art gets in

all three of this year's visual artists are here, and loading their pieces into the cathedral, and it is great to see all of the work properly rather than as jpeg files. While Angie Lewin and Andy Lovell nad met briefly once before, this is the first time that Alistair Tucker has met either, and certainly the first time that all three have exhibited together. All up there is 152 feet of hanging space (is that a lot? it feels a lot) and with it roughly split into three, we can expect well over 100 pieces to be hung, although until they're up we're not sure which ones and how many. It also occured to me this morning that this is the first time since I started here in 2005 that we've had 2D work up in both the North Choir Aisle and the Chapter House, which is of course what happened pretty much every year before I arrived.

glimpse of visual arts

Earlier this afternoon I received a e-ping from Angie Lewin about her imminent exhibition in Lichfield, and it reminded me that she had sent through the work she has done specifically for the this year's Festival. She and I spoke ages ago about doing something as a reaction to being invited to exhibit here in Lichfield, and she not only very graciously agreed, but has also offered to give the total sales of the first 20 (of an edition of 60) completely to the Lichfield Festival for the direct benefit of future visual arts exhibitions. To the right is a sneak peak of the print - entitled Pale day, which is a delicate little wood engraving on Japanese paper. For those with a bit of time on their hands I would heartily recommend her blog. Alternatively, go to here for some excellent press articles about her work and her studio.
Subsequently, as both Alistair Tucker and Andy Lovell came on board for the exhibition, they also agreed to do specific works for this exhibition. I have yet to clock Andy's, but below is a little hint of one of the three that Alistair has done for Lichfield.