Mixing the media

Full details about this event

Art lovers should beat a path to a unique collection of local and regional artwork to be showcased at Temple Balsall’s forthcoming Art Exhibition on 14-15th September.

Timed to coincide with the nation’s Heritage Weekend, our historical Temple Balsall site is throwing open its doors to “welcome the world” (see earlier post for full “What’s On” over the weekend).

The Art Exhibition — now in its fourth year — is an integral part of the weekend and will open in Lady Katherine Leveson Church of England School from 10.30am to 5pm on Saturday 14th September and from 11.30am to 4pm on Sunday 15th September. It will feature artwork in a mix of media: watercolour, acrylic and textiles to name but a few.

What makes this exhibition unique, is that it will showcase artists from all the local art groups, for example the Solihull Society of Art, as well as those from further afield (Wales and Worcestershire); and professional paintings will hang alongside amateur ones. Younger artists will be represented by the school with the winning entries from its annual competition.

The theme this year was printmaking. Exhibition Organiser Elaine Winterbottom comments: “The majority of artwork will be for sale. Some will be mounted and framed while others will be simply mounted. There is sure to be something for everyone.”

What to do and see at Temple Balsall’s Heritage Weekend

Almost 800 years of history is on your doorstep and waiting to be explored at the annual Temple Balsall Autumn Fair and Heritage Weekend taking place on 14^th and 15^th September.

Guided tours of this historical site will take place alongside an art exhibition over the entire weekend, plus on Saturday 14^th there will be entertainments featuring re-enactments by crusading knights, music from the Birmingham Concert Band, exhibitions of Morris and Board dancing, and children’s attractions. On both days there will be the top quality book and bric-a-brac stalls that bring back bargain-hunting visitors year after year, plus the site’s renowned tea and homemade cakes and preserves – the perfect ingredients for an enjoyable slice of English country life.

The event is staged on the lawns of Temple House from 12 noon to 5pm, while the Art Exhibition opens at 10.30am in the hall of Lady Katherine Leveson Church of England School, adjacent to the main Fair. On Sunday the Heritage Weekend continues from 2pm and finishes with Choral Evensong in St Mary’s Church at 6pm led by the Birmingham Cathedral Choir. Entry to Heritage Weekend is free although a small investment in a Raffle ticket could net you £500.

The guided tours will be led by the Reverend Kathy Lloyd-Roberts, the Vicar of St Mary’s and Master of the Foundation of Lady Katherine Leveson. The tours encompass the Old Hall, a local headquarters for the Knights Templar from the 12^th Century, the Church built around 1320 and the 17^th Century almshouses.

The Art Exhibition features over 40 mostly local artists, both amateur and professional. Most works are for sale – framed or simply mounted – in a broad spectrum of media including watercolour, oils, acrylic and textiles. Additionally the prize winning entries from the school’s annual competition will also be on display showing the children’s own particular take on print-making.

The Warwickshire Knights Hospitaller will drill with weaponry and show how the knights got ready for battle – always a favourite with children – while Morris and Board dancers will display their fancy footwork to entertain the crowds. Throughout the afternoon there will be musical entertainment from the Birmingham Concert Band, 26 instrumentalists conducted by Eric Entwistle.

The times they are a changing…

It’s that time of the year when summer is at its blooming, vibrant, slightly overblown best, helped by a spell of sunny weather. The lawn in front of Temple House has had its regular cut and looks superb, people are scurrying in and out of the garage with items for the Autumn Fair and timetables are being confirmed.

There are still quite a few visitors to the Church and the grounds , some are walkers passing by, others have made a special visit to see the Green Man or just to have some quiet, reflective time in our leafy haven.

Yesterday I chatted to some visitors, gave them a little information but said if they wanted the real deal that they should come to the Autumn Fair.
I sweetened the proposal with some runner beans from my allotment, a wise investment I think…

So we are like Mo Farah , timing our run to perfection as the finishing line for planning beckons, all we need now is the weather and hordes of visitors.

Finally a big thank you to The Saracens Head and Eric Lyons for their very generous donations towards The Grand Autumn Draw, tickets sales are going well but as they say “You have to be in it, to win it ”

There’s a very noticeable shifting through the gears…

Suddenly the pace of activity is really accelerating. With just over five weeks to go until the Autumn Fair and Heritage Weekend, our people are certainly in action mode.
Posters are appearing in local shops and libraries and on community noticeboards. If we could find someone to wear a sandwich board with the graphics on we would do so … (it would make a change from running the gauntlet of “chuggers”).
Raffle tickets are being distributed and eagerly snapped up while publicity leaflets are popping through thousands of letterboxes. The plan for the siting of the marquees is virtually complete, though it could still accommodate an unexpected late entrant to add to the proceedings.

Now the emphasis switches to media coverage and publicity, but please feel free to spread the word. Our greatest asset is our community — there’s nothing new about “social networking” , it just has a modern title and is faster than the traditional communication channels. Hence our Facebook Group.