THE 2014 Thurrock Art Trail has been held in thirteen venues in seven of the borough’s towns and villages, and around eighty artists have been showing their artwork.
This weekend sees the culmination of Art Trail with ten of the venues still hosting exhibitions. Among these are the Well House and Swan Galleries in Horndon, both with a craft and textiles’ emphasis.
“It’s exciting to see so many artists emerge across the borough,” said one of the organisers, Tim Harrold. “There’s still lots of art to be seen over the final few days, so plan your own trail and make a day of it.”
There are impressionistic paintings of Rainham Marshes at Studio 19 and Realist Urban Landscapes, both in South Ockendon.
‘Expressions of the Soul’ is a show by three painters in the Thameside Complex foyer in Grays.
There is art and craft at the Gateway People’s Centre in Stanford-le-Hope; art and photography at St Stephen’s Church in Purfleet; and more painting at ‘Ron Contemporary’ in Grays.
‘Mucking Marvels’ is the name of the exhibition of wildlife and landscape paintings and photography held in the uniquely designed visitors’ centre Thurrock Thameside Nature Park in Mucking. A multi-media timeline makes up part of the show, and on Saturday 20 September there is a Wildlife Photography Workshop (booking essential).
The High House Artists’ Studios in Purfleet will be open to the public all weekend. On Friday there are workshops in the studios during the day, and in the evening there is a Pop-Up Gallery of some of the High House Artists’ work in the Backstage Centre from 6pm onwards.
This is followed at 7.30pm by a Showcase event in the main Backstage auditorium featuring five local acts. These include spoken word poet Steve Lawton; band Sensation Smith; singer-songwriter Phil Smith’s folk group; and the Funky Voices choir. This event is free.
“The open studios provide a great opportunity to talk to artists and artisans and see them at work,” says Tim. “Where else can you get to meet sculptors, painters, photographers, costumiers, textile workers, and mixed-media fabricators all in one place in Thurrock?”
For opening times and locations of the Thurrock Art Trail venues, see www.thurrockarts.com.
See a short film about High House Artists’ Studios made by local young filmmaker Jonny Harrold:
Showcase booking: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-backstage-centre-autumn-showcase-tickets-12014582941
