Basingstoke ObserverCOP26 Climate Conference exhibiting artist Mark Weighton, painter and printer Ian Mowforth and respected plein air artist Alan Streets are just three of the artists showing works in a special exhibition at The Lightbox in Woking.
Replacing Kitty: An Exhibition of Canal Artwork runs until Sunday 6 March, featuring pieces by a whole host of artists inspired by the waterway.
Mark Weighton hit the headlines recently when his major sculpture installation Burnt Wood featured at the UN COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow last year.
Alan Streets was the subject of a double Academy Award-winning film: ‘My name is Alan and I Paint Pictures’, and Ian Mowforth was the person to raise the idea of an exhibition following the success of his work at Great Dixter House and Gardens, where an exhibition raised money for the Great Dixter Charitable Trust.
He was introduced to the Basingstoke Canal during a visit to friends and mooted the idea of an exhibition to raise funds for the Basingstoke Canal Society’s plans to replace the ageing canal trip boat, Kitty.
Now the Society is preparing for the doors to open on a diverse selection of artworks showcasing the styles and skill of 19 talented artists.
Brenda Ord, Carla Scarano D’Antonio, Charles Duncan Twigg, Christopher Wright, Diana Uzun, Ingrid Skoglund, Stephen Kinder, Zoe Devika Navarre, Diana Philips, Tinx Newton, Liz Seward, Julia Jacs, Thinesh Thirugnanasampanthar, RG Best, Dodie Shariff and Natalie Eliasz complete the line-up.
A mostly self-taught painter, Alan said: “I am an Outsider Artist. I have got schizophrenia and I suffer from auditory and visual hallucinations. For most of the last year I have been working on a hand-painted book that describes in detail the hallucinations that I see and hear.”
Alan has submitted one of his favourite subjects for paintings to the exhibition – a pub street scene. It is available at auction for a guide price of £700.
Fascinated by light and colour, Ian is particularly known for his landscapes. Prior to lockdown, Ian very much enjoyed showing work inspired by the gardens at Great Dixter in Sussex, where he was given access to create a series of paintings.
For the exhibition Ian has painted a snow scene of the Basingstoke Canal in oil on canvas. This presents local art lovers with a rare opportunity to own a Mowforth original featuring a much-loved local landmark. This 35cm x 45cm (55cm x 70cm framed) piece is available through auction for a guide price of £550.
Mark has been creating artworks that explore the interconnected nature of existence for over thirty years. From his studio in Surrey, Mark has exhibited his work internationally, featuring in many public and private collections across Europe and the Americas.
Visitors to the exhibition will recognise elements of Mark’s COP26 sculptural piece in his exhibited piece here, which is also called Burnt Wood. Guide price: £450
Ingrid describes herself as an experimental contemporary artist working from a messy home studio. She said: “I work unconventionally with various media to produce unexpected and unpredictable effects. I rarely use a brush and I’m currently working with the toxic fumes of alcohol ink and isopropyl, although the beautiful translucent effects are worth it!”
Replacing Kitty: An Exhibition of Canal Artwork will be open to visitors between 10.30am and 5pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 11am to 4pm on Sundays. Entry is free, with a suggested donation of £3 going to the Basingstoke Canal Society.
Every artwork on display is available to buy at auction, giving fans of particular pieces or artists the chance to take a much-loved original and unique artwork home to enjoy forever! Buyers can make their bid at https://app.galabid.com/kitty
All proceeds from the go to the Basingstoke Canal Society project to replace its ageing canal trip boat, Kitty. A new, solar-electric canal trip boat and installation of electric charging points along the canal in Woking will cost around £200,000 in total. The Society has already raised in excess of £100,000 towards this.
