Art in Focus – March 2021

01/03/2021 | Reform

KintsugiPottery, powdered gold

Broken tea bowl? Disaster! But wait. Look more closely. Those cracks are filled with gold.

This is an example of the ancient Japanese tradition of Kintsugi – the art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or … Read More

Art in focus: November 2020

23/10/2020 | Reform

Remembrance James Charles, oil on canvas

A young girl, dressed in black, waters red flowers on a grave in the churchyard. Behind her, a man turns towards the church. As we study the painting and think about this quiet moment, … Read More

Art in focus: October 2020

28/09/2020 | Reform

The Good Samaritan (after Delacroix)Vincent van Gogh, oil on canvas

When he painted this picture, van Gogh was himself in need of care. He was living in Saint-Paul psychiatric asylum, in the south of France, where he had arrived exhausted, … Read More

Art in focus: September 2020

29/08/2020 | Reform

Jawahar AnshurMarc Quinn, concrete

Marc Quinn made headlines in July for his sculpture, A Surge of Power (Jen Reid), which was immediately removed by Bristol Council from the plinth newly vacated by the controversial figure of Edward Colston. Some people … Read More

Art in focus: July/August 2020

26/06/2020 | Reform

Solar SystemEllen Harding Baker, wool-fabric applique, silk embroidery

In 1876, the solar system was all the rage. Ellen Harding Baker was an astronomer – an acceptable field of interest for women in the 19th century – and was looking for … Read More

Art in focus: May 2020

24/04/2020 | Reform

GaiaLuke Jerram

We have been gazing at the moon for millennia but the first time humankind saw the earth first hand – a beautiful blue and white sphere floating in space – was in 1968, with Nasa’s Apollo 8 mission. … Read More