Rivers Gallery

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Long time no blog

Friday, January 07, 2011

I realise I haven't blogged (if that is the right word) for quite some time. Life has been busy. I have sold my cottage and am moving to a new apartment very soon - so that has all taken up a great deal of time as well as the usual Christmas trading.

I have had some great new work in the gallery but like all businesses it has been very slow. For this reason I am offering reductions across the gallery for two weeks from 12th January. So if you are nearby or due to visit make sure you don't miss this opportunity.

I have always kept my prices to a minimum. I am not VAT registered and many of the artists and makers I represent are also not VAT registered and this together with my low mark up and reasonable commission has kept prices for unique, hand made work reasonably low but, for myself and the makers this means we rely on steady sales to keep going. The reductions I will offer for these two weeks means you can be assured of a bargain and myself and those I represent can continue to bring new and exciting work to you.

November brings lots of new work

Thursday, November 04, 2010

New and wonderful work coming in ready for Christmas. Two makers whose work I have been seeking for some time are now showing at Rivers Gallery. Antonia Salmon whose work is considered and I believe is up there with the best ceramic abstract artists and Paul Smith whose wonderful, oft times quirky ceramic sculpture compliments Nicola Slattery's drypoint prints so well. Sarah Jane brown has made lots of wonderful small knitted wire creatures for the gallery and Rob Whelpton has just sent some lovely new work. New work also from Janine Partington whose enamel wall pieces have been seling really well.

Yesterday I received some lovely colourful fused glass pieces from Gilllian Hulse. Big treat for Christmas are the wonderful angels, fairies, robins, reindeer etc., from the lovely couple who make up the Angel Bill Trading Company. He is a carpenter and she specialises in textiles and together they make the most delightful decorative pieces for the home.

Yes, lots to get excited about and lots on individually made gifts for Christmas and don't forget the unusual and beautiful jewellery I have found, definately not to be found on any high street nearby.

I look forward to seeing you.

Judi

Catch Up

Friday, October 01, 2010

A Pinch and a punch for the first of the month. I cannot believe it is October already. Heading for Christmas and yes already I have lots of work that would make fantastic gifts for friends and loved ones....and more coming in. Some great ceramic small and amusing animal pieces from Rob Whelpton and more coming from Christine Cummings (the latter new to Rivers Gallery). Also old friend of the gallery who has not shown here for some time Bill Rickinson is back.

Currently I am showing lots of recycled plastic bag jewellery, lamps and flowers from Anna Roebuck - Bags2Riches. They really do stand out because they are very, very attractive.

Also have some truly beautiful jewellery in. Just in, Adele Taylor bracelets, bangles, earrings and especially rings. One a lemon quartz, harlequin cut ,gold and oxidised silver ring is to find a new home today with the owner of a dress shop 5 doors from the Gallery - dangerously close for both of us! Gail Klevan, maker of hand painted and set in resin womens jewellery and cufflinks has sent new work which is already displayed AND before I had completely unpacked, priced and displayed new work from Vizati a topaz and silver ring was snapped up.

There are some great new ceramics coming in. Big treat is Antonia Salmon and Paul Smith's work coming in very soon.

Antonia Salmon is a very well known ceramicist and I have been trying to get her work, wonderful sculptural bowls, in the gallery for a number of years now - hey success! Paul Smith has also proved to be elusive - until now. His figures are charming and sit particularly well with Nicola Slattery's wonderful prints which are also now showing in the gallery.

I love showing people around and showing off so do come over and visit. Hours have changed, summertime is over so the Gallery will be open Tuesday to Saturday.

Hope to see you

Tardy Blog

Friday, August 27, 2010

Well I had no idea it had been this long since I last blogged. Shame on me. Still at least I do still get aorund to adding info to facebook which links to twitter each week and I am still updating work on the website.

This week however, I had a mini disaster. I found a major leak coming from the flat above on Thursday. Water had to be turned off, water released, wallpaper removed, plumber in to find source and stop it and dehumidifiers. Luckily the water missed the computer, electrics and work hanging nearby but phew it caused my heart to beat faster and more irregularly than usual.

Still getting new work in very regularly and will try and keep up blog a bit better, but do join up to my facebook page to get weekly updates. Remember too, that I do do a fairly regular newsletter so please sign up for that as well.

Dry cheers for now.

Judi

MAY and its still cold and no definitive election outcome

Friday, May 07, 2010

The title of this blog makes me sound grumpy and I would be if my surroundings were not as pleasant, if the people who drop into the gallery were not so interesting and the work I continue to find wasn't so exciting. So I have a lot to be grateful for - even if the future of the country seems a bit shaky and the weather is too cold. I have found loads of new and very talented makers and artists. I have been busy promoting their work and the gallery on facebook and twitter and by e newsletter. The stats for this site are very good with loads of hits for all pages and the statistics for facebook are building well. Very gratifying. I have had a new section developed for the website for archived work which should go on line very soon. Anyone who knows Rivers Gallery knows that space is limited and that not all that is on the website is in here at any one time. The archive section will allow me to display work I have shown and which may be available or repeatable - so when this goes live and if you see anything that interests you, please get in touch and I will see what I can do. In the meantime I have added a number of new names and images do have a look in the gallery section and I hope to see you soon.

Judi

Mothering Sunday and new work

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Mothering Sunday, a Trip to see a rarely performed Stephen Sondeim production ‘Anyone Can Whistle’ at the Jermyn Street Theatre. Like Sondeim work I have previously seen it is very off beat and hugely enjoyable. Acting, singing, music and dancing so good. Great Mothers Day treat (also loved the choreography!). Lots of goodies and cards from my wonderful offspring and an overnight stay.

This latter was partly so that I could push off early on Monday morning to see a number of artists in the home counties the first of which, Keziah Wilkes allowed me to choose some stunning bronzes and very simple very appealing life studies in chalk and pencil.

I first met Keziah just as she was going off to university, I was taken with her work then and a number of years on my view hasn’t changed. These are now available in the gallery and a selection can be viewed on both the paintings page and the sculpture page – do have a look.

On to Anneli Boon. I have been showing Anneli’s work for a number of years now. It is always fresh, always colourful and brings light and optimism into any living space. Anneli says her work is very much a product of her Finnish homeland – “enough is enough” and she captures and reproduces the light of her native home. Again you can see examples of her latest work on the paintings section of the website.

I hope all you Mother’s out there had a lovely day as well, I hope everyone else did too. Hope to see you soon.

Judi