The talents of Exeter’s Creative Older Women (CROWs) are on show at Crowshow 24 at Positive Light in Sidwell Street.
Returning for its third year, the art exhibition runs from August 17 to August 31. Entrance is free and open to the public daily from 10am to 4pm.
Crowshow 24 celebrates the vibrant and diverse artistic expressions of older women artists who continue to challenge, inspire, and captivate with their unique perspectives and remarkable creativity.
The exhibition will feature paintings, sculptures, textiles, printmaking, and multimedia work, offering a rich and immersive experience for art enthusiasts of all ages.
Exeter Today reached out to Val Jones, a printmaker, painter, and founder of CROWs, to learn more about the motivations behind the committee.
Above: Val and her art. Image: Ella Woszczyk
Originally from Totnes, Val is an accomplished artist and would sell her art to members of the local community from her back garden.
“I moved to Exeter from Totnes three years ago, and I was looking for a studio because I had been an artist for, well, my whole life really.
“I couldn’t find a studio, and when I did find one to rent, I was told they were looking for ‘emerging’ artists.
“I think what people mean when they say emerging artists, by and large, is artists that have just come out of college. Which I can understand, you know, but anyway, I was a bit cross.
“I thought this was another example of older women being invisible or not respected in some way. And I got to thinking: I feel like I want to start an organisation for older artists, women artists, and the name CROW came up.
“I was working at an art centre in Taunton called ‘Maketank’, which has unfortunately closed down, and I managed to get a studio there. I just emailed all the artists and all the exhibitions I could see online, and 17 older women artists turned up.”
Val now rents an art gallery in central Exeter with fellow CROW and friend Ray, who specialises in painting.
Above: Ray’s artwork. Image: Ella Woszczyk
Val invited Exeter Today to see the space and explained that they use the cafe area downstairs to host the larger CROW workshops, which currently run on the first Saturday of every month.
CROW members have, however, begun requesting that these events run more often.
“It started in February 2022 with some really fun workshops. We dressed up as crows, took photographs, then did all sorts of things like life drawing, abstract painting, people presenting their work, and so on.
“Later in the same year, we had our first CROW exhibition and had over 100 visitors. We’ve got 101 people on our books now.”
Above: Val and Ray as crows. Image: Ella Woszczyk
Val explained that CROWs caters to experienced artists rather than novices, emphasising skill-sharing within their workshops rather than opportunities for individual training.
“We didn’t want everyone bringing their friends to do a bit of this and a bit of that; it was more to do with developing women artists, providing them with a support network, and celebrating their work. It’s also been a lot of fun.”
Val also acknowledged that Exeter’s art scene has room for improvement.
“I was very surprised about the lack of an art scene coming from a small town like Totnes to a large city like Exeter. Don’t get me wrong, there are people doing great things, and there’s Positive Light, which is an arts organisation, but they’ve closed some fabulous arts centres down, and there isn’t even a shop selling art materials.
“We’ve got the Phoenix Art Centre, which is great but very small, so it doesn’t cater for the large number of artists who would like to use it.”
Crowshow 24’s opening night kicks off on August 16 from 6pm to 8pm. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the artists, engage in insightful conversations, and enjoy refreshments while exploring the stunning artworks on display. The opening night promises to be a memorable celebration of community, creativity, and the enduring spirit of artistic expression.
“Crowshow 24 is not just an art exhibition; it’s a testament to the boundless creativity and resilience of older women artists in our community.
“We are thrilled to provide a platform for these talented individuals to showcase their work and to inspire others through their art.”