Abstract, Issue 27

British Art Fair | Saatchi Gallery, 26-29 Sep

We are very excited that the WBG Trust has been invited to have a stand at this year’s British Art Fair, Sep 26-29 at the Saatchi Gallery in London. We will be showing a selection of Barns-Graham’s late screenprints and a group of Glacier works to be displayed alongside the first ever showing of Dovecot Studios’ remarkable tapestry interpretation of Barns-Graham’s Glacier Ice Face, 1951.

We will also be showcasing work by six contemporary artists who have received financial support from the Trust – Rachel Duckhouse, Lynsey Mackenzie, Siobhan McLaughlin, Andy Harper, Jonathan Michael Ray and Clare Wardman.  These artists all participated in the From One to Another Cornwall/Scotland residency exchange organised by Visual Arts Scotland, in partnership with the Borlase Smart John Wells Trust, Marchmont House and Pier Arts Centre.

On Saturday 29 at 2pm at the Fair, we will be launching the forthcoming book Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: The Glaciers with two of the contributors, Alice Strang and Alyson Hallett.  We will also be showing some short films of Alyson reading from her latest poetry collection, End of the Glacier, inspired by Barns-Graham’s work.

Gallery East | Dancing into the Light II

On the 19 September the Trust will be returning to Suffolk for Dancing into the Light II, our second exhibition of Barns-Graham’s late career screenprints and etchings at the lovely Gallery East in Woodbridge. Colourful and vibrant, with works such as Sunghrie II, 2001, the show will be a welcome antidote to any early Autumn gloom.

All are welcome to the Private View on the 19th between 5-7pm, introduced by Trust Director, Rob Airey.  The Gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday 11-4pm and the exhibition runs until Sat 2 November.  For more information please visit the Gallery website.

Recent Residencies

A number of the artists who have received funding from the Trust towards residency opportunities have recently completed or are currently undertaking their residency.  Isle of Lewis based photographer Jess Holdengarde recently completed a residency at the Verzasca Foto Festival in Switzerland. This was a new opportunity developed in partnership with Stills: Centre for Photography in Edinburgh for a Scotland based photographer to visit Switzerland, reflecting Barns-Graham’s own important trip to the Alps in 1949.  Jess will be presenting new work coming out of the residency at Stills later in 2024.

We recently renewed our support for the longest running residency in the Trust portfolio, for 3-months at Porthmeor Studios in St Ives, hosted by the Borlase Smart John Wells Trust who manage the historic studio complex. The latest recipient of funding for this opportunity, Glasgow-based Rae-Yen Song, is currently working at the Studios, where Barns-Graham and contemporaries such as Ben Nicholson, Terry Frost and Patrick Heron all worked.  At the end of September another new residency will start, this time in partnership with the British School at Rome for a Scotland based artist to spend a 6 week research visit at the School.  This opportunity again links back to Barns-Graham’s own life and experiences – she made extended visits to Italy in 1954 and 1955, including a couple of night staying at the British School.  The first recipient of funding towards this residency is Aqsa Arif.

A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things

Following its great Crystal Globe success at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Mark Cousins’ film looking at the life and work of Barns-Graham is now touring to film festivals around the world. Having had its UK premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival and been shown at the prestigious Telluride festival in the USA, as well as in Norway and Majorca, in October there will be screenings in Athens, Vancouver and Rio de Janeiro.

In the UK, release into cinemas will begin in late October and continue into November – if your local cinema isn’t listed below, put in a request!  Mark will be present to introduce and take questions after all the screenings announced here.

Screenings with Mark Cousins introduction and Q&A

19 Oct | Bath Film Festival, 3pm
20 Oct  | Exeter (Venue to be announced)
21 Oct  | Plymouth Arts Centre, 7pm
22 Oct | The Poly Cinema, Falmouth, 7.30pm
23 Oct | Royal Cinema, St Ives
24 Oct | Watershed, Bristol
25 Oct | Queen’s Film Theatre, Belfast, 6pm
1 Nov | Central Doc Film Festival, Stirling, 5.15pm
2 Nov | DCA, Dundee, 4pm
3 Nov | Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle
5 Nov | Glasgow Film Theatre

Film Screening Updates

New Publications

Thank you to everyone who has purchased our delighful new children’s book, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: An Introduction to Her Life with Activities, which we launched last month. It will soon be joined by another new publication in our shop, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: The Glaciers, a definitive publication on this acclaimed series of paintings. It will be published with Lund Humphries on 7 October and is now available for preorder in our online shop.

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Our Latest Blogs

Eros, Sing and Barns-Graham’s other cats

Anyone who’s had a chance to look through our new children’s book by illustrator Annabel Wright and art educator Kate Temple will now be familiar with its two cheeky and playful feline narrators, Eros and Sing. To coincide with the launch of the book, we’ve drawn together stories and archive materials of some of her cats, Fuskin Chuff, Sing, Eros and the clowder at Balmungo.

Where to See Willie

Through loans, gifts and permanent collections at partner museums, there are lots of opportunities to see Barns-Graham works across the country this autumn.

Red Table, 1952 (above) remains on loan to The Shape of Things: Still Life in Britain at Pallant House Gallery until 20 October. Don’t miss this exhibition that could ‘hardly be more enjoyable if they tried‘!

A special display of modern and contemporary artists with connections to West Yorkshire and West Cornwall is now on display at Leeds Art Gallery, including Barns-Graham’s Three Rock Forms, 1951 from their collection. ‘An Axis of Abstraction’: Art in Cornwall and Yorkshire – Then and Now is on show until March 2025.

Works can usually be found on display in galleries such as the City Art Centre, Edinburgh, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Tate Britain, Tate St Ives, Penwith Gallery, St Ives and Pier Arts Centre, Stromness.