34NADFAS REVIEW / SUMMER 2010www.nadfas.org.ukAbove:Calligraphicstoneware artistLaurenceMcGowan atwork. One of hisfinished platescan be seenoppositeThe coordinators looking after thenumerous disciplines at the 32ndArt in Actionin July are vocalwhen asked about the 300 artists,craftspeople, lecturers and teacherswho have been booked to demonstratetheir genius to a watching public. The24,000 visitors to this annual four-dayevent at Waterperry, near Oxford, canexpect to see people of immense talentemploying traditional and ground-breaking skills to create work of greatbeauty and appeal. Heirlooms of thefuture? Definitely.In Sculpture, organiser JoannaMigdal points to the timeless formsThehumantouchWatching talentedcraftspeople create theheirlooms of the future is onlypart of what makessummer'sArt in Actioneventsospecial. Shirley Burchasks the art coordinatorsfrom each sector to talk usthrough this year's highlightsembodying beauty and stillness createdby American sculptor Ginger Gilmour,whose Olympic-inspired Flame of theSpiritcurrently captivates travellersdeparting from Terminal 5 at HeathrowAirport as part of BAA's Expo initiativefor international artists. Joanna says:"Ginger is wonderful and this project is areal coup. She has put beauty first in herlife and she has stayed true to thatalways." A website browse of GingerGilmour's Gallery (www.gingerart.net)reveals a galaxy of extraordinarilyelegant and fluid forms portrayingemotions, movement and space. Gingerterms her work "the art of living beauty". ART IN ACTION

that Art in Actionhashad as a demonstrator.We are very fortunate." Nature in Art directorSimon Trapnellnominates RosalindWise's brilliant field andflower paintings for livingpresence and"thereness", reflecting thepainter's intention to passon the "experience" of the subject. Glass section organiserStephen Prendergastspeaks of a whole range oftalent in this area for Art inAction 2010. "Graham Muirand Kathryn Pearce are bothyoung glassblowers makingexquisite work. Their pieces will alwaysbe valued. Ed and Margaret Burke'ssimple, earthy designs will always havean appeal. Young Sarah Blood, creatorof very original sculptural work,is starting to be collected;and there's AnthonyWassell too, with his'air twist' blownglassware forwhich he has aremarkabletalent. Noteveryone can doit and in 100years people maynot know how to." Sherry Moran ofCeramics has onceagain given her potters(25 this year) a theme toIn Woodwork, curatorAndrew Purves points tothe timeless, heirloomquality - "300 years atleast" -of the cellos,violins, violas and violas dagamba made by French-born Marc Soubeyran,period instrument maker,mender, and co-founderand first chairman of theBritish Violin MakingAssociation. Marc gives greatattention to historical detail: "A vast array of ideas andexperience come together inthe making of each of theseinstruments and the adjustmentof sound in both old and new."Patrick Wyatt, enthusiasticorganiser in Metalwork & Jewellerysingles out Barbara Christie as asignificant creator of importantheirlooms. "Barbara's work shows anextraordinary breadth of skilland vision. She finds anunusual gemstone andvisualises somethingno-one else couldconceive of. Shethen has theability to makemanifest thatvision beautifully.Even thougheach article isclearly unique, theyall somehow areclearly one ofBarbara's pieces. She isone of the greatest jewellerswww.nadfas.org.ukNADFAS REVIEW / SUMMER201035ART IN ACTIONEVENT DETAILSVenue: Waterperry House, nearWheatley, Oxfordshire OX33 1JZWebsite:www.artinaction.org.ukTel:020 7381 3192Date/time:15-18 July 2010, open10.00am-5.30pm dailyTickets:Adults £15(Booked online £14)Senior citizens £12(Booked online £11)Concessions £8(Booked online £7)Child (9-17 years) £5 (Booked online £4)Under-9s freeFamily and season tickets availableCar parking freeParty rates for pre-booked minibusesand a limited number of coaches byarrangement - contact the Office (020 7381 3192) in advance.work to. She has asked them toconsider inspiration. Where does itcome from? What inspires an artist? "It's a way of inviting the artists to sharea deeper aspect of their work," shereports. "We are already getting reallygood feedback." Demonstrators here whose work has 'heirloom quality' include calligraphicstoneware artist Laurence McGowan,whose pieces reflect the Arts & Craftsmovement and Islamic traditions; andRuth Tudball, with her soda-glazed warein soft thrown clay, which is ashandsome and timeless as Greek andRoman pottery. . Please turn to page 54 for a specialTicket Offer for NADFAS visitors Left:'Air twist'blown glasswarefrom AnthonyWassellBottom (left toright):Periodinstrument makerMarc Soubeyran;Rosalind Wise'sfield and flowerpaintings are ahighlight of theNature in Artcategory;stunningglassware fromyoungglassblowerKathryn Pearce