A Bedford artist has opened a gallery in her house, to safely showcase local artists’ work throughout lockdown.
Shân Edwards teaches ceramics at the Arts and Crafts Centre at Raleigh House and also exhibits her own work.
Knowing that many artists were unable to show their work during the coronavirus pandemic, she and her husband Charles, set about creating an intimate, yet safe gallery space to promote the work of painters, ceramicists, film-makers and printers.
The Small Drawing Room is open on Clarendon Street from 1.30 – 5.30pm at weekends, with exhibits changing every fortnight.
“We originally launched the gallery in mid-May,” said Shân. “It started fairly cautiously; just promoted to people in our street. Now, it’s grown through word-of-mouth and we’ve got a Facebook presence to open it up to more visitors.”
Shân strictly observes government guidelines, limiting visitors to individuals or family groups and cleans all door handles in between guests. There is no access to the rest of her house and access is via a side gate.
This weekend is the launch of an exhibition of cyanotypes by Joanna Clark and you can visit on 4 – 5 and 11 – 12 July.
1 – 2 and 8 – 9 August will feature paintings by Liz Silk and on 15 – 16 and 22 – 23 August, Pots and Plants by Jayne Murden.
Maxine Copeland’s linoprints will be on display on 29 – 30 August and 5 – 6 September and the series concludes with a series of short silent time-lapse films of light and shadows on the walls of a house by Andrew Payne.
“It’s been great to work with local artists and we’re definitely going to continue the gallery next summer,” said Shân.
If you are interested in showing your work in 2021, you can get in touch with Shân at smalldrawingroom@gmail.com
