Carver
who was
only 14”, Michael
recalled. “She had done a
pencil drawing of a lion. We put it
in the exhibition and I happened to put it
next to a painting that looked as if it had
been done by David Shepherd – a very,
very good artist had done a picture of an
elephant. They were next to each other.
We ask everyone to vote for their favourite
painting of the exhibition. And this young
girl won it! She’s gone on to do wonderful
artwork.” This is one of the delights of the
exhibition for Michael, the nurturing of
young talent. “I love to encourage young
people like that and get them started.”
Carver’s artwork currently hangs proudly in
the Carterton Lions meeting room.
Will there be anything different for this
year’s exhibition? “We’re hoping to have
an artist or two actually painting at the
exhibition,” the past President revealed.
“It’s just a matter of sorting which artists
can do which days. Because it’s become
so big (we had over 200 entries last year)
it’s also a case of finding a place to put
these people without interfering with the
exhibition itself! We hope to do it!”
The 10 mile talent radius that inspired
Michael to set up the exhibition has
expanded to feature artists from Devon,
Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and
Hampshire. As long as the Lions have the
manpower to keep the event going it will.
“We are pleased with the way it has gone”,
Michael said. “Carterton, which wasn’t really
known as a place for art, is now more on
the map!”
The sixth Carterton Open
Art Exhibition takes
place 18th-21st February
2016 at Carterton
Community Centre.
Abigail Carver’s prize
winning exhibition entry
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