Show will celebrate postponement of the Arundel bypass
An exhibition of art by the Wishart family of Binsted is being held to celebrate the postponement of the Arundel bypass.
The exhibition, The Art of Binsted, will feature works by Lorna Wishart, Michael Wishart, Francis Wishart and Yasmin David, daughter of Lorna with Laurie Lee, at The Victoria Institute ,10 Tar rant Street, Arundel, from June 2 to 9, 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm. Admission is free and no booking is needed.
Emma Tristram, who is organising the exhibition, said: “The Wishart family of artists is a fascinating nexus of talent, spreading out from the tiny village of Binsted, focusing on its beautiful woods and countryside.
"The Arundel Bypass Grey Route would have split the village in two. Now the bypass has been postponed, it is the right time to celebrate this, and the family of artists who have lived here.”
Michael described his love of Binsted in his autobiography, High Diver (1977): “As far back as I can remember… I loved to draw and paint, in all their seasonal change, our fields, our parks, our hedges; brooks; barns; trees; and our skies. Of all places to spend these enchanted hours, I preferred our graveyard.”
The Arundel Bypass Grey Route would have passed just 100m from Binsted church, right next to Michael’s beloved graveyard.
Emma said: “These artists carried the inspiration of Binsted into their art. The bypass scheme, which would destroy this magical place, should be cancelled, not just postponed.”
The exhibition will also include works by other artists who have depicted Binsted or have links to it, including Ralph Ellis, David Barber and Richard G. Evans, as well as artists who live and work there currently.
Michael Wishart (1928-1996) was a well-established painter with many one-man exhibitions at the Leicester Galleries, the Redfern Gallery and the Mayor Gallery. His artistic circle of friends included Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Graham Sutherland, David Ho ck ney and Patrick Procter.
The critic, David Sylvester, wrote of his work :" The poignant world of Turner' s sea monsters has come to life again."
Links to the art of Michael Wishart can be found at artuk. org/ discover/ artists/ wish art john- michael -19281996.