Nestled in Falkirk centre stands the impressive Callendar House, host to many wonderful events, exhibitions, and quite possibly the best scones.

This building has stood the test of time – over 600 years to be more approximate – and continues to breathe life into its surrounding area. The Park Gallery is an addition to the many features within the French-Chateau style house such as the museum, second floor gallery, archives, tea shop, and gift shop.

On the follow up from the Barbara Rae: East and West exhibition, the latest to open publicly are Artful and Objects of Desire. The former is a sellable exhibition with 21 UK-based artists whose works are on display for purchase in the Park Gallery and Gift Shop; the latter a display only experience found upstairs in the second floor gallery.

“Artful is an exhibition which features the best work by contemporary artists and makers. All pieces are for sale and available to take away, making the show not only a brilliant opportunity to see new work of the highest standard but an essential part of your shopping if you’re looking for something special to gift to a friend or yourself.” – Gillian Smith, Exhibition Officer at Callendar House.

Artful (previously known as Winter Warmth) has accrued BA graduates, a lecturer, a Sky Portrait Award participant and more.

Saltwater Gallery, Isle of Arran, resident artist and owner Senja Brendon has submitted breath taking Arran inspired paintings. Their colour palette and scale teleport you to the coast where the motion of waves can be heard and admired.

Art Link artist, Lauren Bremner, has provided tranquil windows of Scotland such as her two part Forth Bridge paintings and Linlithgow Loch. Bremner’s prints are also available, including my personal favourite ‘Lighthouse’ along with charming depictions of cats with their names as the titles.

Forth Valley College BA students Anna Wood and Niamh J. McFarlane are exhibiting their works along with their lecturer Ewan John. John uses the environment around his home to create Neolithic inspired paintings that are host to incredible textures and colours that pop out from the abundant earth-y tones; McFarlane’s colour palette is wild with colour and mixtures of broad and thin brush strokes delineating her evolution and journey as a rising artist; Wood is a master of light, using it to shape her environment creating an otherworldly yet familiar atmosphere.

There is also jewellery by accredited artist Aillie Anderson Silver as well as harbour side inspired pieces by Christina Vernon. Textiles, prints, pins, baubles, ceramics are all also found in the Artful exhibition.

Objects of Desire is a beautiful exhibition raised in memory of the previous Development Officer, Stephen Palmer, who had presented Objects of Desire back in 2005. The 2023 rendition of the exhibition highlights Stephen Palmer and his phenomenal efforts in building the Falkirk Council’s collection of artworks. Colleagues and Palmer’s wife were asked to select pieces from the collection and to attach their reasonings along with the work.

Stephen Palmer was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2019 and sadly passed away 18 months later. This exhibition also acts as a support to raise money for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation charity that focuses on Motor Neurone Disease.

GalBag asked Falkirk Council’s Exhibition Officer, Gillian Smith, to tell us about the exhibitions and she said:

“I am delighted to have invited several talented local Scottish artists to exhibit their work in Artful as well as a few from south of the border. And to have the opportunity to highlight work from Falkirk Council’s Art collection in Objects of Desire, an exhibition in memory of our dear friend and colleague Stephen Palmer.

I hope you can make it along to see the work and to support our artists. We look forward to welcoming you.”

Callendar House

Open Wednesday to Monday (closed Tuesday)

10am to 5pm (last admission 4:30pm)

Free entry

Exhibitions Run-Time

23rd September 2023 to 7th January 2024

My Name’5 Doddie Foundation

https://myname5doddie.enthuse.com/FalkirkExhibitions#!/

Artful

https://www.falkirkleisureandculture.org/whats-on/artful/

Objects of Desire

https://www.falkirkleisureandculture.org/whats-on/objects-of-desire/

Recommendation written by A-J