The Aardvark Blog

Great Lecture, Last day of the map exhibition
17/05/2015

Yesterday we had a fantastic lecture from Dominic Harbour from Hereford Cathedral on the Mappa Mundi and its artistic legacy. The audio-visual equipment worked brilliantly and Dominic is obviously very used to talking in public and has a great enthusiasm and grasp of his subject. He is working towards a major exhibition at the Cathedral, but between now and then we are likely to invite him back, to tell us how his research is developing.

Alongside the talk we had a mini-exhibition of works by Stephen Cox RA  inspired by the Clee Hill section of the map. For such a small exhibition the effect of so many works in a relatively small space was really inspiring. Many thanks to Stephen for loaning them to us for the weekend. Buyers are welcome to come and collect their maps from this afternoon, so this morning represents a last chance to see the exhibition, if you have not yet made it over.

Once the map exhibition ends, we are back to the ordinary business of the bookshop, and I am glad to say that we have been very busy with visitors over the last few weeks. Some fine weather is likely to bring out even more people as we move in to summer. Yesterday we had a charming party of motorbikers who had not visited us before. They were a little worried in case we were not biker receptive, but I assured them that we love bikers at Aardvark ( and have many hundreds visit over the year), and they went away rapturous over the cake they had eaten and promising to tell their friends.

Much activity also for the next events on our calendar. Shannon and Andrew are hard at work making the South Shropshire Hills Exhibition a success. This year's show is nearly twice the size of 2014 and they are planning some spectacular presentations. If you are interested in art there will be some real treats, as well as a last chance to see the work of Leela Anderson who is leaving the area, and who we have shown successfully at Aardvark previously. A very skillful artist and a very good person to work with.

Before SHAW however we have Aardvark's May Brocante. Lots of stalls this year and many new faces as well as the old lags. Should be really great, but remember to turn up early to bag a bargain.

Finally we heard last week from Catherine who is now firmly settled in her new home, despite some travails on the way ( not the least a bad case of food poisoning picked up from a motorway service station chicken pannini). She sends her best wishes to all Aardvark's customers and hopes to visit us when she is back next month for a quick visit.