Rupert Bear finds a place in Durham open art exhibitions
You can’t beat an open submission for winkling out artistic talent and there’s plenty of it on display at Bishop Auckland Town Hall where the Open Art Exhibition is on until February 15.
The annual exhibition, open to all who live and work in County Durham, spans a wide range of media and subject matter and sees artists at different stages of life and career showing side by side.
There are three works on display by Stuart Trotter, from Ferryhill, who for the past 17 years has been illustrating The Rupert Annual, chronicling the adventures of Rupert Bear.
That’s quite a responsibility.
Rupert has been with us for 124 years, pre-dating Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, and has been the incentive for many young people to discover the joys of reading.
Read more: Birdsong - A love story that has changed lives
Stuart, who is an author and publisher as well as an illustrator, has worked with many major UK publishers on other well-known fictional figures including Postman Pat, Wallace and Gromit, Kipper, Noddy and even Winnie the Pooh.
The images on display highlight Rupert Bear’s connection with County Durham and will certainly be introducing him to a new generation of readers and exhibition visitors.
The exhibition sparked a lot of interest long before it opened with an unprecedented number of applications.
The upshot is that it showcases 269 works by 125 artists and includes paintings, photographs, textile pieces, sculptures and jewellery, all selected by a panel of artists and curators.
In the Young Open Art exhibition, running for the second year at the same venue, you can see work by 11 young artists aged from 11 to 18.
Among the exhibits are three eye-catching fused glass pieces by Callum Wilkinson, from Chirton, who has recently started as artist-in-residence at Durham Sixth Form Centre.
His practice consists of layering multiple pieces of glass to create imagery or patterns.
He then puts the glass in a kiln which fires it to temperatures of more than 800 degrees Celsius, before allowing it to cool at a controlled rate.
Callum was inspired by a trip to the National Glass Centre in Sunderland and set up Cal’s Glass in 2022.
His pieces can take up to 26 hours to make, although bowls and plates can take up to 50 hours as they need a second firing.
Councillor Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “The standard of applications for this year’s Open Art Exhibition was incredibly high, which demonstrates the wealth of talent that exists in County Durham.
“There’s a great deal of variety too and the result is an exhibition that excites and inspires.
“We are delighted to include work by Stuart whose illustrations have brought so much joy to so many children and secured County Durham a place in the Rupert Bear story.
“It’s also a great pleasure to showcase the creative talents of Callum and the other young artists featured. As the Culture County, we are committed to nurturing young talent and providing a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work.”
Bishop Auckland Town Hall Gallery is open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, and entry is free.