Christmas Story Blocks - Bath, 28.11.2006-06.01.2007

I select wood for the “Story Blocks” from amongst the logs collected to burn on my fire. These logs fuel my imagination. On each of them I paint a ‘world.’ I started with architectural scenes--tall buildings, houses in landscapes. And then I began to paint fairy tales--like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as well as less well known, but equally magical tales. I notice that both adults and children relate immediately to the Story Blocks. Like me, they like to immerse themselves in the stories and dramas which are somehow already there in the wood and which painting helps bring out.

From Tuesday 28th November 2006 to Saturday 6th January 2007.
Open: Tuesdays-Saturdays 10am-5pm
Sundays 1.30-5pm
Entrance free

Victoria Art Gallery
Bridge Street
Bath
BA2 4AT

Enquiries: +44 (0)1225 477772 / victoria_enquiries@bathnes.gov.uk
www.victoriagal.org.uk
www.bathnes.gov.uk/news

Baubles and tinsel will be nowhere to be found on the alternative Christmas tree at Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Victoria Art Gallery.

The annual tradition of featuring an unconventional take on a Christmas tree continues this year, with a creative design by Bath-based artist, Angela Weyersberg.

Commissioned by the Friends of the Victoria Art Gallery, artists are given the brief to dream up an unusual tree design. Previous years have seen "trees" made from cardboard boxes, wooden pallets, picture frames and even cookies.

Visitors to the Gallery this year will be able to see Angela’s work of art in the foyer of the gallery from Tuesday, 28 November. The German-born artist has painted stories onto blocks of wood which will be arranged to create her “tree”. Angela, who has held 23 exhibitions of her work across Europe, explained that she selects the wood from logs that she collects to burn on her fire at home. She said:

“These logs fuel my imagination. On each of them I paint a ‘world’. I started with architectural scenes—tall buildings, houses in landscapes. And then I began to paint fairy tales, like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, as well as less well known but equally magical tales. I notice that both adults and children relate immediately to the story blocks. Like me, they like to immerse themselves in the stories and dramas which are somehow already there in the wood and which painting helps to bring out.”

An exhibition of Angela’s work, a series of Annunciation paintings, has recently been held at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. She works from Hodshill Studios, Southstoke.

Jon Benington, Manager of the Victoria Art Gallery, said: “Our alternative Christmas trees have proved to be very popular with visitors in recent years. They’re a real talking point and we are very grateful to the Friends for making this possible. Angela’s Christmas ‘tree’ is unconventional but I think it captures the traditional spirit of the festive period. Every picture tells a story, but our ‘tree’ has many tales to tell.”

Entrance to the Victoria Art Gallery and the exhibitions is free. Opening times are Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5.00pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 1.30pm to 5pm. The gallery is closed on Monday

Victoria Art Gallery
Bridge Street
Bath
BA2 4AT

Enquiries: +44 (0)1225 477772 / victoria_enquiries@bathnes.gov.uk
www.victoriagal.org.uk
www.bathnes.gov.uk/news