The art to see in York right now – December 2016
This is a great time to be in York.
Not only has the city just been dubbed Britain’s friendliest city (as if we didn’t know already), but we’ve just added an abundance of bright lights and Yuletide greenery to an already stunningly beautiful and historic setting.
Looking good, York. Looking very good.
On top of all this, there is also a fantastic selection of art at your disposal. From exhibitions to fairs and workshops, there are plenty of opportunities to feast your eyes and get involved with all things bright and beautiful in York this month.
Season’s finest @ Blue Tree Gallery
If you’re still clinging desperately to the tattered shreds of Autumn, it is time to let go. Head down to Blue Tree Gallery where their seasonal exhibition, Winter, will help to ease the passing of the season with a fine collection of beautiful scenes from cold climes.
The gentle, natural grace of the season as displayed in this exhibition will also provide an antidote, should you find yourself overwhelmed by the the bright lights and gaudiness of shop windows in the run up towards Christmas.
See the light @ Castle Gallery
Bob Barker is an artist who believes that the light in the north of England is unrivalled by any other, and it is this which has inspired him to create the fantastic collection of atmospheric paintings which will be showing in York this month.
Whether or not you agree with him on the geographical merits of luminosity, he certainly makes his case very well in his exhibition, Northern Light.
Head to Castle Gallery from 3 – 18 December to decide for yourself. Whether or not you can envision a superior light, you will certainly come away a little enamoured with what you have seen.
Festivities @ Whitewall
If you’re feeling Christmassy, or if you’re not and you want to be, then head to Whitewall Gallery on the weekend 10 – 11 December.
Their travelling exhibition is festive themed, with an array of inspiring artworks that are guaranteed to kick start your Christmas cheer for the rest of the year.
A homecoming @ Pyramid Gallery
Lesley Seeger moved to Yorkshire at the age of nine. Now a home-grown talent and artist of 20 years, she has been reflecting back on her years as an artist, a nature lover and a highly imaginative individual.
The resultant retrospective is a delicate and moving collection of artwork- old and new- gathered together and bound in a book which is to be launched at Pyramid Gallery on 2 December, 6 – 8.30 PM.
Head to the gallery to see the book, meet the artist and take a peek at the sample of her paintings on display.
Last Chance to See
Fine forms @ According to McGee
Hurry down to According to McGee this week to see the final days of its current exhibition, Life Story, by artist Doug Binder.
Hailed as one of the finest figurative painters in Britain, Binder renders his subjects in an appealing and warm style, infused with butterscotch light.
His style has steadily evolved since his first successes in the 1960s when the Beatles famously became some of his first customers, and this latest incarnation of his work is said to be his most progressive yet.
You’ll have to be quick though, as the exhibition closes on 4 December.
Country idylls @ York Fine Arts
One of last month’s exhibition highlights will be on display for just one more week at York Fine Arts gallery.
This showcase of classic British landscapes by artists Edward Hersey and Gordon Lees is absolutely charming, but it closes on 11 December so catch it while you can.
All the world @ Lotte Inch
Last month an array of talented artists, each of whom have captured the world around us in its essence and quintessential beauty, assembled at the Lotte Inch gallery.
You can view the moving and evocative collection, Sea : Land, for one more month before it closes on 31 December, and I highly recommend doing so.
Get Crafty
Christmas is the perfect time to let your crafty side out, and there’s no better place to do it than in York this year.
Get your Christmas door decorations sorted at the Christmas Wreath Making Workshop at Lotte Inch on 3 December, 2 – 4.30 PM.
There are also craft and Christmas fairs Galore, including the York Maker’s Christmas Fair at Clements Hall and the Etsy Made Local fair at the Hilton Hotel, both on Saturday 3 December, 10 AM – 4 PM.
If you don’t make it down to either of those then Kiosk Project Space will be hosting its own fair the following day, Sunday 4 December, 3.30 – 6.30 PM.
Of course the smaller crafters haven’t been forgotten either. York Baptist Church will be hosting a Christmas craft and game day on Saturday 10 December, 2.15 – 5.30 PM.
The event is aimed at 5-11 year olds and is free to all.
That’s all for this year folks, so I wish you a Merry Christmas and I’ll see you in 2017.