique terminology that surrounds the sport. We had done a good deal of local promotion and even a mention in the Guardian newspaper as part of a half page spread and a very large photo – we couldn’t be better placed, and we were ready for the off! After a great turn out for both the Private View on the Friday and Launch Party for family and friends on the Saturday and some sales under our belt we looked forward to the week ahead. Monday was busier than normal raising our levels of anticipation even further. Could this be the busiest week so far for the gallery? Tuesday morning came and the weather was dry and sunny, all the conditions were in our favour. The visitors loved the work and many of them were either owners or trainers, just the clients we hoped for. |
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The same happened for the next three days, we were busy most mornings, with lots of interest and some great conversations. However, as each day went by still no sales and just like a few of the favourites that week we came close but didn’t make it across the line. In any normal week, this number of visitors would normally equate to a few sales but clearly punters were in Cheltenham to race and drink, buying art was clearly not on their agenda. As the weekend arrived, the excitement dissipated, the transient population dispersed, and Cheltenham slowly returned to some form of normality, we sat back and reflected on the week. Ok we didn’t sell many pictures but had sold enough to cover our costs. We had also secured several possible commissions and built some solid contacts to follow up on after the show. The work was well received and had banked an enormous amount of feedback which would inform our future work. None of this would have happened if we had not had the exhibition. So even though we didn’t feed, hydrate, transport or provide accommodation exhibiting during Cheltenham Race week can be very lucrative. And to quote many of the racegoers – there is always next year! |
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What's happening this month? |
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One Story Is Not Enough 7th - 13th April |
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Currently on at Sixteen Gallery is a joint exhibition by local artists Jane Brighton, Luba Arnold-Larnie and Anthea Millier. The exhibition features contemporary and abstract landscape works. | | |
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Sculpt and Bloom 14th - 20th April |
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'Sculpt and Bloom' is a collaboration of two artists, Tracey Turner and Zoe Rudin, with a similar ethos, taking inspiration from nature and natural muted colours and tones. | | |
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Seasons of Change 22nd - 27th April |
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Artists Jaci Hogan and Alison Holt will be exhibiting at Sixteen Gallery in April with their show 'Seasons of Change'. |
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Exhibition Of Nordic Antique Art: From Stockholm to Skagen Brave Fine Art, 28th April - 4th May |
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"At Brave Fine Art, we track down attractive European paintings and work hard to discover their lost history. We’ve uncovered more than 400 lesser-known artists and we enjoy providing a stage for the extraordinary painters that time forgot." "At our Spring Exhibition, you'll find a collection of beautiful Nordic antique paintings - each with their own interesting history. From enigmatic Danish portraits, through to early Swedish impressionism, and fine interior scenes. Uncover intriguing artist stories while admiring the history of the region." | | |
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What's happening next month? |
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Curated Show - 'The Landscape' 7th - 17th May |
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The first Curated Show of the year will be taking place at Sixteen Gallery from 7th - 17th May on the theme of landscape art. Thank you to everyone who has submitted works and shown an interest in the show. The volume and quality of the submissions received has been extraordinary and we are currently in the process of shortlisting the works that will be featured. |
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Across the Land by artForce Collective, 19th May - 1st June |
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'Across the Land' is an upcoming exhibition at Sixteen Gallery by the artForce Collective. "The show celebrates the interconnection between our creative work, our lives, the land in which we live and the profound influence the people we meet have upon us." | | |
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Visit our website for gallery and exhibition news |
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16 Rotunda Terrace, Cheltenham, GL50 1SW UK 01242 33545 |
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