THE GAINFORD ART COMMUNITY
This Website & Social Media Platform
is to Designed provide Art & Design Opportunities for the Community to Create,Display and Sell Artwork
Throughout the 1980s there was a thriving art group in Gainford: a group of friends led by Malcolm and Edna Partridge.
The group met on Thursday evenings in the village hall. Malcolm was a very good artist and gained a regional reputation: having a solo exhibition at the Bowes Museum.
https://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk
The group wanted to have an opportunity to show their paintings in public and, as there was no local art exhibition, they organised one themselves. That was in 1979, and an exhibition of local artists work has been held each year since. The group of artists and their annual exhibition has engendered a lifelong appreciation and love of art in many village residents. Some of those who were enthused by the art group in the 1980s are still painting and exhibiting today.
The coronavirus (COVID19) outbreak in 2020 had an impact on everyone’s daily lives, as the government and the NHS took the necessary steps to manage the outbreak, reduce transmission and treat those who needed medical attention.
The Gainford Art Community forwent it’s Annual Spring Exhibition and created an online Gallery space instead.
By following guidance on social distancing, or staying at home, we have all helped to protect ourselves, our families, the NHS and our community.
During this time following the government guidance the Gainford Art Community has:
Done things they enjoyed: Focusing on their favourite hobby.
Set goals: Setting goals and achieving them gave a sense of control and purpose.
Kept their minds active: By being creative through all Arts including photography, drawing and painting.
Took time to relax and focus on the present: This helped with difficult emotions and worries about the future. For useful resources see Every Mind Matters and NHS’ mindfulness page.
Ventured out once a day, or brought nature in: By photographing or sketching in green spaces the Gainford art community benefited both their mental and physical well being.