Summer 2022 Recap

The return of the Derbyshire Open

After a two year break due to the pandemic, the Derbyshire Open Art Competition returned for its 38th year. Each year, both professional and amateur artists of all ages are welcome to enter and are asked to capture aspects of life and landscape in Derbyshire, illustrating what makes Derbyshire special to them. This year, the independent panel of judges looked at 248 entries. They selected 107 of which 25 were by young artists. The Derbyshire Trophy winner this year was Dark and White Peak by Cath Dunn. Don’t forget that the Competition will be back in 2023, with entries accepted on the 9th and 10th of June 2023.

Echoes: reverberations across millennia

In Gallery 2, Ann Bates’ exhibition titled Echoes: reverberations across millennia, illustrated a connection between the Neolithic and the 21st century and revealed how ancient practices of honouring the dead can still be relevant today. The exhibition which ran until the 8th of October, evoked thought, discussion and a greater awareness.

What’s On Autumn 2022

The latest body of work by Penkhull Artists, Mike Cain and Dave Harper, sees existing themes and motifs reimagined. The resulting exhibition called Perceptions is a series of abstract paintings and ceramics inspired by Derbyshire’s industrial landscape. On until the 26th of November.

Replacing Ann Bates’ exhibition on the 15th of October is Geoff Archer: Recent Paintings. Inspired by visits to ‘Old Car City’ in the USA, Geoff Archer’s most recent work, concentrates on images of old, abandoned automobiles, presenting contrasts of old and new, past and present, growth and decay, the natural and the man-made – and in terms of painting, illusion and reality. On until the 10th of December.

Also on display are Arctic objects from our collection and archive material from the Franklin Archive at the Derbyshire Record Office, as part of an exhibition titled On Thin Ice: The Legacy of the Franklin Expedition. Come explore the story of the ill-fated 1845 expedition by Sir John Franklin aboard the HMS Terror and Erebus from both British and Inuit perspectives.

Additionally, a quilt titled A Necklace of Stars stitched with stars made by older people in Derbyshire during the pandemic has been touring the county, and can be seen at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery until the 6th of December.

If you’re interested in learning all about Derbyshire in the Georgian era, you’re in luck as we’ve gone all eighteenth century in the foyer and on the landing.

Come see early engravings of Buxton, ceramics used in Buxton Crescent and early souvenirs from the town.