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Photographic exhibition captures the spirit of Cumbria
By Caryl Ireland
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Santon Bridge Village Hall provided the perfect location for a photographic exhibition on the 6th September organised by the Art in Irton group which was open to anyone who wished to display and sell their work, based around the theme ‘West Cumbria’. Most exhibitors work consisted mainly of traditional Cumbrian landscapes, but one man who decided to think outside the box for this theme was Kevin Shelley from Eskmeals, whose display of thought provoking black and white shots included his wife captured as the ‘Hillbilly wife’ in a rocking chair with a shotgun across her lap in torn, dirty clothes after mucking out the horses. Another, ‘Dead dog’ was a bit of a trick of the eye. Viewed one way you would say the dog was asleep, turn it on it’s side and the dog seems dead. Kevin decided to keep the dog’s actual state to himself but said, “It’s up to you to decide if he is asleep or dead. It’s more interesting that way.” He has no formal training but possesses a real talent for capturing passing moments in time that have made him stop and think and reflect on life. Kevin rarely uses digital photography, preferring to use film which he develops himself, unlike Chris Ward from St Bees who fully embraces digital manipulation and whose floral images were simply stunning and had many people questioning if they were actual photographs or drawings.
Another exhibitor, Colin Woodall, was raising money for Leukaemia Research after suffering the disease and was showing some beautifully vibrant sunsets over Ravenglass, one showing a huge rusted anchor near the shore that quite a few people had never noticed before. Dominating an end wall were Miles Davy’s huge canvass panoramic landscapes, the largest of which was 8 ft long and made up from nine photographs all blended together. They all showed an amazing clarity and offered a modern alternative to displaying behind glass. In contrast to the warmth of Miles’ work were some barren, brooding tree pictures by Gareth Harrison and an amazing lake view taken at Easter time that looked so cold it could make you shiver.
Lowes Court Gallery’s Louise Stewart, one of the organisers said she was delighted with the turnout and is hoping this event will become a regular feature. Refreshments were on sale in the hall and all money raised went to the village hall fund.
Kevin Shelley’s work will be available to buy online soon at www.negativeexposures.co.uk
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