The first Ruby Art Expo, held last weekend in Holsworthy's Memorial Hall, was an impressive celebration of the rich diversity and the high standards achieved by the contemporary art scene in North West Devon, writes Christine Williams, our Holsworthy correspondent.
Works in a variety of media were submitted by about 50 local artists. The majority of the 177 items on display were paintings in oil, water-colour, acrylic or pastel, but there were also photographs, pen and chalk drawings and ceramics as well as textiles, woodcarving and glass.
In addition there was an exhibition of 32 captivating black and white photographs of the rural life and landscape of North Devon in the 1970s and 1980s by the late James Ravilious taken from his 17 year project for the Beaford Photographic Archive.
A dedicated team of helpers worked all day last Thursday, transforming the Memorial Hall, and mounting, hanging, lighting and cataloguing the items to be displayed. Then on Friday evening more than 150 invited guests attended a preview and none could fail to be impressed by the scale of the event and the stunning quality of work being produced by local artists.
All the items were for sale and, in fact, the first to go were two acrylic portraits of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley by Sue Godwin of Pyworthy.
Tom Dixon, Ruby Country Coordinator, welcomed the guests to what he described as "a grand show, well-presented in a superb venue." He thanked all those, especially Cath Douglas-Willis, who had worked so hard to put the weekend together on a very tight schedule. He also thanked Cllr Des Shadrick who had conceived the idea for an art event to be a showcase for the talent of local artists.
With the future of the Ruby Project at risk, he appealed for people to give their support. "Now is the time to write a letter to bolster the bids for funding that are being submitted. You can make a difference," he said.
On Saturday the Manor Suite was turned into a film studio where, led by artist Lucy Jackson, a dozen children attended a workshop entitled 'Animated Worlds' and spent the day producing their own three-minute cartoon.
Throughout the weekend visitors were asked to vote for the work they liked most and the winner will receive the Ruby Art Award in due course. On one thing all were agreed: the Ruby Art Expo was a great
success and must become a regular fixture in the Ruby Country calendar.