Sarah Mayhew Craddock goes behind the scenes at the annual Oxford Arts Society Open Exhibition

Nestled down labyrinthine passages behind an East Oxford church, the peace, natural light, and contemplative space of St John the Evangelist’s cloisters make for one of best venues to see art in Oxford.

Appropriately then, that it is the venue for this year’s Oxford Art Society Open Exhibition, which opened yesterday.

Organised by Oxford Art Society, who have been exhibiting in Oxford for over 100 Years, the Open Exhibition is, as its name suggests, an open submission celebration of work by some of the most talented painters, printmakers and sculptors, living within a 30-mile radius of Oxford – including both OAS members and members of the public.

Works included in the exhibition have been selected by a panel of judges that included the director of Art Jericho, Jenny Blyth, and honorary member Jago Pryce. In total, 124 artists have been selected.

Jenny said: “I am delighted to join the selection committee for this year’s show, and am looking forward to exploring the paintings, prints and sculpture of the many artists in the OAS.

“It is the first time that I have had the opportunity to look at their work closely, and the prospect of finding something special is always exciting.”

The society encourages non-members to submit work to the exhibition for selection on the same basis as the selection of works by members of the society, a process that works as a vehicle for new members to be invited to join the society each year.

However, internationally renowned sculptor and president of the OAS, Johannes von Stumm, remarks that it is not simply an artist’s training or exhibition history that matters.

“It’s the spiritual energy of a piece of art which counts, and nothing else,” he says.

The majority of the society’s members have professional art training and many combine their lives as working artists with teaching or other art-related professions.

Many members exhibit nationally and internationally, as well as locally with many participating in the annual Oxfordshire Artweeks festival.

Consequently, the high standard of work selected for exhibition makes this one of the most important events in Oxford’s cultural calendar for artists and art audiences alike. Furthermore, the eclectic nature of works on display in an open exhibition means that the appeal is always broad-ranging with something for every visitor to enjoy.

Mixed-media sculptor Annie Wooton has had work selected for this exhibition on several occasions, and was subsequently invited to join the society.

Annie creates small-scale papier-mâché works that possess a sense of nostalgia.

Her work features interesting surfaces, layering gesso and inks over recycled papers and card to create strong and mystifying finishes on simple sculptures and drawings.

She often creates three-dimensional animals in pastoral scenes and animals coupled with human acrobatic figures inspired by visits to the circus.

“OAS is a group of talented artists and the atmosphere of the society is kind and encouraging,” she says.

“I am entering two pieces that might, or might not, be selected: a small 3D piece called Europa’s Ride, made in paper pulp, using paper and printed words to describe the image, and a mixed media drawing of a girl called Attitude.”

Oxford artist, Rona Marsden – but who prefers to go under the simple name Rona – is also a member. Rona employs an idiosyncratic monochromatic palette in her oil paintings; somewhere between portraiture and studies that sit on the social anthropology scale. She is interested in capturing a particular mood, and immortalising the inner psyche on canvas.

Her themes focus primarily on relationships and past works have included the role of women in Japanese society, the family, pregnancy, motherhood, female ageing and teenage girls.

Originally from Toronto, Rona’s formal training took place at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Canada.

She said: “The Open show has always been very popular.

“As membership to the society is by invitation only, this is a great way for local artists who might not have had a chance to exhibit to show their work and meet other artists.”

Where and when
The Oxford Art Society Open Exhibition continues until Sunday, September 27, at the Cloister Gallery, St John the Evangelist, Iffley Road, Oxford.
Open 10am-4pm