|
INSTANT HIT FOR ANIMAL ART SHOW
A new art fair that will undoubtedly go on to become a successful addition to the circuit took place at the lovely Fulham Palace, once the home of the Bishop of London, now restored to its former glory after a long period of neglect.
The Animal Art Fair fills a niche in the market so obvious that one wonders why noone thought of it before. Some 45 artists  took part in this event in the Spring, drawing an enthusiastic crowd on the opening preview evening and raising nearly £50,000 for animal charities.
The English love of animals is well documented, and London has long provided an international centre for the arts, evident in a packed schedule of art events and exhibitons as well as galleries. Put the two together, and, eureka, an exhibition that is a sure-fire success.
 Particularly stunning were some of the sculptures. The ability to get movement and character into works that ranged in size from miniature to huge, in bronze and stone and clay, was awesome.
Paintings also provided plenty of animal magnetism and the variety on show illustrated the range of talent in this field.
As well as such established names as Gill Parker, famous for her life-size bronze of Ascot winner, Motivator, and Hamish Mackie, sculptor, who also has a stand at the Chelsea Flower Show and at the Game Fair, there were emerging talents, both from the UK and overseas. Many were well pleased with orders taken over the three-day event.
“We have had fantastic reactions and great support from every angle," said  organiser Jamie Polk. "We think we have found a niche in the art market. This is not chocolate box art. This is art depicting animals and environments that may not exist in 100 years time. “
On the success of this show, it has already been decided that it will become an annual event. To learn more go to www.animalartfair.com
It all helped raise monies for the Born Free Foundation and the Snow Leopard Trust, with Virginia McKenna opening the event and her son Dan of the Foundation helping with a charity auction. Born Free is, of course, the charity that aims to keep wildlife in  the wild, as well as protecting endangered species, and the Snow Leopard Trust is engaged in community-based conservation projects to help the survival of this magnificent creature – just 3,500 now exist in the wild. Sponsor of the event, Snow Leopard Vodka, popular in the cocktail heartland, donates 15% of its profits to this trust.
For further information on each go to www.bornfree.org.uk and www.snowleopardtrustuk.org
At top right, trotting baby elephant in bronze, by Hamish Mackie. Top left, 'Riders in the Sky' painting by Elizabeth Armstrong. Group of gazelles leaping, 'The Spronk' from Jan Sweeney. And serene terracotta 'Horses on Spheres' by Susan Leyland.
RARE GLOBE CHARTS EXPEDITION MAYHEM
Madness, murder and suicide are documented in papers discovered with a rare globe charting an expedition of the Great Northwestern Passage in the 1800s, found in the Royal Geographical Society archives.
The globe is to be presented for sale at the London  Masterpieces Fair in June, by Butchoff Antiques, complete with the fascinating records, maps and photos that go with it.
The 12-man expedition of 1837 to 1839 saw one of its company, Thomas Simpson, become deranged, convinced that others were plotting to kill him. He shot them, then himself.
The Terraqueous Globe, a rare 36in diameter, dates back to 1825 and charts not just this but the findings of other expeditions. It was later modified to include the 1937, 1938 and 1939 expeditions.
For more information on the sale go to www.butchoff.com
|
