- This event has passed.
‘Wonder Tales’ an exhibition of work by Penelope O’Gara & Rowena Draper
August 26, 2021 @ 11:00 am - September 20, 2021 @ 5:00 pm
Tales of Weird, Wild and Wonder
A collection of otherworldly beings and paintings inspired by fantasy and imagination. Touches of vintage circus and steampunk in fairy-tale settings.
An exhibition of work by artists Rowena Draper and Penelope O’Gara.
Opening on August the 26th until September the 20th. With a private view on August the 25th at 6.30-8.30pm.
Rowena Draper As a self-taught artist, Rowena Draper generally works with acrylics on canvas or wood, and recently has been adding recycled objects such as ornate frames, fabric, cogs or other “trinkets and treasures” from her fantastical travels as a travelling mural artist, from Mexico to California, India to New Zealand. Rowena’s art depicts magical creatures and fairytale archetypes, her paintings narrating their stories and exploring her own relationship with these characters.
Penelope O’Gara Dolls as medium spoke to Penelope O’Gara not only because of her career experience in theatre and costume design, but more deeply because of the symbolic resonance of their historical use as totems. Her work explores ritual objects, archetypes and symbolism. At the heart of what she creates is a narrative, and Penelope’s calling is to go deeper. She Burrows into the treasure trove of English folklore and local fauna and creates hand-stitched dolls of totem animals like rabbits, which symbolise fertility and immortality and are common in Avalonian iconography using recycled cotton cloth, silk scraps, antique lace and old velvets. Each character has a unique tale to share – She explores ways to stitch in symbolic elements to further deepen the narrative.
We will also be hosting puppet show in the garden by Penelope & friends on the bank holiday weekend – more information below
“Roll up, roll up, ladies & gentlemen, for an encounter you will not readily forget – as the good folk of the Itinerant Bizarrium share their tales of wonder, their stories of intrigue & escape, of magic & adventure. A little dark & a little risqué at times, with laughter & surprises along the way, this is definitely not your average puppet show.”
Puppet Show
Saturday 4th September; 12.00 & 13.00 / 15.00 & 16.00
Sunday 5th September; 14.00 & 15.00
FREE ENTRY
