Art Among Us at Resorts World

Hello again Freddos, my thoughtful and curious readers. I'm guessing you're here for an insight into the private view of Art Among Us, the exhibition showcasing the work of talented West Midlands and Warwickshire creatives? Thought as much!

This pop-up gallery is only open until 5th April, so don’t miss it if it’s on your to-do list. Not sure? Let me twist your arm. Before we get into it, a fair warning to your heart strings, there's a Mini Masterpieces wall, dedicated to the young children under the age of sixteen that submitted work, it's a lovely addition to an already diverse show, engaging the community further and giving a platform to the generation coming up behind us, a generation that'll soon be venturing into their own evolving practice. So cute.

There was one in particular that I enjoyed the most, titled The Superman Paint, by Kian, aged eleven. It included textural elements and contrasting colours, I'm drawn to both like a magpie is to shiny things. There's an obvious human presence within the piece, the smeared paint from left to right, which, I feel is a very playful and 'child-like' approach anyway, regardless of age. This young artist highlights the innate desire to explore and experiment with materials, how they move, do they work together? A playful approach that maybe I subconsciously channel into my practice today, most likely similarly to other artists that have an expressive way of working.

The exhibition as a whole followed the theme of 'When Artists Dream', a theme left entirely open to interpretation, purposely selected to encourage a broad range of submissions, artists that explored the concept of dreaming through painting, photography, drawing and printmaking. Out of the exhibiting artists, two were picked as favourites. Organisers Ruth Millington and Amrit Singh announced their selection during a period of speeches and one that so happened to be a favourite of mine too.

Jade Eynon, 'The Uninvited Guest', oil on canvas

One of the winning pieces, by artist Jade Eynon, titled The Uninvited Guest, upon my gaze it pulled lost times out of the shadows, evoked forgotten childhood memories, and cradled them to the forefront of my mind. Long gone echoes of a young self cosy in bed, admiring the covers of handed down books that are perched awkwardly on my bed side, lit up from a dim warm light of a Winnie the Pooh lamp as I slowly drift into sleep. Books that could easily feature a cover in the painting style of Jade Eynon, a book similar to that of The Wind in the Willows. A time where cover art was hand painted or drawn, a time before digital art and AI generated images. My imagination quickly escalated to what this badger could be up to. A world where animals take on human characteristics and recognisable endeavours.

The artists use of warm, rustic, and autumnal tones whisks you away with nostalgia, to a cosy cottage perhaps, a countryside holiday once upon a time, or possibly even a dream you fell into. A way to escape the reality of a cold winters night, shivering in your bed. A dream where you were met by a nosey badger sneaking in for a hot drink, telling tales of a grumpy neighbour that would so happen to be a toad.

Her application of paint, blending technique, and manipulation of layers mirrors how foggy memories, dreams, and curious wanders can feel when thinking back on them. The haze of it all is depicted perfectly in this one small frame. Overall I adore this painting, for where it took me but also from the admiration I have for the skill needed to execute it.

Each piece took the entire space to a new realm. If you're able to visit, it helps to think of the theme less like a fixed message but more of a question. Where does the work take you? Is it literal, symbolic, emotional, or abstract. A memory, fantasy or a fragment of the subconscious. Each piece interprets the theme differently and you'll subsequently react differently to each one, some you might not even react to at all. This is what's great about community exhibitions, 41 artists adding to this collective dreamscape, a mix of different minds. Do you dare to lose yourself in it?

Images courtesy of Dray-Darnell (CLIQ'D Media) & Resorts World

For more information on Art Among Us at Resorts World, you can head here. You'll find instructions on locating the exhibition as well as a booking link to the upcoming workshops which are ran by local artists.