Magdalen Road Studios hosts an exhibition of seasonal paintings by Jo Stannard (1995-2014).

Jo died in 2014 at the age of 38. During the previous fifteen years she had been an active and well respected member of Oxford’s art scene, known for producing an uncompromising body of work characterised by originality and sensitivity. This exhibition, will focus on The Wheel of the Year, a series of paintings based on the natural landscape. The actual landscape in question is Aston’s Eyot, a piece of untamed and partly wooded land near Iffley Road. Jo always had a close connection with this place. As a child Jo played here with her friends, renaming it K.I.T (Kid’s Invincible Territory). Years later, when she returned to Aston’s Eyot to create the Wheel of Year, she produced a great number of meticulous field sketches over the course of a whole year in which she recorded the effect of the seasons on the landscape. In particular she was concerned with systematically noting seasonal changes in colour using handmade books of colour-swatches. These observations then became the basis for a cycle of the 16 semi-abstract paintings which now will be shown for the first time in its entirety, along with supporting work including sketchbooks and photographs.

The exhibition is curated by Julian Dourado. Julian, a friend of Jo’s and fellow artist, said “This show will not only be a tribute to Jo, but it will also
be a reminder of her unique vision, her meticulous approach to making art and her love of nature.”

A Private View will be held on Saturday 18 May, 6pm - 8pm.