Oxton Society Guided walk as part of the Oxton Art Fair

A GUIDED WALK AROUND OXTON
Sat 20th of Nov 11am until noon

During Victoria’s reign, Oxton changed from being a small collection of agricultural cottages to a growing and prosperous community of businessmen, merchants, farmers, shopkeepers and tradesmen. In the process, Oxton Village developed its own distinctive features and a culture that is still alive today.

Much of what Oxton has to offer is clearly visible. But it has many more secretive parts and stories, that are best explored slowly in the company of an Oxton Society Guide.

As part of the Oxton Art Fair, the Oxton Society are offering you a special walk around Oxton led by one of the Guides on Saturday 20th November. The walk will last about an hour starting in the centre of Oxton Village at 11 am, next to the post box, by the Oxton Society notice board and ending at the Oxton Art Fair at the Williamson Art Gallery.

Ox called Stan Happy to be ready for the Oxton Art Fair

The 30th Anniversary of the Oxton Society falling on the Chinese Year of the Ox seemed the perfect opportunity for Oxton to acquire its' very own ox statue (Oxton is so named after the Old Norse name for the area when Oxen grazed) in a style similar to the popular Superlambananas that are now so synonymous with Liverpool.

Discussions between Kevin Donovan (Oxton Society), Louise Jones (creator), Mark Wayne Barrett (designer and Oxton Artist) and Alison Bailey Smith (Oxton Artist) looking at several ways to celebrate the anniversary concluded in the initial fun idea of an "Oxbanana" which was later adjusted in favour of a more straight forward ox with it's own uniquely stylised design.

While Mark worked on a design that would emphasise the youthful, happy, bounding ox he saw in the Oxton Society's own illustration, the name for the ox came in a different discussion between Mark and Kevin over a proposed cartoon strip for the Oxton Society Newsletter in which Kevin suggested a possible series of observations on village life from a character like "Ox Stan" ! Instead of the little old man Kevin was proposing Mark turned it immediately into " Ox Stan - the Happy Oxton Ox " and formulated the final look of the design he was after.

With help from Alison and technician Roy Lewis the three built the frame for Stan from two interior doors and wire mesh covered in papier mache and painted with further help from local children.

The plan ultimately is to strengthen the structure with fibre glass moulding and hopefully make Stan a more substantial showpiece for the village of Oxton in the future.

The Ox will be unveiled in the gallery on a special event at the Williamson (sorry, tickets only) and then available fopr the public on Sunday.

An Ox for Oxton

A bit of cross-posting here between my blog and the Oxton Artists, but this a supplementary project by Oxton artist, Mark Wayne Barrett and myself and some others.
Click on the subject matter and it will take you to the blog.

Eleanor Suggett

Eleanor joined us last year for the first time to exhibit in the Oxton Art Fair and produced our wonderful poster and invitation which was much complimented and many people sited Eric Gill as her inspiration. She then went on to design the Oxton Society's posters and flyers for the Secret Gardens of Oxton which was reminiscent of William Morris. We are hoping she will pull it off again this year producing another collectable poster. She has also been approached by the Oxton Socity to create their invitation for their 30th year celebrations.

New members

We will be joined this year by new members, Eimear Kavanagh, Jayne Turner and Liz Hadwin as well as returning previous exhibitors Dan James and Ken Peacock, who will join Judith Brown, Theresia Cadwallader, Alan Chape, Sherilyn Halligan, Marie Mairs, Janine Suggett, Eleanor Suggett, Desdemona McCannon, Patsy Taylor, Alison Bailey Smith , Mark Wayne Barrett, Lynda Roberts, Roger Sinek and Lisa Waldman, we may also be joined by Mark Emptage.

So it is looking like our biggest show ever, we will also be including archives to celebrate the 30 th anniversary of the Oxton Village conservation area and the Oxton Society. There will also be a special evening opening within our exhibition by invitation only.

Secret Gardens of Oxton 10th of May

This fantastic family event near Birkenhead, is even fuller this year with 30 private gardens open to the public in Oxton Village. In some of the gardens, there will be some of the Oxton Artists and other aristans displaying their wares.

For more details go to the updated website http://www.oxtonartists.com/

There is currently an exhibition of photography at the Williamson Art Gallery of last year's Secret Gardens of Oxton by Wallasey Amateur Photographic Society until the 7th of June
http://www.wallaseyaps.org.uk/W08_secretgardens.html

Bring sunscreen, weatherproofs and something to drink. Tickets in advance are £5 and are available from the local shops.