Oxfordshire Artweeks starts in less than a fortnight, and as part of the annual event the five-acre Cotswold garden at Kingham Lodge will host an exhibition of sculpture by local and international artists.
From 1-9 May, a collection of 400 works of art will be displayed within the stunning gardens, showcasing local, national and international artists using materials from stone to steel.
With prices ranging from £10 to £40,000 there is something for everyone and an opportunity to treat yourself to some post lockdown art.
The event will be Kingham Lodge’s 5th biennial show, which has raised over £200,000 for
charity over the years. Organisers have worked hard to create a much-needed and wonderful day out, made Covid secure through pre-booked tickets and careful site planning.
Marina Colville from Kingham Lodge said: “We are delighted to be able to host Sculpture at Kingham Lodge this year. We have over 400 works of art from regular contributors who have been busy during lockdown as well as new artists exhibiting in public for the first time so we are delighted to host such a range of work from bronze to wood to kinetic sculptures in steel and more.”
Special features from Kingham Lodge’s delayed 2020 show’s celebration of VE75 includes plenty for plane enthusiasts including model spitfires with flying demonstrations as well as a scale outline of a spitfire in Poppies from Bloxham School.
In contrast to this, a shadow of the drone Reaper made possible by internationally acclaimed artist Jamie Bridle is designed to spark a conversation about the world we live in today.
Marina added: “As a charity show, it is very important to us that the show goes ahead since there was almost no fundraising throughout the pandemic. Many charities are desperate for funding, so this show is very important for our charities as well as our artists.”
This year the benefitting charities are: local primary and secondary schools who are also encouraged to exhibit and attend the exhibition. Sculpture at Kingham Lodge gives grants to cover the cost of their materials, provide transport to attend the exhibition and where possible pays for artists to workshop with pupils to develop their exhibit.
The Koestler Trust – the UK’s best-known secure institution arts charity. They have been awarding, exhibiting and selling artworks by offenders, detainees and secure patients for over 50 years.www.koestlertrust.org.uk
Sculpture Park in Harare – now short of customers for their sculptors excellent work. Sculpture at Kingham Lodge has not only supported this work by buying and selling their sculpture but also through grants that have provided a borehole for fresh water, building of a schoolroom and exhibition space and providing a wheelchair for an artist.
Helen & Douglas House cares for terminally ill children, young adults and their families at their hospice in Oxford and at home. www.helenanddouglas.org.uk
Rafiki Thabo Foundation helps disadvantaged young people in Kenya, Uganda and Lesotho reach their full potential by enabling over 160 young people to access secondary and tertiary education and hot meals daily. www.rafiki-foundation.org.uk
Sculpture at Kingham Lodge will take place at Kingham Lodge, West End, Kingham, Oxfordshire OX7 6YL from May 1-9, and will be open from 10am-5pm. www.sculptureatkinghamlodge.com
The 2021 Oxfordshire Artweeks festival will run from May 1-23 and includes 250 covid-secure venues to visit, an on-line multi-artist taster show and 500 virtual exhibitions and studios on 23 themed art trails in the event’s art showcase. www.artweeks.org
oxinabox.co.uk is covering Oxfordshire Artweeks in full so watch this space for further details.
SARAH EDWARDS
