By Joanne Mace
* IN THIS centenary year for International Women’s Day, Fairfields has assembled yet another impressive collection of work by female artists.
This is the Basingstoke centre’s 18th year of putting on an exhibition to mark the occasion – having started in March 1993 – making it the longest-running such exhibition in the area.
It was fantastic to see a steady stream of people arriving on the opening night to have a look at the work of this year’s local, national and international lucky ladies, who have been privileged to be given such a platform.
Maggie Kitching’s vinyl cuts and etchings line up for perusal on the left wall as you enter the room, and they’re a diverse selection. While Girl No 3’s steady gaze demands your attention, you may be slightly more unnerved by the stare of the four marionettes in the creepy The Storeroom.
As I’m a bit of a magpie, my eye was immediately drawn to the stunning colours on canvas of Indian artist Seema Gill. There to watch people’s reaction to her work, she explained that she “paints in poetry” and her poem was on display beside its companion art Fisherwoman from Kerala, an illuminating insight. Lots of the other work is a stark contrast, colour-wise, to Seema’s, including the beautiful framed drawings of Basingstoke’s Claire Leach, who is inspired by nostalgic postcards, photographs and bizarre curios.
Aran Illingworth’s amazing textile pieces are another standout, the detail of their creation not obvious until you have a close look and see how she has recycled textiles and embroidered them for images including the striking Madonna and Children.
Glass artist Sarah Ward’s humorous stained glass leaded panel In These Shoes, inspired by a Kirsty McColl song, will raise a smile, while you’ll be amazed how evocative a few thread lines can become in talented Georgie Meadows’ stitched drawings.
Your attention in the top left corner of the lovely exhibition space will be demanded by Gemma Hadley’s amazing nude acrylic and oil Blue, inspired by Michelangelo’s Last Judgment, and there’s much, much more besides.
Given the track record of this exhibition, excellently curated by Andy Buchanan, and of Fairfields for spotting talent early in careers, this could be your chance to see – or even snap up – art from an award winner of the future.