What can you fit in a shoebox? West Berkshire artists open to suggestion

ALL PICTURES BY RICHARD MARKHAM

THIS exhibition at ACE Space, inspired by the early constructions of Joseph Cornell in the 1930s, is curated by Jim Crockatt, and led to the idea of making artworks contained within a shoebox.

While this constrained the scale of each piece to a uniform size, each of the 15 participating artists were free to let their imagination and skill take them in whatever direction they chose.

They have come up with a mind-expanding variety of themes.

Inevitably, all the works are three-dimensional, but seen from a single viewpoint and all have strong elements of theatre about them. Each box is a miniature stage set, museum or art gallery.

Some artists have called on specific skills.

David Hatfull’s experience as a photographer has resulted in a working pinhole camera, and photographs taken with it. Natalie Gow has made the most of figurative drawing skills, with a sense of place and commemoration. The amalgamation of ceramics and graphics from Helen Long, and the hyper-realistic sculpting of fish, chips and mushy peas by Rosemary Trigwell, are but some of the examples from this intriguing and entertaining show.

The show runs until March 14.

GAVIN WILKINSON

ACE Space St Nicholas Road, Newbury.

View during events or by ringing 07905 590214.