By Mary Ann Rogers
Finally some warmth is creeping into these far flung hills and valleys, the rug has come off the horse, the tomato plants are shooting up and the runner beans are finally in the ground in our vegetable patch.
Preparations are well underway for the summer exhibition, ‘Untamed’, which previews on the weekend, 27 & 28 June, 3-6 each day. Guests are plied with bubbly then relax with afternoon tea, hopefully having been tempted by one of the new paintings or prints! All are welcome. The freezer is filling up with home baked cakes and scones and the grand tidy up is proceeding steadily.
Over 20 new paintings and four new limited edition prints will be framed and hung throughout the gallery and house for the exhibition, which is full of pheasants, hares, ducks, guinea fowl and the landscape of this area.
‘Mary Ann’s life is deeply connected to the landscape around her. Whether walking, cycling, or swimming year-round in the chilly rivers, lakes and sea, she is immersed in the wildlife of Northumberland. Encounters with otters, kingfishers, geese, ducks and even eels (!!) plus the sheep and cattle in the fields are part of everyday life, and this close relationship with nature shines through her work with authenticity and passion.’
Interesting. The above was my first foray into the world of AI.
Impressive? I couldn’t have said it better myself.
As I stand painting, listening mostly to BBC Radio 4 most of the time, incessantly talking about AI and how it will affect all of our lives, I’ve wondered whether it would make any difference to a life like mine? Does true authenticity matter anymore? Is plagiarism and laziness the way forward I wonder. Throughout my life as an artist I have followed the same rule- subject first, then honest response. I think I’ll stick to that.
Warmer weather means longer river swims. Accompanied by a heron catching a fish on the weir close to where I enter the river, fish leaping, watched by bewildered sheep grazing on the riverbank, I passed an enjoyable hour swimming up, then back down the river recently. The water feels more welcoming with the higher temperature, and staying in to explore further no longer has the element of jeopardy of swimming when the temperatures are lower.
‘Untamed’ exhibition. Preview:
Sat 27th & Sun 28th June, 3-6. All welcome.
Mary Ann Rogers Gallery,
West Woodburn, Hexham NE48 2SE
Open Tues, Thurs, Fri 10-4 – Sundays 2-5
07967 550772 – www.marogers.com
