By Anton Dolders, Regional Chair of Arts at Macmillan Cancer Support
Art For Macmillan: Artist Demos at Dobbies Garden Centre: Sylvia Alexander
Working to raise funds for the provision of care and counselling for Macmillan’s patients, Sylvia Alexander and me expanded Art For Macmillan Cancer Support’s demonstrations with appearances in Dobbies Garden Centre on Bentham’s Way in Southport where we exhibited on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October. The exhibition included watercolour paintings by John West; photography by Gary Gray and Tersesa Bullen and naturally my local scenes created in oils, pastels and pencils. It took place in the pavilion which is located behind the main store and provided enough space for me to work on a large painting whilst corresponding with visitors to the exhibition. Despite chilliness, a great time was had by all.
Sylvia Alexander whose phenomenal commitment to fundraising through painting and making greetings cards ranks her as one of Art For Macmillan’s most valued participants. Sylvia was born in Appley Bridge in West Lancashire but has lived in Southport for forty years. She is a dedicated member of the Churchtown Art Group where she has painted mainly in watercolours for thirteen years
Sylvia said: “I have always been creative and the jobs I have had which include wall paper design and visual planning of mines in Wigan required me to use my creative skills but now I paint whatever I feel like”
She has recently been experimenting in brusho because of macmula degeneration, a condition which effecting the eyes. Brusho is a granulated medium which bolsters and changes form on contact with water. It’s positioning upon the paper can be determined and so can the outline of the image but work rendered with brusho always possesses huge chance elements. Sylvia’s work contains clearly recognisable forms inparticular animals and flowers enveloped in swirling and ethereal surroundings and her work is beautiful.
Art For Macmillan would like to thank management and staff at Dobbies for their generosity in donating exhibition space to aid our cause. We are extremely dependent on such acts of kindness by local businesses and must also thank Community Interest Company Make It Workshop for providing our current base in Cambridge Walks where footfall has increased considerably because of it’s establishment of such culturally and socially relevant enterprises there. For full details of Art For Macmillan Cancer Support’s exhibitions and events look online: www.artformacmillancancersupport.co.uk.
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