Only 18 days until we reopen to the public. So the five galleries that artists from Rugby are on show in are not our galleries. But there is an element of Alex in each of these fantastic shows. Let me explain...
In town until 3rd Feb 2024, the Rugby Artists and Makers Network have their fourth annual exhibition in the Rugby Art Gallery and Museum Floor One Gallery. Go Fourth! features some of the artists whose work you will have seen at the Alex. (Poster and catalogue here). Some of them doing unfamiliar work (as you will see). We had a visit from Deputy Mayor Simon Ward on Saturday and he had lovely things to say about the importance of art and community. Here are some of the artists. Lovely work, a great show. Well worth a visit. (Open 10-5 and two stewards at each session, so come and ask about their work).
The Coventry Arts Societies Exhibition at the Herbert is in Gallery 1 this year (the same room as used for the Coventry Open and Coventry Biennale shows). With extra space available, Rugby Artists and Makers Network answered the call and we have 15 local artists on show there. Some of the biggest work in the room is by Rugby Artists IJE and Emma Town and some of the smallest too (Ditherella's workshop)! Open from 2nd Feb to 3rd March.
Also in Coventry and opening on the same day is the Graz Ruts Expo. You may have spotted the GrazRutszine at the Alex, its a round up of Arts in the West Midlands by Evelynn Wenman and Victoria Duffield-Harding, both from Rugby. They both have works in this show which is at the Litten Tree Building Showrooms. This is a venue in a pub but a far vaster pub than the Alex. It is a temporary location which is due to end in March (the building is being re-developed) so this show would be a good opportunity to visit. Its open 1st Feb - 29th Feb 2-4pm.
Over in Leamington and also opening on 2nd Feb is the Leamington Open 2024. The last one (in 2022) only Steve Davies had work in here (two of his flowers pictures), but this year you can see work by IJE, Jennie Fletcher and Eric Gaskell as well as Steve. He had both his works selected and is delighted that one of them is clearly identifiable in the reel about the judging. Its a smaller exhibition than the one at the Herbert in terms of number of work, so with five works by Rugby artists that is a good proportion. Also it is open longer - until 12th May. (Quite pleased to have a picture of Cemex hanging in Leamington!) Both his works were - of course - made at the Alex.
In the same building (upstairs) as Go Fourth! its last week of the Rugby Open 2023 (ends on 3rd Feb 2024)
Hoping you have already been to see it a few times. The Alex were thrilled to be awarding prizes and hope to have our prize winners exhibiting here at the Alex soon. These were Val Hunt (Art at the Alex 3D award), who made great 3D art (tortoise and necklace) from can and other reused metal. Leah Stuart (Art at the Alex 2D award) for her lovely embroidery of St Marks Basilica, Venice. We had fun choosing and we kept being drawn to another piece which won several awards (Warwickshire Open Studios EMERGE award and Highly Commended in the Youth category) - Jacob Walden – Myself and Crow #5. A big work with a dead crow in it. We loved it and will be bringing it back to the Alex for our personal collection. Certainly a growing collection that - and knowing some of the exhibitors here this year we expect it to grow some more!