Bhavan Centre's gallery hosts launch for borough-wide showcase of talent

Visual Arts Season

Bhavan Centre's gallery hosts launch for borough-wide showcase of talent

Working artists are opening their studios to visitors; students are showing recent work and anyone who lives, works or studies in Hammersmith & Fulham has been given the chance to show artwork in the Borough Open Exhibition 2004, which is being hosted at The MP Birla Millennium Art Gallery at the Bhavan Centre, in West Kensington, for the first time this year.

The borough's mayor, Cllr Charlie Treloggan, who officially launched the Visual Arts Season and the Borough Open Exhibition at the Bhavan Centre on Wednesday, said: "This is an excellent opportunity for aspiring and established artists to show their work. The variety and quality of artwork on display is a tribute to the creativity of residents and the excellent visual arts work which takes place in our schools, colleges and community centres. Our aim is to provide a platform for working artists and to encourage the development of new talent. We are very grateful that the Bhavan has provided this wonderful venue."

Abi Isherwood, curator of The MP Birla Millennium Art Gallery, said: "The gallery has previously shown work as part of the Visual Arts Season but this is the first time we have hosted the Borough Open Exhibition. We are very happy to be giving local artists and residents the chance to see their work in a professional gallery space and we hope as many people as possible will come and enjoy the show."

This year's Borough Open Exhibition has attracted over a third more entries than last year. Among the highlights are sculptural collages, made from driftwood and photographic images, by Francesca Bianchelli; plaster and bronze sculptures by students from Hammersmith & West London College; a large colourful abstract painting by Jose Suarez; a sensitive drawing Three Mummies by Aude Herail-Jager and paintings by Ed Everett and Arabella Harcourt-Cooze.

The Borough Open Exhibition runs until Sunday, 27 June. Opening hours are Wed-Fri, 11am-7pm; Sat and Sun, 11am-6pm

20th June 2004

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Bhavan Centre's gallery hosts launch for borough-wide showcase of talent

Spanish artist Jose Suarez, who lives in West Kensington, pictured with the mayor, Cllr Charlie Treloggan, in front of Jose's painting M-11-M (standing for March 11 Madrid, a reference to the recent train bombing which inspired the painting).

The Bhavan Centre's prestigious art gallery, which was officially opened by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell two years ago, is one of the main venues for the council's annual celebration of visual arts in the borough.
Local artists have joined forces for a borough-wide showcase of their work in arts centres, galleries, studios, community centres, colleges, restaurants and pubs this month.

Professional, student and amateur artists are taking part in exhibitions and events at dozens of venues as part of Hammersmith & Fulham's fourth annual Visual Arts Season, organised by the council's arts team.