Downlands College Art Exhibition

Although the annual Downlands College Arts Exhibition is well and truly complete for 2016, the wheels are already starting to turn for 2017.  By the beginning of February, the college will have started the arduous task of scourering the globe for talented artists and their artworks.  It is not an easy task and Evan Hollis has been curating the exhibition for nigh on 10 years, with 2015 marking it his 20th year of involvement with the exhibition.  

2016 was my first year to exhibit at the college and I was truly blown away by the standard of artworks and the level to which artists were able to sell their works - me included.  I was fortunate to have exhibited six pieces - three pen and ink drawings and three watercolour paintings.  Five out of six exhibits sold.  
I consider this a pretty mean feat for a first time exhibitor to the college.  ​

Given I was somewhat keen to be asked to exhibit, I felt very compelled to assist in the set up of the exhibition in the weeks preceding the opening.  It is certainly a huge undertaking to curate such a humungous exhibition and is it any wonder poor Evan Hollis fell quite ill during 2016, given the level of attention required in getting things just right, for the Gala opening.  One definitely needs a year's preparation to keep this a booming success.

...And a booming success it was - not just for the artists and onlookers who roamed in and out the many partitions, but for Downlands College as an outstanding educational entity.  Each year, the College relies on the commissions made from the sale of art works to boost their educational development fund.  This funding goes toward the upkeep of the college and enables the college to do what it does best - educate.  ​

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