On Sunday 12th May the sculptor Julian Wild will bring his participatory sculpture project, Making The Connection, to Ludlow town centre.  A fantastic launch event for the 2013 Ludlow Open.  It will be held in Castle Square during the Spring Food & Drink Festival, 10am to 4pm.  I’ll upload photos after the 12th!

At the early evening Private View, Friday 5th August 2012

250 artists from around the country submitted 1000 artworks.  82 artists were selected and 114 art works were hung.  20% of the exhibition was sold over the 2 week run of the show.

In the main gallery

Across the courtyard

Something for all ages

guests chatting in front of the drawings

More talk

A further selection of images from the exhibition:

Angela Conner’s marble resin, Counterpoise, in front of the main gallery entrance.

Tim Covington’s carved basalt shapes in the courtyard.

Part of the courtyard, looking back toward the main hall.

3 women with attitude in the long corridor.

The long corridor, including Shani Rhys James’s painting at the top.

Paintings in the main gallery, including Kate Morgan Clare’s haunting dress pattern.

Bernadette Kerrigan’s cider cans, up to no good in the main gallery.

Rob Olins’ topical homage to Usain Bolt.

Saint Martha Tames The Dragon in the medieval hall.

2012 Selected Artists:

Anne Adamson, Caroline Ali, Mike Allison, Jemma Appleby, Barbara & Zafer Baran, Jean Baynham, Helen Booth, Pauline Bradley, Lesley Bunch, Rebecca Byrne-Black, Catherine Cartwright, Peter Chapman, Trev Clarke, Angela Conner, Lesley Connolly, Dominique Conte, Justine Cook, Kate Corbett-Winder, Gemma Cossey, Tim Covington, Peter Crush, Celia de Serra, Nicholas de Serra, Chris Dunseath, Gordon Egginton, Susan Forsyth, Hazel Gwatkin, Tony Hall, David Hamilton, Ashley Hanson, Nicholas Holmes, Lois Hopwood, Petr Horacek, Jack Hutchinson, Valerie Inns, Sheilagh Jevons, Bernadette Kerrigan, Jina Lee, Elfyn Lewis, Debbie Locke, Tessa Maiden, Andrea McLean, Sam Messenger, Kate Morgan-Clare, Darren Nisbett, Nina Ogden, Rob Olins, Sylvia Owens, Julian Paltenghi, Mike Perry, John Renshaw, Shani Rhys James, Maria Robinson, Tobit Roche, Susannah Royle, Tomie Seo, Angela Smith, Matthew Smith, Lisa Snook, Annie Spearman, Chloe Steele, Lexi Strauss, Barbara Tong, Jane Tudge, Jeremy Turner, Sean Vicary, Tessa Waite, Andre Wallace, Frances Walsh, Felicity Warbrick, Stephen West, Paula Whitbread-Roberts, Jenny Wiener, Phil Wilkinson, Julie Williams, Agata Wojcieszkiewicz, Paula Woof, Carol Wyss.

Justine Cook, Artist, Powys, September 2011. 

“I thought I must write and say how impressed I was by the show.  I have been in other open competition exhibitions, and the Ludlow Contemporary was excellent.  I was very pleased with the transparency of the judging process, then struck by the size, light and space in the gallery, no tiny rooms or basements, then delighted with the quality of the work.  Of course it is always a pleasure to be at such a vivacious private view, and selling a piece of work to one of the selectors was the cherry on the cake.  The contacts I made were a real boost to my making.  The quality of the curation, & the success & ambience of the show was down to you, your attention to detail, professionalism, approachability and enthusiasm.  I feel very fortunate to have been selected in 2009 & 2010.  Ludlow was a great place to visit – the town was certainly buzzing after the private views this year!”

Peter Crush, Artist, London, September 2010. 

“As a final year undergraduate student in July 2010 I found working with Jo & exhibiting at Ludlow a very rewarding experience.  The exhibition in Ludlow was the first time I showed my work to the public outside higher education, and I sold one of the two works I had on show, which was just amazing.  Since then I have gone on to exhibit a further 10 times in 12 months.  It was Jo’s passion, organisation and encouragement which pulled such a great exhibition together and I would have no hesitation in applying to the show again.”

Mark Beattie, Artist, Notts, August 2011. 

“I entered the Ludlow summer open because it had some really high calibre judges and had exhibited some artists that I greatly admire. I was delighted to be accepted in 2010 and felt the Curator Jo King and her colleagues were very respectful, friendly and organised, making me feel valued and seen as an artist. Jo also made it easy for those of us that were in London to transport our works to a pick up point, so we did not have to pay excess travel expenses.  I was lucky enough to be able to attend the opening and was made to feel really welcome by all those working at and attending the private view. The competition has led to me being in touch with a major London Art Dealer which makes it even more of a fantastic opportunity. I do hope you get more funding to create more exhibitions. I think it’s a great opportunity.”

Rosalind Davis, Artist and AIR Council Member. Aug 2011

“Belated congratulations on the 2009 Exhibition. The work looked great & the setting & hang was generous & sensitive. It contrasts with other open shows.  The venue was a surprise; hidden from the street with the move from the first darker interior to the courtyard & then to the modern gallery providing a contrast which served well.  Thank you for the opportunity to show my work.  I was very flattered by Philip Harley’s kind words about ‘Wind Instrument’.”

Prof. David Hamilton, Emeritus Professor, Royal College of Art.  Chichester, Aug 2009.

“I thought the Summer Exhibition looked even better than last year (& I was very impressed then).  Well done.  It all looked very elegant, sharp & considered: not too crowded, lots of air around each piece of work & an underlying clarity of vision.  So I think all the work hung was shown to advantage.  I wish all open exhibitions were so professionally shown.  The private view was very well attended, so I hope you feel it was successful & worth all your hard work.”

Prof. David Hamilton, Emeritus Professor, Royal College of Art.  Chichester, Aug 2010.

“Months after your email saying there will be no Ludlow exhib this year, this is to say “what a shame” and that I (along with many others I am sure) hope that you will find the means to continue in future years.  These are not good times and finding the wherewithal to run an open exhibition must be hard.  You know, because I have said it before, that I think the Ludlow exhibitions have been among the best quality work with a clarity & sensitivity in the hanging which gave each work space to breathe and to be seen at its best.  Opens are always a bit of a gamble for the organisers and the artists, but it was a pleasure to be part of the Ludlow Summer Exhibitions & I hope it can be found an alternative life.”

Prof. David Hamilton, Emeritus Professor, Royal College of Art.  Chichester, April 2011.

“The Ludlow Summer Exhibition is a very important show for Ludlow & the region. The Welsh Marches area has very little exposure to contemporary art at a national & international level, & the Ludlow Summer Exhibition has provided one of the few opportunities for people here to encounter it. The Exhibition was sorely missed this year. It has been excellently & efficiently curated in the past & the Exhibition’s venue at Ludlow College is well suited to the purpose. I personally hope to see the Exhibition reinstated in Ludlow next year.”

Simon Denison, Photographer, Shropshire, August 2011. 

“I just wanted to thank you for all your help during the Ludlow Contemporary Art Exhib.  It was a good show of high quality & a great chance for the public to see contemporary art outside of London!  It was such a thrill to sell two of the three works selected, and to win the prize, and you will be happy to know that it has been spent on insulating and converting an old Victorian shed into a useful studio space.  It means I can return to painting on a larger scale, & I am planning to show some new work in my new space this year.”

Felicity Warbrick, Artist, Shropshire & London, October 2010.  

“Jo, I am just emailing to let you know that I have been accepted for the Jerwood Drawing Prize this year.  I met Alan Grieve at the private view last August, and thought I would go for it!  I thought you would want to know.”

Felicity Warbrick, Artist, Shropshire & London, August 2011. 

“The Ludlow Open was as exciting to be selected for as the Oriel Newtown & The Mall Galleries. They are on an equal footing in terms of range, risk and quality.  I have been in many group shows as a local artist & by far the most high profile was the Ludlow Open.  It is a great boost to exhibit along side established artists and to sell, thanks to Jo’s hard work.  In terms of my work, it led directly to an exhibition of Drawings at the Silk Top Hat Gallery.”

Lois Hopwood, Artist, Shropshire, August 2011. 

“I greatly enjoyed being on the selection panel for the LSE, and would be delighted to sit on the panel again. There are too few opportunities to bring national art work to the area, and it is such a shame to lose the momentum we have so far achieved. Ludlow College is a perfect venue, you consistently create & curate strong shows in the modern setting, and there is more to do. I would really encourage you to build on this and go for funding.”

Dr Yvonne Crossley, Director, The Drawing Gallery, May 2011.  Yvonne was a show selector in 2009 & 2010. 

“I am glad the show went well.  My father was very impressed so I got a full report after my holiday.  The quality of work is very impressive Jo, I enjoyed the judging process, & it gave me an opportunity to see lots of work by artists I hadn’t come across before.  I hope planning goes well for next year.”

Lara Grieve, Jerwood Foundation, London, September 2010.  Lara was a show selector in 2010. 

“You have achieved so much in the first years – it seems such a shame that things can’t stack up for this year, but great that you will be going for “Ludlow Open” – great name! – next year.  I wish you the very best, please keep me in the loop.”

Philip Harley, Director of Modern Painting, Christies, London.  January 2011.  Philip was a show selector in 2008 & 2009. 

“You have made a very convincing case in going for funding.  The Ludlow Exhibition is a very impressive & worthwhile venture and has collected together some excellent work & provided a much needed forum for practicing artists.  It “works” in prestige & for Ludlow.  Best of luck.”

Desmond Shawe-Taylor, Surveyor of The Queens Pictures, May 2011.  Desmond was a selector in 2008. 

“In 3 years the Open at Ludlow has established itself as an integral part of the annual Ludlow Arts program & now has widespread support & backing from the local community & also from further afield.  It has attracted some internationally recognised artists & arts professionals to the College.  Exploring closer links between the Open & the art dept. of the college is really worth considering & will enhance any funding application you make.  Jo, you have put so much time and effort in to the last three years & without you it wouldn’t have happened.  It has been a hugely positive thing for Ludlow & for all the artists involved, & whatever happens, you should be really proud of what was achieved in such a short time & from nothing.”

David Cleaton-Roberts, Director, Alan Cristea Gallery, London.  December 2010.  David was a show selector, 2008-2010.

“It would be a great loss to Ludlow & surrounding area if ‘The Ludlow Open’ were not to happen again.  Past years have demonstrated the importance of a major visual arts exhibition combining artists of international stature with a range of local talent that most certainly succeeds & is embraced by the public at large.”

Viscount Windsor, Earl of Plymouth, Ludlow, September 2011.

(Viscount Windsor headed up Friends of The Ludlow Summer Exhibition, 2008-2010).