BLOBES. It’s an unusual name for what is an award-winning image.
And Tony Webster’s colourful creation is one of the most striking of the annual Calderdale Open Art Exhibition.
Currently in residence at the Smith Art Gallery, Brighouse, the annual exhibition was brought to town as part of the debut Brighouse Arts Festival.
Tom Ratcliffe, a former art teacher, painter and theoretical artist, says it was quite a coup to get the exhibition at the gallery.
“The festival was about bringing a mix of arts to town, but we’ve five art exhibitions which feature as part of it.
“The Calderdale Open Art Exhibition is usually shown in Halifax, but we asked if we could incorporate it into our arts festival and they were happy to.”
Last year’s exhibition attracted a total of 145 artworks, of which 84 pieces were exhibited in the community space at the Halifax Visitor Centre and Art Gallery. Around 3,600 people visited and it’s hoped a similar number will see the works at Smith Art Gallery before it closes on September 15.
The exhibition features 114 pieces of work – paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, textiles and mixed media by more than 70 artists from across the region.
Among those which stand out include a portrait of the moment Prince William wed – Gillian Gardaner’s Kate and William’s acrylic on canvas certainly turns heads to the corner of the gallery.
While Patricia Durdey’s By the River evokes memories of lazy days.
Those selected for a prize include Daniel Shiel’s Malakof photograph, Patricia Durdey’s By the River watercolour, Roger Simpson’s Ahead watercolour, Robert Wesley’s Southgate, Halifax, oil, Philip Elliston’s Seaside Dream in lino reduction print and Bohslav Barlow’s Green Winter oil on linen.
Susan Dodd’s Beetle Diaries, Dorothy Simister’s Amsterdam Hats and Tony Holahan’s Early Morning Above Danby were also selected as prize winners.
It brings us back to Blobes by Tony Webster, one of three submissions by the artist.
Visitor Ellen Hargreaves said: “There’s more than 100 images in here and it’s the stand out for me.
“It’s not just the bright colours, but the fact that you really have to think about what it is.”
Other notable winners are Katherine Wackerbarth for Growth III, Chris Newsham for Upper Bolin Valley, Ella Berry’s Tribute to Picasso and Larissa Moskatera’s Last Performance complete the winners.
The Calderdale Open Art Exhibition runs until September 15, Monday-Friday 10am-6pm except from 12.30-1.30pm. Closed Wednesdays and Sundays.
Admission is free and it’s open to all. next year’s Open takes place at the Bankfield Museum, Halifax.
