Yeovil Town Centre Window Artwork Project – New Installation
Released On 11th Dec 2021
Love Yeovil have recently been awarded funding from South Somerset District Council to help brighten up Yeovil’s Town Centre by bringing art and graphics into the empty shops.
Love Yeovil has been working with The Museum of Somerset on this latest installation which can be seen at 48 High Street, the former Edinburgh Woollen Mill Shop. Permission had been granted by the property owner for this very unique piece of art work by Brian Rice.
The installation supports an exhibition being held at The Museum of Somerset entitled ‘The Art of Brian Rice: Sixty Years of Painting and Prints’. Brian Rice is Somerset born painter-printmaker who made an international name for himself in 1960s London.
Rice was at the heart of the London art scene during the 1960s. He moved in the same circles as David Hockney, Jo Tilson and Peter Blake, and worked at the forefront of British Modernism. Eventually, disillusioned with London life, he returned to his native West Country. There he bought a farm in Dorset, immersing himself in the work of sheep farming and restoring an ancient farmhouse. He returned to painting in the 1980s and ’90s, taking inspiration from the archaeological past and from the hill forts, enclosures and burial mounds in the landscapes around him. Soon he was renewing his reputation as one of Britain’s most distinguished abstract artists. He continues to work from his home in Dorset and in 2020 created ‘Son of Covid’ in response to the global pandemic.
The exhibition will display works from throughout Brian Rice’s career. They range from his early days at Yeovil School of Art and Goldsmiths College, to his time as part of the booming London art scene. Later works reflect his fascination with local archaeology. The exhibition also explores the artist’s life as a teacher, his passion for cycling and the time he spent as a sheep farmer. Brian Rice currently lives and works in Hewood on the borders of Somerset, Devon and Dorset. The exhibition is free to visit and open until 26 February. Short gallery tours are being held monthly where visitors can discover more about Brian’s life and work. Visit museumofsomerset.org.uk to find out more and book a visit.
Head of Museums for the South West Heritage Trust, Sam Astill, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Love Yeovil to further celebrate the work of one of Britain’s most distinguished abstract artists. Brian was born in Yeovil and grew up in the nearby villages of Tintinhull and Montacute. He went on to study at Yeovil School of Art before making a name for himself as part of the 1960s London art scene.”
Alice Edmonds from Love Yeovil said; “We are thrilled that we’ve been able to fill another empty window with this wonderful example of art from a local born artist. Brian has a great connection with Yeovil having studied here”.
There are still many more windows in the town centre that Love Yeovil would like to fill with artwork and graphics but there are some hurdles that need to be overcome before any more windows can be decorated. Alice Edmonds from Love Yeovil advised that “getting landlords to reply was the hardest part of this project, which is a shame as making the town centre a nicer place will benefit them in the long run, more people using the town centre and being welcomed with a nice atmosphere will only be good for businesses”.
If you are able to help with contact details for property owners then do get in touch or pass them Alice Edmonds contact details alice.edmonds@outlook.com or 07946378203.
