Fabulous Art for Christmas at Trestle Arts Base

This November and December, four Hertfordshire-based artists are again joining forces to produce The Fabulous Art for Christmas Show at Trestle Arts Base in St Albans. Suman Gujral, Caroline Lumb and Hillary Taylor have all previously exhibited at Trestle and are joined on this occasion by Opal Seabrook (Starburst Glass), who has worked with Hillary and Caroline many times.
Fabulous affordable, desirable art is the theme for the wide-ranging exhibition which will feature mixed media drawings, prints, glass and other wall art, alongside jewellery, tableware, cards, gift tags, Christmas-themed items and more.
Caroline Lumb is a mixed media artist, working mainly but not exclusively in oil and acrylic paints, paper and textiles. In addition to her mixed media wall-hung art, she will also have jewellery and fine art giclee prints. Caroline said “I am particularly interested in the abstraction of natural forms, changing the scale and focus of an original source. My favoured mediums are both oil and acrylic paints and hand dyed paper. At the moment patterning, natural forms, books and ruins are my source” She continued “I am delighted to be back at Trestle and have so enjoyed putting together the ‘Fabulous’ collection for these Winter months. ”
An artist for more than 20 years, Opal Seabrook has been working specifically in glass for nearly 10 years. Using traditional hand cutting, leading and soldering techniques, she designs and creates stained glass art panels, windows and mirrors, turning the functional mirror into a unique art piece. “I also design and create kiln-fused jewellery, wall and table art” says Opal “I love to merge fusion and leaded glass techniques for truly unique pieces, incorporating other materials such as wood and metal. I take inspiration from nature, photography and art in its wider form, ensuring each piece is beautiful and unique”. Opal’s Fabulous art for Trestle includes her hugely popular Christmas trees and snowflakes.
Suman Gujral specialises in etching, both solar and traditional. Her work is based on the landscape, recording her experiences. “I’m interested in how we interact with the landscape and the memories it holds for us. Each of my pieces has a story” says Suman, continuing “What I love most is that each piece I make is unique. Even in an edition there are differences from one print to the next which means that each new work is as individual as a painting”.
Drawings and photography form the core of Hillary Taylor’s Fabulous collection, which also includes cards and limited edition signed fine art giclee prints. “I become very involved in exploring transient images or emotions, trying to capture the feeling of a place or subject. For example, my ‘composites’ are an imaginary world created from parts of real towns and cities. I love travel, language, paper”, said Hillary. “Fleeting images and possibilities of natural and man-made subjects in the world around us, including design elements or colour, are a constant source of inspiration“.
When asked about this exhibition, Hillary also said this. “I was delighted when Trestle offered us the chance to work together again for this Fabulous Art for Christmas Show. From the beginning, we set out to produce something that both celebrates the individuality in our styles and offerings, yet delivers a coherent exhibition for Trestle’s many visitors. The Café Gallery is such a vibrant space and we look forward to many more shows together. In the short term, Suman and Opal are collaborating at New Maynard Gallery Welwyn Garden City from late November 2014, and in February 2015 Caroline and Hillary will be exhibiting at Parndon Mill, Essex with two other paper artists.”
All work at the exhibition is available for purchase on the day of your visit. From wall hung pieces, through prints, cards, Christmas-themed items, table-ware to jewellery, there is something Fabulous for everyone to enjoy. Commissions welcomed by all artists.
The exhibition is open Tuesday 4th November 2014 to Monday 12th January 2015 during Trestle opening hours (not Fridays) when the cafe will be open. Entry is free and there is full disabled access.

For more information visit http://www.trestle.org.uk/whats-on/the-arts-base/fabulous-art-for-christmas/