Current Exhibitions

Hip Space, AOC, Southmead Hospital

3^rd March to 31^st May 2012

Chinese Contemporary Woodcuts

Josie Reed, founder of Reed Contemporary Books in Bath, travelled to China to collect a selection of exquisite and ambitious prints by eight contemporary printmakers from PuErh.

PuErh, also known as Simao, is a small town in Yunnan close to the Thai and Burmese borders of China. It is most famous for its tea, but it is gaining a reputation as a centre for contemporary prints and particularly reduction woodblock prints. The exhibition includes prints by He Kun who has works in the Collections of the British Museum and British Library.
For more information visit http://www.reedcontemporarybooks.com/

Penny Leaver Green: Spine
Penny Leaver Green makes sewn pictures from fabric and thread.  Her subject matter is varied but usually figurative and conversational, often incorporating language and exploring the relationship between fabrics, design and words. 
The ideas raised in her work encourage the viewer to reconsider our relationship with the familiar.  She has an eclectic background having trained and worked as a theatre designer, an English and drama teacher and interior designer.  Based in Bristol, she has been working as a textile artist for three years and has exhibited in the UK, Sweden and France.

At the heart of her work is the craft, the use of needle and thread. Crucially however, the key for her is to take the tools and traditional methods of creative utility and use them to explore diverse ideas and challenges, creating a new layer of meaning in the conversation between the medium and the message.
See more of her work at www.pennyleavergreen.co.uk

Fromeshaw Gallery, Phase 1, Frenchay Hospital

2^nd March to 30^th May 2012

Nutley Photography

Nutley Photography is a collaboration between brothers Tom and Chris Nutley who bring their love of the natural world together in images captured forever in photographs for others to enjoy.

“We are constantly amazed at the variety, colour, textures and natural beauty of the world we live in, both close to home and further afield. We find that by slowing down and spending a short while focusing on a scene, the true beauty of what is in front of us becomes apparent. The challenge is to capture that accurately and convey a sense of what we felt at the time...a quest that will never be finished but will always be driving us in our work”.
For more information visit http://www.nutleyphotography.co.uk/

Red Gallery, Main Corridor, Southmead Hospital

Fiona Bates: Ceramics

“Following a move from Bristol to Ilfracombe in 2003, I have now set up a dedicated studio where I work full time.
The sea continues to be an influence on my work and my range currently includes wall mounted and 3D free-standing fish, porcelain shoes (ideal for collectors and for christenings), trawlers and a variety of bespoke one-off pieces. These more individual pieces can be quite quirky drawing on the influences of my environment often combining hand modelled pieces with found and cast objects; some pieces are as large as fireplace surrounds. All of my work is made using white earthenware and porcelain clays, my glazes are formulated by me to create a range of finishes.”
Enjoy more of Fiona’s work at www.fionabatesceramics.com

Milestones Trust exhibition, front ramp corridor, Frenchay Hospital

17^th January to July 2012

Milestones Trust is a Bristol-based charity which provides a range of support services to almost 1,000 people with learning difficulties, autism, mental health issues and dementia.  

This exhibition of photographs aims to raise awareness of the people they support to live independent lives, and the challenges they face. Working in partnership with North Bristol NHS Trust to display the exhibition in a prominent public space with thousands of visitors, they hope this will project a positive image of a socially-responsible company who takes an interest in their local community, supporting the lives of those in need.

Adriano Gallo is a well known Italian photographer who volunteered to create these images and accompanying stories. Adriano is building on earlier work where he portrayed the daily realities of people living with Alzheimer’s disease. He also published a book in Italy to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and is now credited there with generating a wider understanding of dementia from a non-medical perspective. Find out more at www.milestonestrust.org.uk 

All galleries are curated by Fresh Arts, the arts programme for North Bristol NHS Trust.