THE BIG PICTURE Art Challenge
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The Big Picture was a community art & storytelling project, organised for Chesham by a Rather Nice Artist, Emily Brown, in collaboration with The Elgiva Theatre and Chesham Museum. The event took place from July 2021, & featured multiple creative challenges, exhibitions, workshops & activities. |
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Check out the Bucks Culture Open Weekend page, for more more activities around Bucks: www.buckinghamshireculture.org/Open-Weekend-Whats-On
1. COMMUNITY ART PROJECT
Queen Elgiva Canvas Collaboration
The artwork went on display at The Elgiva Theatre in August 2021, then went on tour, first appearing at Bucks County Museum throughout Oct, before travelling to the Bagnal Centre, Chesham, where it can currently be seen in the foyer.
Rather Nice Art created this multi-canvas collaboration for Chesham, featuring one overriding design, in the form of a black line drawing by Lead Artist Emily Brown, painted across all 40 canvases.
A multi-canvas painting is also called a ‘polyptych’.
A multi-canvas painting is also called a ‘polyptych’.
40 local artists and residents, of all ages and abilities, were asked to decorate one 25 x 25cm canvas each, with their own unique style and ideas. The canvases were then assembled together, revealing the big picture - a portrait of Queen Ælfgifu, a real-life figure from 10th century England, who the Elgiva Theatre in Chesham is named after.
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Queen Ælfgifu is depicted here standing in an imagined version of 10th century Chesham. The picture is loaded with symbolism and historical references, researched by Emily Brown & Chesham Museum.
When I initially pitched this idea, I wanted to collaborate with other local artists, to tell a story on a large scale. But due to the pandemic, I had to come up with a creative way for us to work together, separately, while social distancing. The answer was to orchestrate a huge, multi-canvas collaboration, that could be broken into parts, that we could each do in our own homes, and that would slot together to create a bigger picture of something important to Chesham.
No two canvases are the same, so when they are assembled together, they create a mosaic or patchwork effect, with the hidden, bigger design running across it, tying the canvases and artists together.
This project is about unity, as well as individual voices. It’s about coming together to create something bigger than the sum of its parts. It’s about the importance of being yourself and being proud to be different, of celebrating uniqueness and diversity, and being proud to stand next to other artists of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs.
Art prints, in a range of sizes, are available by contacting [email protected]
No two canvases are the same, so when they are assembled together, they create a mosaic or patchwork effect, with the hidden, bigger design running across it, tying the canvases and artists together.
This project is about unity, as well as individual voices. It’s about coming together to create something bigger than the sum of its parts. It’s about the importance of being yourself and being proud to be different, of celebrating uniqueness and diversity, and being proud to stand next to other artists of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs.
Art prints, in a range of sizes, are available by contacting [email protected]
Thank you so much to our sponsors & supporters
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Competition Results
Winners
Buttons canvas by Steph Hudson
Finger canvas by Lou Feist
Flag and hands artwork by Zak
Runners Up
Giraffe canvas by Marian Kirby
Heron canvas by Shevon Burrows
Sweets canvas by Jenny Freeman
Buttons canvas by Steph Hudson
Finger canvas by Lou Feist
Flag and hands artwork by Zak
Runners Up
Giraffe canvas by Marian Kirby
Heron canvas by Shevon Burrows
Sweets canvas by Jenny Freeman
2. 'Stories' - Pop Up Exhibition
@ Chesham Library from 22nd July - 17th August 2021
Pop up art gallery, featuring 8 local artists & craftspeople
Local Artists & Writers exhibited their creative work inside a joint, pop up art gallery, housed inside Chesham Library.The theme of the work was storytelling. Artist's have a range of backgrounds, abilities and disciplines, from oil painters, portrait artists, and landscapes, to collage, photography, ceramics, glass, textiles and crafts. Passers-by could enter the gallery and browse, free of charge, & every artist who participated sold at least one piece of work.
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3. 'Hidden Art' Map of Chesham, illustrated by Mark Cowie
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Launched on 22nd July, 2021.
Maps are available @ JPS Stationers, The Elgiva Theatre & other participating shops. Get your Illustrated art map - a great day out in Chesham! Grab your copy of our beautiful, Illustrated art trail map, created by local cartographer & illustrator Mark Cowie, and follow the trail trail to discover hidden art around Chesham.
The map highlights both existing art that you may have missed and the stories behind these works, as well as newly created art, plus fascinating trivia and mini art challenges along the way. |
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4. Shop Window Takeover - Chesham's 'Mad Hatter'
ENDED on 9th August 2021.
Unveiled 22nd July 2021
Unveiled 22nd July 2021
Follow shop windows, taken over by talented artists & storytellers.
This year marks the 400th anniversary of the birth of Roger Crab - Chesham’s very own, real-life ‘mad hatter’. He led an extraordinary life, and a group of 9 local artists and writers have come together to tell his fascinating story across multiple shop windows on Chesham’s high-street. Get your copy of the ‘hidden art’ map from JPS Stationers, follow the trail and find out if he really was the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Mad Hatter.
5. Workshop: Using Narrative in Landscape Painting
COMPLETED Sunday 25th July 10am - 2pm - Lowndes Park, Chesham (Look for the easels & picnic blankets!)
Free to all, booking required - see below
Free to all, booking required - see below
Landscape painting 'en plein air' (outdoor) workshop & picnic.
An 'en plein air' (outdoor) landscape painting workshop. Local artists of all abilities were invited to join us at a free, outdoor, group art session in Chesham, where we enjoyed a leisurely painting & drawing session plus picnic. Local artist, Emily, was on hand to offer tips and advice. Any art produced, participants could take home and many uploaded and tagged work to our FB & insta page #thebigpicturechesham. Some brought their own art materials, tools, a chair or blanket plus picnic!
To register interest in future workshops, please email Emily via [email protected]
If you require advice regarding suitable materials, contact Emily or visit JPS Stationers on Chesham High-street, who are selling an especially created, 'Landscape Painting' pack. Under 18's must be accompanied by a parent / guardian.
To register interest in future workshops, please email Emily via [email protected]
If you require advice regarding suitable materials, contact Emily or visit JPS Stationers on Chesham High-street, who are selling an especially created, 'Landscape Painting' pack. Under 18's must be accompanied by a parent / guardian.
6. Workshop: Narrative in Life Drawing & Portraiture
COMPLETED Sunday 25th July 2021, 7:30pm - 9:30pm. Upstairs @ The George & Dragon Pub, Chesham
£10 per person, booking required - see below
£10 per person, booking required - see below
Join a group class and have a go at drawing and painting the human form
Get creative and have fun at our quirky narrative life drawing class. Grab a drink from the bar and get arty as our accessorised model explores the story of the 4 B’s of Chesham and more!
Learn new drawing techniques and the art of storyboarding with poses ranging from 2 – 20 minutes. Materials included, beginners very welcome.
This event is hosted by Shevon Burrows, winner of C4’s ‘Drawers Off’ and founder of ‘Outside the Box Drawing’.
www.facebook.com/outsidetheboxdrawing/
Adults only (16+). Under 18's must be accompanied by a parent / guardian.
Booking required via email: [email protected]
Learn new drawing techniques and the art of storyboarding with poses ranging from 2 – 20 minutes. Materials included, beginners very welcome.
This event is hosted by Shevon Burrows, winner of C4’s ‘Drawers Off’ and founder of ‘Outside the Box Drawing’.
www.facebook.com/outsidetheboxdrawing/
Adults only (16+). Under 18's must be accompanied by a parent / guardian.
Booking required via email: [email protected]
