The largest art exhibition of its kind to come to Cumbria is due to open this week.
On Friday the gallery at Rheged, near Penrith, opens its very first Paper Art Exhibition – ‘Matisse and Contemporary Paper Artists Exhibition’.
Curated entirely in-house by the Rheged Gallery Team, it includes 35 pieces by Matisse as well as some of the best paper artists in the country.
‘Drawing with Scissors’, a Hayward Gallery Touring Exhibition, focuses on Matisse’s late works from 1950 to 1954.
It features 35 lithographic prints of the famous cut-outs produced by Henri Matisse in the last four years of his life.
Confined to a wheelchair or his bed, he took to ‘drawing with scissors’ by cutting shapes out of paper, which had been vibrantly pre-painted with gouache by assistants and were then assembled into abstract or figurative shapes under his direction.
Alongside this, visitors can see 200 artworks by 42 leading British paper artists – many of whom are members of the highly respected Paper Artist Collective and exhibit all over the world.
Notable names include Rob Ryan, Lisa Lloyd, Helen Musselwhite, Pippa Dyrlaga and Paperboyo, while homegrown Cumbrian talent is represented by Emma Boyes, Tracey Escolme, Elizabeth Sharrock and Mark Gibbs plus a centrepiece by Kendal-based paper artist, Amy Williams.
Rheged’s head of programming, Claire Logan-Stephens said: “This is an exceptionally exciting exhibition for us. To be able to showcase leading Cumbrian and UK -wide paper artists alongside the genius of Henri Matisse is a true honour.
“We’re absolutely delighted to have Amy Williams back at Rheged with a truly spectacular centrepiece to the exhibition which will no doubt stimulate conversation, but more importantly, inspire visitors of all ages to have a go at paper art themselves.”
In February 2022, Rheged put a nationwide call out to professional paper artists asking for proposals for an installation which would be a centrepiece with a Cumbria connection, a talking point and a contemporary companion to the exhibition. It also needed to inspire a ‘make and create area’, where all visitors could learn a paper craft skill.
Amy, a visual artist living in Kendal, won the commission with the idea of exploring Cumbria’s identity and heritage through a series of paper wigs and headwear. Each one reflects an industry for which the region is well-known. Amy has made nine different pieces exploring industries such as paper making, wool, shoe making, ship-building, pencils, mining, and tourism.
The exhibition also includes a ‘make and create’ area sponsored by James Cropper speciality paper, in Burneside, where people can try their hand at paper art. The Rheged team have also scheduled a programme of adult and family-friendly artist-led workshops to explore and experience various techniques in more depth.
The ‘Matisse and Contemporary Paper Artists Exhibition’ is open daily from Saturday (May 28) until Sunday September 4, from 9am to 5.30pm. Visitors can pre-book a timed entry ticket online at Rheged.com or buy tickets at Rheged’s main ticket desk; adults £3, children £2.
