Archive for Art

FREE Film Workshop is a great success

By Miranda on August 17, 2011

The Wootton Bassett Arts Festival ran a free short film workshop at Wootton Bassett Library on Saturday 6 August for people interested in writing and filming their own short film.

The workshop was run by award winning writer and director David Hawk and his in-depth knowledge of the industry and the filmmaking process was as obvious as his enthusiasm for the topic.  He has written and directed several short films of his own and has just finished writing his first feature length script, Facility 31.

Participants came from Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Cirencester and Reading and ranged in age from 12 to adult.  Illang Gnanasundaram, who took part in the workshop, said “I had read about some of the points that Dave was referring to in textbooks but it is quite different when someone explains it to you practically.  For me, it was like a refresher course that recharged my passion for this hobby.  Dave did a very good job covering all the fundamentals a film should definitely have, to make it a success”.

Film Workshop at Wootton Bassett Library

The Festival would like to thank two local businesses for sponsoring the event with the loan of equipment: Dreambase Studios for supplying audio visual equipment, including their video camera, and In-House Research and Training for supplying additional presentation equipment.

The Wootton Bassett Arts Festival has a new short film class in its syllabus this year.  Short films up to six minutes in length can be entered in the November festival, but the closing date for entries is 30 September.  For more information and to download a syllabus visit www.wbaf.co.uk or pick up a copy from Brian Taylor Music or Dandelion gift shop in Wootton Bassett High Street.

The Arts Festival is also holding two FREE Creative Writing workshops.  On the evening of 7 September Phil Kirby, a renowned local poet and our adjudicator this year, will focus on developing your poetry writing skills.  And on the afternoon of 10 September the attention will move to short story writing.  Both events will take place at Wootton Bassett Library and your place can be booked by emailing WBAFCreativeWriting@live.co.uk.

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Categories: Art, Film

Guild of Wiltshire Artists Exhibition in aid of Help for Heroes

By Miranda on November 1, 2010

Wootton Bassett Arts Festival is happy to promote THE GUILD OF WILTSHIRE ARTISTS’ Exhibition of Small Works in aid of Help for Heroes from 1st to 20th November 2010 at Framing and Stamping Corner, 49b High Street, Wootton Bassett. As part of the Guild’s 25th Anniversary celebrations members have been preparing small original art works for sale.

This is an opportunity to acquire work by one of the many accomplished Guild
members at an extremely reasonable price, while at the same time helping a worthwhile cause.

A variety of subjects, styles and media will be available, but each image will measure approximately 5” x 7” and will be priced at just £5 (unmounted). Exhibition space has kindly been provided by the owners of Framing and Stamping Corner (opening times Monday – Friday 9am – 5.30pm and Saturday 9am – 5pm).

Do come along and take a look at the work…

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Categories: Art, Guest Blog

Marlborough Open Studios

By Miranda on June 21, 2010

The Marlborough Open Studios (MOS) project has been running for 15 years. Throughout July local artists open up their studios, encouraging the public to join them and enjoy the work on display. One of the artists taking part is Antonetta Newton-Tyers, a participant in the Wootton Bassett Arts Festival’s Art Exhibition. The Committee strongly supports projects like this and is keen to promote other arts related events outside of the Festival.

This year there are 40 artists taking part covering a vast range of artistic styles and techniques. The Marlborough Open Studios website provides details on each of the artists making it easy to decide which you would enjoy visiting the most.

Artistic AldbourneAntonetta Newton-Tyres art example

Four of the artists participating in MOS are based in Aldbourne:

  • Gill Reeve – sculpter / mixed media
  • Alison H Edmonds – printing and photography
  • Fenella Elms – ceramic artist
  • Antonetta Newton-Tyres – artist

Plan a mini-trail around Aldbourne visiting each of the participating artists and you could incorporate a pub lunch into your schedule at either the Blue Boar on the village green or the Crown on the pond!

Antonetta Newton-Tyers

Antonetta Newton-Tyers (no 24) is known for her figurative artwork described as sensual and unique. Her portfolio is eclectic in style and genre and her use of colour is exciting and exuberant. She will also be showing her latest stone carvings in Black soapstone and Florentine alabaster. Also a new venture with Sally Spencer, jeweller of Didcot, has inspired the addition of solid silver to the white clay figures which are quite special. Some weekends there will also be a demonstration of Himalayan singing bowls.

Tel: 01672 541415
Email: anto...@newton-tyers.com
Address: 14 Farm Lane, Aldbourne, Nr Marlborough, SN8 2DS
Directions: http://www.marlboroughopenstudios.co.uk/antonettanewtontyers.html

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Categories: Art, Guest Blog, Photography

Winners in the Art Section of the Wootton Bassett Arts Festival

By Miranda on June 20, 2010

The Art Section of the Wootton Bassett Arts Festival was new in 2010 but the standard of work entered was of a very impressive quality. We hope that those who entered this year will enter again and that many more local artists and photographers will take part in the future. Here is a list of this year’s winners by category:

  • A3, Painting and Drawing, 11 to 13 years, The Apsley Cup – Brian Ivory
  • A4, Painting and Drawing, 14 to 16 years, The Townsend Cup – Lucie Menzies
  • A5, Painting, 17 years and over, The Wootton Bassett Cup for Creative Art – Gemma Wealthdale
  • A7, Photography, 11 to 13 years, The Curtis Cup – Elliot Shirnia
  • A8, Photography, 14 to 16 years, Rosette – Joanna Peskett
  • A9, Photography, 17 years and over, The Swerve Cup for photography – Charlotte Balmer

Gemma Wealthdale was also awarded the Chairman’s Rose Bowl for the most outstanding entry in the Art Section at the Highlights Concert on Sunday 13th June.

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Categories: Art, Highlights Concert, Photography

What’s on TODAY at the Highlights Concert

By Miranda on June 13, 2010

The Festival will culminate tonight in the Highlights Concert where the most outstanding performances of the Festival are invited to share their work with a capacity audience in the Memorial Hall.

Expect to see:

  • Singers
  • Pianists
  • Solo Acting
  • Jazz Woodwind
  • Poetry
  • Group Acting

and so much more…

Tickets are FREE and on a first come first served basis. However, a Festival like ours does cost a great deal to put on so donations will be very much appreciated.

Hope to see you there!

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Categories: Art, Creative Writing, Highlights Concert, Music, Speech and Drama

What’s on TODAY – Saturday 12th June

By Miranda on June 11, 2010

Today is SUPER SATURDAY!

It is the busiest day of the Festival with all four sections operating. Here’s the low down for what’s on in each area:

ART – the Exhibition opens at 9am on the Ground Floor of the Civic Centre. The Exhibition will end at 5.30pm and awards will be presented at 6.00pm. Collection of artwork will follow at 6.30pm. Please remember to bring your tickets so that we can be certain the correct artwork is paired with the correct artist!

CREATIVE WRITING – this is taking place in the Upper Room at the Memorial Hall. It runs between 12 noon and 1.30pm.

SPEECH AND DRAMA – performances start at 9.30am and run until approximately 5.00pm. Performances on show will include Verse Speaking, Duologue Acting, Solo Acting, Shakespeare Acting, Group Acting, TV News Reading, Solo Mime, Logical Grumbling, Prepared Reading, Memorised Prose, Duologue Mime, Bible Reading and Public Speaking.

MUSIC – continues in the Memorial Hall starting at 9.30am with Ensemble followed by Woodwind, Piano Duet, Family Groups, Piano Solos, Jazz, Strings and Brass. The last class of the day is Piano Solos which starts at 8.15pm.

REFRESHMENTS – will be on sale from 9am through to 4pm on the Ground Floor of the Civic Centre so pop by for your lunch or afternoon tea we will have filled rolls, tea, coffee, soft drinks, crisps, sweets, biscuits and HOME MADE CAKES.

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Categories: Art, Creative Writing, Festival LIVE, Music, Photography, Speech and Drama

What’s On at the Wootton Bassett Arts Festival

By Miranda on June 8, 2010

With only two days to go until the Festival begins we thought it would be helpful to give you a guide to “What’s On” to help you decide what performances you would like to visit.

The Festival Begins…

On Thursday at 1.00pm the Festival opens in St Bartholomew and All Saints Church on Wootton Bassett High Street. Thursday afternoon starts with Pre-School and Junior Choirs and moves on to a variety of other Junior Vocal classes. The evening session continues at the church at 6.00pm with Secondary age Vocal Classes, Adult Vocal Classes, Adult Choirs and Vocal Groups. The evening is expected to finish at approximately 9.00pm.

A Plethora of Piano Solos

Friday evening is dedicated to young pianists studying Piano at grades Preliminary, 1 and 2 and takes place in the Memorial Hall on Station Road.

Super Saturday!

Saturday morning starts early… At 9.00am the doors will be open at the Civic Centre ready for the Verse Speaking classes on the 1st floor and TV News Reading in the Mayor’s Parlour both of which start at 9.30am. On the ground floor of the Civic Centre  REFRESHMENTS will be on sale and you can view the ART EXHIBITION throughout the day. All art entries will be adjudicated at 6.00pm at which point awards will be presented. During the rest of the morning you can watch Duologue Acting, Solo Acting, Solo Mime, Duologue Mime, Memorised Prose, Prepared Prose Reading and “Logical Grumbling”. Followed in the afternoon by more Solo Acting, Verse Speaking, Prepared Prose Reading, Bible Reading, Solo Shakespeare Acting, Group Acting and Public Speaking.

Meanwhile, at the Memorial Hall the day starts at 9.30am with Ensembles followed by Piano Duets, Woodwind, Family Groups, Jazz and Piano Solos. Between 12 noon and 1.30pm Creative Writing will be adjudicated in the Upper Room and Music continues from 2.15pm onwards with Woodwind, Strings, Brass and Jazz. Music starts again for an evening session of Piano Solos beginning at 6.30pm.

Spectacular Sunday

Jazz Piano kicks-off Sunday morning bright and early in the Memorial Hall at 9.00am with Piano Solos taking up the rest of the morning. In the afternoon you can enjoy the Harp followed by Strings, Woodwind, Modern Pop Songs, Songs from Operetta, Shows and Films and finally some classic Disney tunes.

Speech and Drama moves to Noremarsh School on Sunday where you can enjoy Choral Speaking, Group Acting, Duologue Acting, Verse Speaking, Solo Acting and Solo Mime.

The Highlights Concert – The Best of the Best

The whole Festival culminates on Sunday evening at 6.30pm with the Highlights Concert where the most outstanding performers of the Festival are invited to perform their work before the Mayor of Wootton Bassett in the Memorial Hall. This is a thrilling evening of exceptional talent so do try to join us on the night. Admission is free though donations are welcomed to support the Committee’s efforts to stage the Festival in future years. Seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis and are limited by the capacity of the hall.

Programmes are ON SALE NOW (£2.50) at Brian Taylor Music, Wootton Bassett High Street, giving full details of all performances or can be bought during the Festival on the door…

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Categories: Art, Creative Writing, Highlights Concert, Music, Speech and Drama

Art Launch 30th March 2010

By Miranda on April 3, 2010

On Tuesday 30th March the Wootton Bassett Arts Festival held a Launch event for the NEW Art Section. The Festival Committee were really pleased to welcome Paul Deacon, our Art Adjudicator, who mingled with the attendees throughout the evening.

Art Launch featuring Paul Deacon

Art Launch featuring Paul Deacon Art Adjuducator

Presenters from the Festival gave a little background about the Festival and the reasons for starting a NEW Art Section. As a matter of fact when the Festival ran last year we received emails and phone calls asking us why there was no art section. As it happens last year we introduced Creative Writing and Speech and Drama and felt that another new section might be just too much to manage so we are pleased to be able to say that there will be an Art Section this year and that all those who felt it was missing last year – now’s your chance!

Presentations at Art Launch

Presentations at Art Launch

After the background was explained a detailed explanation of all of the classes available was given and the audience was encouraged to make suggestions of changes or new classes to be included next year.

Lastly Shirley Ludford of Swindon 105.5 gave a talk about the radio station and went on to talk one to one to those present including members of the Wiltshire Guild of Artists and Wroughton Art Society about their Art Societies and all of their news.

Shirley Ludford

Shirley Ludford presents at Art Launch

Everyone enjoyed the wine, crudites and chance to socialise with the evening coming to a close at around 9.30pm! Thank you to everyone who came and to the Committee for all their hard work.

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Categories: Art

Wootton Bassett Arts Festival Launches NEW Art Section

By Miranda on March 10, 2010

Join us at the Launch of the New Art Section of the Wootton Bassett Festival. Anyone keen on painting, photography, drawing or 3-D Artwork is welcome to come along, share a glass of wine and canapés and find out more about the competition.

Camera Clubs and Art Societies might be particularly interested to hear that the presenter of Swindon 105.5’s Art2Art programme will be our guest for the evening. He will talk to us about the show and then mingle with the guests while expanding his contacts in the local Art community.

The other aim of the event is to gain input from people in the area with an interest in Art and Photography. This is the first year that we will be holding an Art Section so we would really appreciate the input and ideas from people in the Art community. We are hoping this will be an open meeting and that we can use the suggestions we receive to mould the competition to the requirements of the artists and photographers themselves.

The Launch will take place on Tuesday 30th March in the Civic Centre, Station Road, Wootton Bassett and starts at 7pm. However, this will be an informal occasion so the doors will remain open throughout the event.

To book a place at the Art Launch please call Miranda Shirnia on 01666 824410 or email miranda@wbaf.co.uk. More information plus an invitation can be found on our Art page.

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Categories: Art, Photography
Syllabus

Download the NOVEMBER ARTS FESTIVAL SYLLABUS (12th & 13th November) HERE.