New season of exhibitions to get underway at Settle Folly

A NEW season of art exhibitions is about to get underway at the Folly Museum in Settle.

Two exhibitions start on Saturday (July 6) at the home of the Museum of North Craven Life, both promising to grab the attention of visitors.

They showcase the beauty and unexpected drama of landscapes within the Yorkshire Dales, and will run until Saturday, September 28.

Within These Walls, from Dales artist and fell runner Hester Cox, is a celebration in print of Yorkshire Dales meadows, focusing on the importance of species rich meadowland in agriculture and ecology. Hester's project includes hand printed linocuts, collagraphs, monotypes and a large-scale print installation created for a field barn and first shown at the 2017 Grassington Festival.

The artist said: “As a fell runner, I often view the landscape from the tops of hills and am fascinated by the serpentine drystone walls that hug the contours of the land and the way the enclosed spaces change throughout the seasons.

"Since living in the national park, I’ve become increasingly interested by upland meadows and the myriad of plant species found within them.

"The memory of these hay meadows, that provide sustenance to livestock in winter, also sustains me during the long winter months knowing that in spring the first flower species will once again bloom and soon the fields will be awash with colour and alive with the sound of insects and birds.”

Meanwhile, The World Beneath Our Feet is an exhibition of modern caving photographs from within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Caves are a part of the exceptional karst landscape of the national park and provide adventure and exercise. The cave systems attract cavers from around the world and offer a unique experience for beginners.

The exhibition includes photographs by Mark Burkey and Gary Douthwaite, and is curated by Tim Allen. It has been funded by the Council of Northern Caving Clubs.

This autumn, museum exhibitions will include Translating the Body, which raises questions about ‘art photography’ and the female body, and the power dynamic between art photographer and model.

Land : Light, will feature artist Elizabeth Smith’s powerful monochrome landscapes that capture the distilled-down essence of Yorkshire’s hill country.

Both exhibitions will open on Saturday October 5 and run until Saturday January 4 2025.

Admission to the museum is free.

The Folly, built in 1679, is the Yorkshire Dales only Grade One listed house regularly open to the public.

Find out more at: https://thefolly.org.uk/