New Gallery to display The Portland Collections at Welbeck

The Harley Gallery is delighted to announce a new building which will display historic works from The Portland Collections.  It will be situated next to the existing gallery on the Welbeck Estate, Worksop.

The Portland Collections are the historic fine and decorative arts collections of the Cavendish-Bentinck family. The family, currently headed by William Parente, grandson of the 7th Duke, have lived at Welbeck for over 400 years and through the generations have developed a beautiful and intriguing collection. The Portland Collections include examples from some of the most highly regarded artists of each era. Mr Parente, who is chairman of the Trustees of the Harley Foundation, commented:

‘The overwhelming interest shown in exhibitions like the Harley Gallery Open Competition and The Harley Gallery’s displays from the Portland Collections has shown that there is a tremendous appetite in our area for the arts.  The new Gallery is a marvellous opportunity for us to share the Collections, which were built up by my family over generations. We will be able to develop a changing programme of different displays in over 800 square meters of exhibition space. These displays will show the breadth of these Collections which different family members have added to over the centuries; each expressing their own aesthetics, interests and artistic preferences’.

The new Gallery will be designed by Hugh Broughton Architects who were appointed to the project after winning a tightly fought competition. Their previous projects include the Halley VI Antarctic Research Station which earned them the title of ‘International Breakthrough Architect of the Year 2013’ at the recent Architect of the Year Awards.  Exhibition design is being undertaken by John Ronayne who is currently working for Sheffield Cathedral and whose past clients include the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

Lisa Gee, Gallery Director, says:
‘We’re very excited to be working with an internationally renowned  architect to create a new building on the Welbeck Estate. Welbeck has a tradition of astounding architecture and we hope that the new Gallery will inspire visitors for generations to come.’

Work on the site is expected to start in 2013 and it is hoped that the Gallery will open to visitors in 2015.

Notes to Editors

We are currently developing a complete information pack on the Gallery project, which will be available in early summer 2013.

If you have specific areas of interest such as the architecture or specific art forms such as ceramics or paintings then do get in contact, so we can ensure we meet your needs as the project progresses

If you would like to receive the information pack or to discuss further press opportunities, please email Rebecca Wombell, Marketing Officer at rwombell@harleygallery.co.uk or call 01909 501 700.

www.harleygallery.co.uk

The Harley Open Exhibition 2013

Saturday 26 January - Sunday 17 March

The Harley Gallery Open Exhibition returns for it's second year from 26 January to 17 March. Visit The Harley Gallery, Welbeck to see the selected artwork and enjoy a wide range of artistic talent; and to discover the prizewinning pieces!

The popular art competition attracts hundreds of entries, with around 140 being selected for the final exhibition.  Anyone can enter this competition, and The Harley Gallery has been delighted to see artworks from artists of all ages, both professional and just starting out, and ranging from oil paintings to embroideries to collage. 

 

The exhibited artworks this year have been  specially selected by Jeremy Webster, from The National Centre for Craft and Design, Sleaford; Michelle Bowen from Primary Studios, Nottingham, and Mervyn Mitchell, Photographic Artist from Nottingham.

Not only is the Open Exhibition a great chance to see a diverse, exciting range of artwork – many of the pieces will be for sale so you can buy your favourite piece, too. The Harley Gallery offers Own Art, a scheme which helps to make contemporary art affordable by providing the opportunity to spread your payments over 10 months. It’s a great way to take home your favourite artwork!

The Harley Gallery is delighted to announce that from 2013, the Open Exhibition will be a regular, biennial event.

Visit the Harley Open Exhibition from 26 January - 17 March to see the selected artworks in this popular art competition. Choose your favourites and have the chance to buy your own piece of contemporary art - from embroideries to oil paintings to photography.  

The Harley Advent Calendar

1-24 December in The Harley Craft Shop

The Harley Gallery, Welbeck is giving Christmas shoppers an extra treat this Christmas with The Harley Advent Calendar. Visit the Shop from 1- 24 December and enjoy a range of different offers with your purchases, from gifts of limited edition prints to discounts on jewellery.

The Harley Craft Shop is a great place to buy your Christmas gifts, with a huge range of hand made products carefully sourced from the best British craftspeople, from ceramics, to jewellery, to textiles. To say thank you for shopping with the Harley and helping to support British craft, the Gallery is offering customers special offers throughout Advent. Each day of the week has a special treat in store...

Mondays - spend £50 and get free coffee for two at The Lime House Café
Tuesdays - spend £75 and get a free “Welbeck Memories” Warli Art print
Wednesdays – spend £50 on silver and get a free “Dinner with a Duke” book
Thursdays – spend £100 and get 10% off Wendy Ramshaw jewellery
Fridays - spend £120 or more and get a free £20 gift voucher
Saturdays - buy anything with animals on and get a free book of photos by Sue Packer, “Pets”
Sundays - buy a pack of Christmas cards and get a free gift pack of Welbeck cards by Julian Bray

Shoppers will also be spoiled for choice with a special range of jewellery by the Harley Gallery's pick of studio jewellers. Christmas Gems features exciting jewellery to buy - including rings by internationally acclaimed jewellery Wendy Ramshaw (who has an exhibition currently on show in the Gallery) Rina Tairo, who painstakingly weaves gold and rhodium to make her delicate work, or Merlin Plantrose, an emerging jeweller who hammers her jewellery with pebbles to create a lovely, soft texture.  

Enjoy doing your Christmas shopping at The Harley Craft Shop - plus you can use Own Art to spread the cost over 10 months. Ask a Gallery Assistant for information. Plus, if you see something you like and want to help out a loved one with their search for special Christmas gifts, you can use a Harley Wish List to jot down your favourite items!

Visit The Harley Craft Shop for beautiful, hand made Christmas gifts. Shop during Advent for special offers, treats and discounts!  The Harley Gallery, Welbeck is on the A60 between Worksop and Mansfield. It is open daily, 10-5/4.30 Sundays and has free parking.  

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Own Art interest free loans make it easy and affordable to buy original, high quality contemporary art and craft. Please contact the Harley Gallery for details.

Representative 0% APRSubject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The Harley Gallery is a licensed broker of Own Art loans. Registered Address: The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 3LW

The Christmas Arts and Food Market and Harley Open Studios

Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 November 2012

Get Christmas all wrapped up with the Harley Art and Food Market and Harley Open Studios, as featured in The Daily Telegraph ‘UK: Five of the best Christmas Shopping Destinations'. The Harley Arts and Food Market and Harley Open Studios returns on 24 and 25 November, with a sack load of gifts, food and treats for your loved ones (or yourself!).

Enjoy over 55 art and craft stalls showing work by the region's cream of creative talent, all handpicked by The Harley Gallery. Plus, there's plenty to tempt your taste buds with over 20 stalls from local and specialist food producers. You can try cheese, beer, bread and chocolate made on the Welbeck Estate, and chat with the food producers. There's plenty to tempt your taste buds with over 20 stalls from local and specialist food producers. You can try cheese, beer, bread and chocolate made on the Welbeck Estate, and chat with the food producers.

Get a behind the scenes look at life as an artist by visiting the Harley Open Studios, a short walk from the market. Here you'll get to meet the artists, talk about their work and have a peek into their studios, as well as being able to choose and buy work directly from the makers.

Browse the art and food markets and explore the artists studios for special shopping, tasty treats and gorgeous gifts. The Harley Arts and Food Market and Harley Open Studios is on 24 November, 10-5, and 25 November, 10-4, on the A60 between Mansfield and Worksop. The event is free to enter and has free parking.  

CALL FOR ENTRIES: The Harley Open Exhibition 2013

Submissions - 29 December 2012 – 11 January 2013
Exhibition - Saturday 26 January 2013 - Sunday 17 March 2013

The Harley Open Exhibition 2012

The Harley Gallery are looking for entries to their 2013 Open Exhibition. Enter your contemporary 2D artwork for a chance to exhibit at The Harley Gallery, described by The Daily Telegraph as 'a creative hub for the East Midlands', and counting Euan Uglow, David Hockney and Sir Peter Blake among its past exhibitors.

Discover how to enter and the prizes on offer on the Harley Gallery website. Exhibits will be selected by a panel of expert judges and there are a range of prizes to be won. 

The first ever Harley Open Exhibition in 2012 attracted over 700 submissions, with 145 pieces being selected for exhibition.

For the 2013 event, the Harley Gallery will be showing even more pieces and are seeking submisisons of original, contemporary 2D art, made in the last 2 years. From 2013 The Harley Open will become a regular, biennial event on the creative calendar. Find out how you can get involved and download your entry form on the Harley Gallery Website.

Wendy Ramshaw: Rooms of Dreams

Wendy Ramshaw: Rooms of Dreams

27 October 2012 - 13 January 2013

 

Wendy Ramshaw, Red Queen

Be spellbound by the exhibition of jewellery and metalwork showing at the Harley Gallery, Worksop, this winter.  From 27 October to 13 January 2013, the Gallery is showing Rooms of Dreams by leading British designer Wendy Ramshaw OBE CBE. This is metalwork that has to be seen to be believed - ranging from tiny gold rings made for baby princesses, to large scale, dramatic public gates. The Rooms of Dreams exhibition will enchant you with it's beauty, romance and grandeur.

The centre piece to the exhibition, the 'Room of Dreams', lets you explore Wendy's jewellery, combining bold, sculptural shapes with finely crafted metalwork.

Just as your wedding ring reminds you of your special day, or a locket might remind you of the person that gave you the jewellery, the jewellery in the Room of Dreams tells stories. This is an installation bursting with fairytales and mythical characters, including a necklace inpsired by the Miller's daughter in Rumpelstiltskin, who had to weave straw into gold, to rings made for Alice in Wonderland, which take their inspiration from Alice swimming in a pool of her own tears.

"Wendy's work is astonishing. The quality and craftsmanship in every piece makes me want to look at her work again and again. This exhibition not only shows the finished, sparkling jewellery but also some of the planning and models for Wendy's large public commissions. It's wonderful to be able to see the artist's process alongside the finished pieces"
said Rebecca Wombell, from The Harley Gallery

Spanning her 50 year career to date, this exhibition shows the incredible range of Wendy's work. All her pieces are beautifully designed, from the grand metal public commissions to ring stands which are lathe turned by hand for each individual piece of jewellery. Wendy invented the ring set (which is now a common feature of jewellery design and often seen on the high street) and her ring stands transform these groups of glittering gemstones into beautiful sculptures. You can also see Wendy's jewellery made from unusual materials, such as paper, plastic and old clock faces.

Visit Rooms of Dreams at The Harley Gallery, Welbeck from 27 October 2012 to 13 January 2013 and discover the work and world of Wendy Ramshaw - full of fairytales, fine jewellery and dramatic public sculpture.

Wendy Ramshaw: Rooms of Dreams is a Harley Gallery touring exhibition in partnership with Ruthin Craft Centre, The Centre for the Applied Arts.

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England

Summer Holidays at the Harley Gallery

PRESS RELEASE 


Lois Walpole, Laundry Basket for a Large Family.



Summer Holidays at the Harley Gallery

If you're wondering what to do with the family this summer, The Harley Gallery, Welbeck have got it covered - whatever the weather!  

 

Come rain or shine there's colourful basketry and amazing animal sculpture to see in the Craft Galleries.

 

Lois Walpole's baskets on Level 1 will amaze you, from towering laundry baskets (for a very large family!) to ingeniously made platters - all these baskets are made from recycled and natural materials. Visit Urban Baskets: Tradition Recycled to see if you can figure out what the baskets are made from.

 

Spend some time with Susan O'Byrne's exhibtion of ceramic animals, with Menagerie on Level 2. These creatures are made from layers of paper clay, which twist and turn in the kiln to give each piece a cute and quirky character. While away a lazy summer's afternoon with her birds and beasties!

 

Urban Baskets: Tradition Recycled and Menagerie are open every day until 12 August. Don't miss these feel-good shows.

 

There's also workshops where families can get stuck in and learn a new craft skill. Maybe you'd like to make a hobby horse, a mug or a mascot this summer? Check out the Harley Gallery website to find out more!  These day workshops are a lovely way to have some fun with the kids. £10 per child.  

 

And if you're too warm you can always pop into our air-conditioned Treasury Museum, and discover the glorious horse racing history of Welbeck while you cool off! The Runners and Riders exhibition

 

 Visit the Harley Gallery to enjoy the summer, whatever the weather. Entry is FREE, open 10-5 Mon- Sat, 10-4.30 Sun. Find us on the Welbeck Estate, off the A60 between Mansfield and Worksop.

Basketry Workshops with Lois Walpole

PRESS RELEASE
Basketry Workshops with Lois Walpole
Coiling and plaiting workshops with the internationally renowned maker

Join Lois Walpole at the Harley Gallery, Welbeck on 28 and 29 July and create your own coiled or plaited baskets under Lois' expert tuition.

Urban Baskets: Tradition Recycled, showing at the Harley Gallery from 20 June to 12 August, showcases over 30 works from Lois Walpole's international career. Lois crafts her brightly coloured, curiously textured structures from natural and recycled materials. Bottle tops, tin cans, plastics, all are reimagined in this playful work.

Lois only runs workshops in the UK for a few days each year, visiting from her studio in France. The Harley Gallery is delighted to announce two UK workshop dates in 2012, offering the opportunity to work with Lois on 28 and 29 July. The workshops will teach a wealth of new skills, whether you are a beginner or an expert. Tickets cost £50 per workshop and places are limited to 20 each day. Please book early to avoid disappointment by calling 01909 501 700.

Plaited basket making with recycled materials on Saturday 28th July, 10am-4pm, will use a collection of found objects to shape, build and finish your very own unique basket and include several techniques on how to do so.

Coiled Basket making with recycled and natural materials on Sunday 29th July, 10am-4pm, will be a day of doing, recycling and basket making, giving you a chance to learn coiled basket techniques - with a twist.

You will need to do some homework for these workshops and bring along a collection of recycled materials. Please visit www.harleygallery.co.uk for lots of ideas of things that you could bring along to make your own unique work.    

Travelling to The Harley? We have some lovely B&B's nearby, with country parks, caves and of course the Harley Gallery to keep the family entertained while you enjoy your workshop.  See www.visitnorthnottinghamshire.co.uk for ideas.

The Harley Gallery is on the A60 Mansfield Road. Open daily and bank holidays, 10-5 / 4.30 Sunday. Entry to the galleries and museum is FREE.

Lois Walpole Urban Baskets: Tradition Recycled is a touring exhibition from Walford Mill Crafts. Showing 20 June - 12 August at The Harley Gallery, Worksop.

Sparkle, Corgi's and Regal Portraits at The Harley Gallery

PRESS RELEASE Sparkle, Corgi's and Regal Portraits at The Harley Gallery

Celebrating The Diamond Jubilee

 



Crwons and Corgi's Family Craft Workshop with Hope and Elvis



Celebrate in style this June bank holiday with special events inspired by the Diamond Jubilee at The Harley Gallery, Worksop.

Pop into the Harley Shop and find an extra special collection of top British craft. 60 Diamonds has been selected by Harley craft expert Susan, to make sure that everyone can enjoy a bit of bling for the Jubilee, whatever your budget. Starting from £20 for an amazing acrylic ring 'kit' (perfect as a present to pop in the post) - right through to beautiful handmade diamond pieces from renowned makers such as Mirri Damer or Sue Lane.

 

Looking for things to entertain your little princes and princesses over June half term? The Harley Gallery is running two family craft workshops, so come along and get making! On Wednesday 6 June you can make your own regal self-portraits with award winning portrait artist George Hardy, and on Thursday 7 June you can get all crafty with Hope and Elvis' Crowns and Corgi's workshop. Suitable for crafty kids aged 5-12 (accompanied by arty adults), the workshops cost £10 each, per child. They book up fast, so call 01909 501 700 to get your tickets.

 

Don't forget the Harley has two exhibitions showing over the Jubilee weekend, with free entry and free parking! Take a look at Beastly Machines and discover the amazing technical skills of sculptor Johnny White, who has crafted all the automata from bits of scrap metal, old bikes, springs, hydraulics and a canoe! Or pop into the Treasury Museum and discover the history of horse racing at Welbeck, with new display Runners and Riders.

 

Visit the Harley Gallery at Welbeck and enjoy sparkle and glamour fit for royalty with our 60 Diamonds craft shop collection, or book a family workshop for half term and enjoy some right regal fun with the kids.

 

The Harley Gallery is on the A60 Mansfield Road. Open daily and bank holidays, 10-5 / 4.30 Sunday. Entry to the galleries and museum is FREE.

 

Beastly Machines is a touring exhibition from 20:21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe

 



Ptolemy Mann: The Architecture of Cloth, Colour and Space

PRESS RELEASE  

Ptolemy Mann: The Architecture of Cloth, Colour and Space



Circle 2, 2011



22 August - 18 October

Are you a colourful character? Visit The Harley Gallery, Worksop, from 22 August to 18 October, and see Ptolemy Mann's new solo exhibition, The Architecture of Cloth, Colour and Space and surround yourself with sumptuous textiles and elegant design, drenched in the gorgeous gem-rich colours that Ptolemy has become renowned for.

For the first time, The Architecture of Cloth, Colour and Space brings together the broad and unusual range of Ptolemy's work. Experimenting with colour to make vivid, luxurious textiles, used by designers and makers, as well as stand alone wall art, Ptolemy has also used these skills to work with architects - using the built environment as a new canvas for her vibrant palette.

A superstar weaver, Ptolemy creates glorious fabrics on her upright Dobby loom using specially dyed fibres. Ptolemy Mann works across the spectrum of her field and beyond, applying her woven and colour designs to carpets and printed textiles, as well as collaborating with artists of different kinds, most notably a ceramicist, a hat maker and a fashion designer, to produce distinctive pieces that work on their own terms.

“Colour is a deeply emotive subject. For most of us it is also highly personal, we each have a unique response to colour that we develop individually through experience and association”
Ptolemy Mann

Ptolemy has translated her intimate work for interiors to vast architectural facades with great success. She has been working with architects as a colour consultant - notably on hospital buildings - you might recognise her work from Kings Mill Hospital, Mansfield. These projects use Ptolemy's specialist knowledge of the emotional effects of colour to create spaces and places which are uplifting, soothing and invigorating by turn.

Visit The Harley Gallery from 22 August - 18 October and see Ptolemy Mann's vibrant works and indulge yourself in striking colour and sumptuous textiles.

The Harley Gallery is on the A60 between Mansfield and Worksop, is free to enter and also has free parking.

Ptolemy Mann: The Architecture of Cloth, Colour and Space is a touring exhibition from Ruthin Craft Centre, The Centre for Applied Craft.

Runners and Riders - New horse racing exhibition opens at The Harley Gallery

PRESS RELEASE 

Runners and Riders - New horse racing exhibition opens at The Harley Gallery

5 May 2012 - February 2014

 

Love the races? 5 May 2012 is a great day for horse racing fans. It's the start of the classics, with the 2000 Guineas race at Newmarket, plus it's Doncaster Racecourse's fabulous flat race meeting. 5 May is also the opening of a new historical horse racing exhibition at The Harley Gallery, Welbeck. 

Runners and Riders: The Rise of Modern Horse Racing will show objects and paintings to tell the story of how the Cavendish-Bentinck family at Welbeck helped change the face of horse racing, to become the sport we know today.

The 4th Duke of Portland firmly established the Cavendish-Bentinck's relationship with Newmarket, building the Portland Stand at the course. His younger son, Lord George Bentinck encouraged reforms to better regulate horse racing, earning him the nickname 'Lord Paramount of the Turf' at Newmarket. His horses won the 2000 Guineas twice - with Grey Momus winning in 1838 and Crucifix in 1840. Visit the exhibition to see paintings of these horses by leading equestrian artists, and the spectacular 'St George and the Dragon' trophy commissioned for Grey Momus. 

The 6th Duke of Portland also won the 2000 Guineas in 1888, with Ayrshire. Ayrshire was one of the 6th Duke's most successful horses. In one season alone Memoir, Ayrshire, Donovan and Semolina won over £93,000 - over £8 million today. Ayrshire's hoof is on show in the exhibition, with many other curious objects and artifacts, including a wheel from the first ever horse box. The horse box was invented by Welbeck's very own Lord George Bentinck. He realised that the horses would race better if they were transported to the race, and started to use a van to move them - helping his horse Elis to win the 1836 St Leger at Doncaster.

If you fancy a flutter with horse racing history, visit Runners and Riders: The Rise of Modern Horse Racing at The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, from 5 May to 2014.

Exhibition curator Patricia Connor will be giving a talk at The Harley Gallery on 19 May at 2pm. Discover stories of horseracing, skulduggery, victory, loss and philanthropy. Tickets cost £10 / £8 concessions, booking essential. Call 01909 501 700.

The Harley Gallery is on the A60 between Mansfield and Worksop, is free to enter and also has free parking.

The exhibition will be touring to the National Horse Racing Museum, Newmarket and will be the first exhibition in their newly refurbished H.L.F. funded building.

Enjoy May Day the Harley Way

PRESS RELEASE  

Enjoy May Day the Harley Way

Early May Bank Holiday Weekend - 5-7 May at The Harley Gallery

[Right: Trush Hour by Johnny White, Beastly Machines]

What are you doing this May Day weekend? If you're looking for inspiration for the 5th of the 5th (and beyond), The Harley Gallery, Worksop, have 5 top tips to tickle your fancy!

Our brand new historical exhibition Runners and Riders opens on Saturday 5 May. Including a wheel from the first horse box, the gold plated hooves of legendary horse St Simon and a full size replica of a race horse, discover how the Cavendish-Bentinck family at Welbeck have helped to shape horse racing to become the sport we know today.

Bring the family along for some animal magic with Beastly Machines. An exhibition of animal by Derbyshire based artist Johnny White, these creative critters will make anyone mechanically minded marvel, and is fun filled for art fans.

Spoil yourself in the Harley Shop with special collections Gift Horse and 60 Diamonds. Gift Horse brings equestrian themed craft by leading makers to the shop,  with ceramics, jewellery and wall pieces that you'll love. Celebrating the Queens Diamond Jubilee, 60 Diamonds is a selection of jewellery that glitters and shimmers, priced from £20.

Visit on May Day Monday (7 May) for two extra special treats;

The Harley Artists' Studios are taking part in Open Studios Nottinghamshire - and 13 of the studios will be open for you to visit on 7 May. Check http://www.osnotts.co.uk/ for information about the artists - from dramatic glass blowing to tactile textiles.

The Harley Gallery is on the Welbeck Estate, on the A60 between Mansfield and Worksop.

Beastly Machines is a touring exhibition from 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe, supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

The Welbeck Farm Shop are also holding a Farmers Market on 7 May, 10am - 4pm, with tempting stalls heaving with fine local produce. Don't forget to pick up some of the treats made on the Welbeck Estate, with cheese, bread and ale among the Estate's offerings. 

  

The Harley Gallery has free entry and free parking, plus The Welbeck Farm Shop and Lime House Cafe are just next door - great for scrumptious snacks and tasty treats. 

Local school children make their mark on art

PRESS RELEASE

Local school children make their mark on art

Shared Art Gallery Experiences, 1-19 May

[image right, School children at The Harley Gallery, courtesy of Mervyn Mitchell]

Visit the Harley Gallery, Worksop from 1 - 19 May and discover the gallery through local school children's eyes, with special exhibition 'Shared Art Gallery Experiences'.

Nottingham based photographer Mervyn Mitchell has been working with The Harley Gallery to take 7-11 year olds from four schools in north Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire on a journey to explore art at galleries near and far.

The children have visited The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, New Art Exchange, Hyson Green, Nottingham, and Nottingham Contemporary; galleries with very different artistic approaches and culturally diverse locations. They have worked with Mervyn to document their travels, taking digital photos and recording sound clips which have been used to make photofilms (still images with audio) and photographic mosaics.

The project gave 100 students the opportunity to visit art galleries, many of these children had not visited galleries before. Visit the Harley Gallery from 1- 19 May to see the children's exhibition of photographic mosaics and watch their photofilms. Listen to the children's wonderful insights into the experience as they describe their likes and dislikes at each gallery.

The Harley Gallery is on the Welbeck Estate, on the A60 between Mansfield and Worksop. The Gallery is free to enter and open every day, 10 - 5(4.30 Sunday).

The project is supported by Arts Council England.

Enjoy Easter at The Harley Gallery

PRESS RELEASE
Enjoy Easter at The Harley Gallery

[Right: Helen Lang, LOVE print, Love Letters display]

Visit The Harley Gallery near Worksop this Easter for your last chance to see three eggciting displays.

Looking forward to your Easter lunch? Visit Dinner for a Duke and find out about food and dining at Welbeck Abbey, for both the aristocracy and their servants. There's plenty to whet your appetite, from elaborate silverware to a beer dispenser, and centuries old recipes - including one for curry!

Learn about lovely lettering with our eggstra special show Signs for Sounds. See work made in traditional ways, with stone cutting and calligraphy, alongside work made with new technologies. Use our touch screen to re-shape digital poetry, watch a film all about graffiti and find out about font design. Inspired? Visit our creative space with the kids and have a go at our typetastic activities.

The Harley Shop's special collection, Love Letters, is a great chance to take home some arty alphabets. Browse lovely, hand made things for you and your home, from £13 onwards.

Plus, if you're looking for some springtime family treats, bring the kids along to our nature themed workshops on 3, 10 and 11 April. Have a go at felt making and pigment painting, or try your hand at making a book (to fill with your own lettering designs!).

Relax and enjoy Easter with The Harley Gallery. Dinner with a Duke, Signs for Sounds and Love Letters are on show until 9 April.

The Harley Gallery is on the A60 between Mansfield and Worksop, is free to enter and also has free parking. Closed Easter Sunday.

Opportunity: Join the Harley Studios

NEWS UPDATE
Opportunity: Join the Harley Studios

A studio is now available to rent at The Harley Foundation Studios, and applications are welcomed from artists and makers.

The Harley Studios are a community of 24 workspaces, nestled into the countryside of the historic Welbeck Estate.

The available studio is one of our 'East Workshops' designed by John Outram, well suited to groups or those using large scale machinery. The Welbeck Estate is approximately an hour drive from Nottingham and Sheffield, conveniently situated close to both the M1 and A1.

Studio artists benefit from private surroundings within a thriving creative community, in an idyllic and unusual working environment.

The Harley Foundation was set up in 1977 by Ivy, Duchess of Portland, to 'encourage creativity in all of us' and in working towards this aim provides subsidised studio spaces and runs the Harley Gallery.

For further information, please visit our website or contact:

Lisa Gee
Director, The Harley Foundation and Gallery,
Welbeck, Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 3LW
lgee@harleygallery.co.uk 01909 501 700 www.harleygallery.co.uk

Baskets, Badgers and Bandicoots at The Harley Gallery

PRESS RELEASE

Baskets, Badgers and Bandicoots at The Harley Gallery

20 June - 12 August 2012

[right] Basket by Lois Walpole


Visit the Harley Gallery, Worksop, this summer to enjoy a double whammy of craft exhibitions.

From 20 June to 12 August, the Gallery will be filled with Susan O'Byrne's Menagerie of quirky animals, and Lois Walpole's beautiful baskets made from unusual materials.

Susan O'Byrne's ceramic creatures are migrating to the Harley Gallery this summer, after being on show in France and Germany. The animals are made from delicate paper clay, built up layer by layer to create whimsical, loveable sculptures.

Inspired by Victorian menageries, medieval bestiaries and childhood collections of toy animals, Susan presents her animals boxed, labelled and mounted, ready to examine. With amazing attention to detail, this is a great exhibition for any animal lover - visit and see a huge variety of birds and animals, from a Pygmy Platypus to a Rabbit Eared Bandicoot.

Lois Walpole's baskets are sure to surprise you. Basketry is a craft that is over 10,000 years old - you may be familiar with handmade baskets woven from grasses, reeds or rushes. Lois crafts her brightly coloured, curiously textured structures from natural and recycled materials. The exhibition shows over 30 pieces from Lois' international career. Bottle tops, tin cans, plastics, all are reimagined in her playful work.

Visit the Harley Gallery from 20 June - 12 August and enjoy a summer full of baskets, badgers and unabashed relaxation.

The Harley Gallery is on the A60 between Mansfield and Worksop, is free to enter and also has free parking.

Lois Walpole - Urban Baskets: Tradition Recycled is touring from Walford Mill Crafts.

Signs for Sounds: Contemporary Letterforming and Calligraphy

PRESS RELEASE
Signs for Sounds: Contemporary Letterforming and Calligraphy
18 February - 9 April 2012

[right]Julien Breton, Freedom- Field at Creswell, Photography by David Gallard.

Discover the shapes of words and the Signs for Sounds at the Harley Gallery, 18 February - 9 April.

The exhibition explores letterform and calligraphy, from traditional quill pens and stone cutting, to tattoos and cutting-edge technology.

Whether you love writing letters with a proper fountain pen, playing with new computer systems, or are learning your first joined up writing, this exhibition has something exciting for you to see.

Gary Breeze's work, inspired by Roman abbreviations, has echoes in the shortened text speak of today. Jason Edward Lewis' virtual typography gives visitors chance to experiment and re-shape poetry on touchscreen monitors. Bunny Bread brings graffiti into the Gallery, while Jeremy Tankard shows us how a typeface is designed.

New works have been commissioned for this exhibition. Julien Breton has made light calligraphy especially for Signs for Sounds. His pieces spanning traditional calligraphic techniques, photography and choreography, were made in the local area and include Welbeck, Creswell and Worksop.

Tim Donaldson, famous for creating the worlds largest hamburgefonts with a two foot wide brush, and for writing texts that you can't read, will produce a new work at the Gallery. Visit and watch his performance, with splashes of ink, swoops from oversized brushes, and lots of lovely lettering. Free entry, Sunday 19 February, 12oon - 2pm.

Visit Signs for Sounds: Contemporary Letterforming and Calligraphy to see a chorus of artists and designers voices. The exhibition is showing from 18 February until 9 April.

The Harley Gallery is on the A60 between Mansfield and Worksop, is free to enter and also has free parking.

Signs for Sounds is a Harley Gallery touring exhibition curated by Jeremy Theophilus.

Runners and Riders: The Rise of Modern Horse Racing

PRESS RELEASE
Runners and Riders: The Rise of Modern Horse Racing
5 May 2012 - February 2014

[right] Abraham Cooper, 1836
Lord George Bentinck’s horse “Miss Elis” and Van

Discover racing history straight from the horse's mouth with a new exhibition at The Harley Gallery, Welbeck. Opening on Saturday 5 May, the exhibition will show objects and paintings telling how the Cavendish Bentinck family at Welbeck helped change the face of horse racing, to become the sport we know today.

Did you know that the horse box was invented by the 4th Duke of Portland's younger son, Lord George Bentinck? Lord George realised that the horses would race better if they were transported to the race, and started to use a van to move them. His horses had an advantage, and his competitors quickly copied the idea.

Lord George immersed himself in the sport; he was a renowned gambler, esteemed owner and encouraged reforms to better regulate horse racing - including encouraging the use of a starting flag.

This exhibition will uncover the history of horse racing at Welbeck, and includes a rocking horse belonging to Lady Anne Bentinck (1916-2008). Lady Anne was a dedicated horsewoman who still rode at 90 years of age, and this rocking horse was named after 'Donovan', the 6th Duke of Portland's favourite horse.

Visitors can also see ornate racing prizes such as an elaborate silver 'George and the Dragon' trophy, alongside unexpected and personal items. On display will be the hooves of legendary sire, St Simon's - gold plated and made into ink wells, alongside the 6th Duke's racing colours and paintings by renowned equestrian artists.

If you fancy a flutter with horse racing history, visit Runners and Riders: The Rise of Modern Horse Racing at The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, from 5 May to 2014. The Harley Gallery is on the A60 between Mansfield and Worksop, is free to enter and also has free parking.

The exhibition will be touring to the National Horse Racing Museum, Newmarket and will be the first exhibition in their newly refurbished H.L.F. funded building.

Beastly Machines are brought to life at The Harley Gallery

PRESS RELEASE
Beastly Machines are brought to life at The Harley Gallery
18 April - 10 June 2012

[right] Life cycle of a mosquito

Visit The Harley Gallery from 18 April to 10 June for a whole herd of arty animals made by acclaimed Derbyshire based sculptor Johnny White.

Johhny's artworks are humorous, imaginitive, irreverent and often very noisy! Pull handles, turn cranks and push buttons to discover what these automated animals have in store.

From wiggly fishes to a cycling mosquito and a thrush busily battling the rush hour, these sculptures will make you smile, wonder and maybe make you jump! This promises to be an unmissable exhibition that will capture the imagination of visitors of all ages.

Lovingly handmade in Johnny's workshop in Derbyshire, these playful animal automata are often crafted from found or salvaged junk. The exhibition also has a gaggle of games to play with - test how well you know your mythological creatures or unjumble the animals.

Visitors say:
"The Kinetic Sculptures are brilliant. The children really enjoyed them." - Janet Addlesec, Belton.
"The Johnny White exhibition is extremely inventive and amusing - great fun!" - Steve Mansfield, Fotherby.
"The Beastly Machines are amazing! Love the flying pig and the gnus in a canoe, canoodling." - Hannah Helen Rosenberg.

Beastly Machines by Johnny White is on show at The Harley Gallery from 18 April to 10 June, with free entry and free parking. Visit the Gallery and discover your wild side!

The Harley Gallery is on the Welbeck Estate, on the A60 between Mansfield and Worksop.

Beastly Machines is a touring exhibtion from 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe, supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.