GALLERIES Ordinary made extraordinary in four-artist collaboration

Ards Arts Centre, Town Hall, Newtownards

Until March 24

Four artists who have exhibited very successfully before, Chris Banks, Elaine McCully, Ragna Mouritzen and Rhiannon Ewing-James, are showing together again and addressing the subject of ordinariness.

Elaine McCully has been delighting us for a number of years with her wonderful earthy, tactile pieces, demanding that you touch and caress them. The tools she presents us with often suggest they may be Inuit in making or early man-made. You can feel her closeness to her materials and subject matter in all that she presents. Her inanimate objects reach out and they tell a story, visually and emotionally, which is no mean task for any artist.

Ragna Mouritzen is a Denmark-based artist whose work pairs two-dimensional drawings with three-dimensional, plaster-based sculptures. His 3D printed porcelain pieces are quite magnificent in their delicate beauty, and the woven ceramic plaiting is reminiscent of early Belleek.

Rhiannon Ewing-James creates objects by altering the material, scale and process, while Chris Banks is a ceramicist and has been producing knobs, handles and scoops that are a delight to see and hold.

This is an altogether delightfully presented exhibition of curiosities and the uncommon everyday.

Ards Arts Centre, Town Hall, Newtownards

Until March 24

While you’re visiting Ards Arts Centre to see Ordinary?, take time to also view the curated exhibition, Aesthetic.

This is a new initiative for the local arts programme, designed to showcase the high-calibre artwork produced by recreational artists from the many art clubs in the Ards and North Down Borough Council area.

Such shows, and local talent, must be encouraged by attendance, so please do take the time to visit.

Elizabeth Baird