Monday 29 August 2011

Art in Unusual Spaces - Forerunner exhibition for Ilkley Art Trail 2011

Ilkley Osteopath Andy Mansfield of Wells Practice, is the latest businesses to embrace The Ilkley Gallery’s mission to bring more Art to unusual spaces in the town. In collaboration with curator and director of ‘The Ilkley Gallery’ Lorna Bird, he has opened up his practice, on Wells Walk, Ilkley to the public for an exhibition of two local artists, whose work it is hoped will support his practice’s efforts to heal and refresh our tired little bodies.



Linda Dewart is an Ilkley based fabric and mixed media artist whose work is more frequently exhibited elsewhere in Yorkshire, and in Cumbria and London. Her work uses unusual techniques. Of the exhibition Linda says: “Most of this work is 2-D with each piece dictating the materials used.  Some are heavily stitched and textural whilst others concentrate more on paint with minimal or no stitch.  It all depends on what feels right!  Others will demand clay, wire, digital print or photographic elements.” In an interview she talks of her current influences as being: “the relationship between the natural landscape and man and figurative work where I am most interested in people who do not quite fit into the stringent ‘norms’ imposed by society.” Perfect for a therapeutic practice. 

Linda has recently worked collaboratively with another Artist based in Ilkley whose work is also more usually seen elsewhere in the country. Graeme Willson is an internationally noted public artist and Linda has been working on translating his artwork into a processional banner for Halifax Minster. 

The second artist of the exhibition is also an internationally collected artist, Leeds based Judith Levin, whose seasonally appropriate and

Ilkley-responsive, swathes of heather moorland compliment and contrast with Linda Dewart’s more intimate work.

Practice Director Andy has been moved by the potential synergy of the concept from The Ilkley Gallery in mounting the exhibition there: “The practice has been transformed! I love the coherent thread of natural tactility that flows through the place and the brightness it brings to the hallway. The work has already drawn some tremendous compliments.”

The Exhibition at Wells Practice is a forerunner of Ilkley’s first ever Art Trail (www.ilkleyarttrail.org.uk), which is gaining momentum for its launch event October 8 – 16, at the same time as Ilkley Literature Festival. The two exhibiting artists as well as Graeme Willson and over 30 others will all be staging exhibitions and selling work as part of the forthcoming Ilkley Art Trail 2011 in October. Andy said “I also love the idea that Ilkley Art Trail will involve Ilkley businesses in the same way.”

Access to view the exhibition is by appointment during office hours.

Linda Dewarts work can be seen any time in reception and hallways, whilst Judith Levin can be seen between appointments in treatment room 1. It lasts until December with a break in October for the Art Trail. 

For Ilkley Art Trail visit:

or call  07789681862

To visit the exhibition at Wells Practice – call  01943 817191

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