Outside the Window
In the past two years, while our wider horizons have shrunk, the world in our immediate vicinity has taken on greater clarity and been a source of great comfort as well as artistic inspiration. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has affected the way we view and inhabit the greater world, and brought a new appreciation for the world just outside the window. The five artists in this exhibition are all inspired by the outside world in different ways, and using varied media- from print and paint to ceramics and stitched paper.
Anupa Gardner
Anupa is an Indian-born artist based in Scotland, working predominantly in the field of printmaking. Her work mainly deals with the ways in which we inhabit the world, our interactions with each other, nature, and the built environment. She is always looking for that moment of human connection, that instant when you know you are part of, or have witnessed, something extraordinary.
She enjoys how unexpected moments in her present, triggered by smell or conversation, connect to her childhood. Memories colourfully vivid, or so fleeting that they are gone the next moment, leaving only a lingering feeling. These subjects open up a bittersweet nostalgic journey which she dips into for imagery.
www.anupagardner.com
@anupa.gardner
Jenny Haslimeier
Jenny is an award winning botanical artist, originally from New Zealand. She moved to Edinburgh in 2006 and usually splits her time between both countries. She is a keen traveller and takes inspiration from visiting different places around the world and incorporating her findings into her work. The pandemic has forced her to be away from New Zealand for two years now. Being in lockdown enabled her to explore her own neighbourhood in more detail than she had done previously and during daily walks she learned to appreciate just how many public parks and green spaces were accessible to her home. This gave her new inspiration and ideas for her artwork that she may not have considered otherwise.
Jenny is a member of the SSBA (Scottish Society of Botanical Artists), the ESBA (Edinburgh Society of Botanical Artists), and the SSA (Society of Scottish Artists).
www.jennyhaslimeier.com
@jenny_haslimeier
Eleanor Buffam
Eleanor explores ideas of community, interdependence, and interconnectivity- especially regarding humanity’s place with one another and with our environment. She considers the making and sharing of art to be an important way of developing empathy and tolerance by exploring diverse viewpoints and creatively exploring possibilities. She has been painting since childhood, and has recently started experimenting with cyanotypes and the layering of various fabrics. She has exhibited internationally, and her work is held in private collections in the US, UK and Europe. Since moving to Edinburgh in 2017, she has exhibited with the Scottish Portrait Awards, at the Scottish National Gallery, and in the ING Discerning Eye exhibition.
Eleanor is a member of the international arts organisation ArtCan.
www.ebuffam.wordpress.com
@EleanorBuffam
Karl Macrae
Karl is a celebrated musician and artist. His stitch art recreates iconic buildings around Edinburgh, as well as animals and birds, some local to the area and some a bit more exotic. Karl has exhibited in Coburg, The Lily Gallery in Milngavie, The Dovecot Studios, Out of the Blue and at various fairs such as The West End Fair and The Royal Highland Show.
During the pandemic, Karl re-did his garden, creating a comfortable room on the outside. He spends as much time possible outside when the weather allows. He also likes to take long walks with his dog Roxy, the Gruffalo. Karl was recently seen on Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas where his stitch art Christmas Gift was much praised.
Karl is a member of the Scottish Artists’ Union.
@karlmacraehessewhappy
Sarah Keer-Keer, Roslin Pottery
Sarah has always made things: fine art, engagement events, science festivals and now pottery. Makings things is her attempt to reconstitute the world, to heal, repair, to create equity, to share power and to share beauty.
My heart is moved by all I cannot save: so much has been destroyed.
I have cast my lot with those, who, age after age, perversely,
with no extraordinary power, reconstitute the world. -Adrienne Rich
She’s inspired by all the good things around her: She is surrounded by nature and beauty, but also by love, community and people carrying themselves with compassion through hard times. She has complex-PTSD, and pottery is grounding and calming, even when everything else is difficult, pottery is her beautiful island.
As an artist she has exhibited at the Union Gallery, Flaubert Gallery, and the Red Rag Gallery, Cheltenham. She worked for many years in scientific research at the University of Edinburgh.
Sarah is a member of the Scottish Potters Association.
www.roslinpottery.scot
@roslinpottery
Eleanor Buffam 