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Wallow in art at suburban home

From the archive, first published Monday 19th Jun 2000.

OUT of Africa and into Hampshire. Far away from their usual habitat, a group of hippos is nestling at the bottom of a Southampton garden.

However, these are no ordinary flesh-and-blood hippos - Large Hippo Wallow is the latest exhibition at Bitterne First Gallery - Southampton's gallery with a difference.

Unlike many galleries, the Bitterne First Gallery is a suburban house with every spare inch being used as part of a display.

Renowned sculptor Suzie Marsh's Large Hippo Warren is the focal point of the gallery's millennium project - entitled A New Secret Sculpture Garden.

Gallery director Margery Clarke said: "They are going to be the centrepiece of the exhibition.

"I have known the person who did the hippos since she came out of college. She was doing horses, then gradually built up to the hippos."

The sculpture garden is an extension to the patio show which features large and small pots for garden features and plants.

Clive Bowen's big planters filled with water will contain Lotte Glob's amazing floating stones; Mel Howse's colourful stained glass arch will be flanked by Allan Bennett's witty sculpture using metal and found objects.

There will also be an indoors display including pictures by Eric Meadus, Pam and Alan Wilson, Margery Clarke and Caroline Hyde-Brown; floral and leaf-based mobiles by Ping Lawson; pots and sculptures by Alvin Betteridge.

Admission is free, some items can be bought and there is easy parking.

The displays are open to the public this weekend. During this week the exhibition can be seen by calling the gallery to arrange a time.

For directions and further details Tel: 023 8046 2723.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.

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