WHAT’S COOKING: In September Bicester Village and House of Voltaire will collaborate on a project focused on the late British artist Beryl Cook, known for her joyous, colorful paintings showing people eating, shopping, gardening, dog-walking, dancing and carousing in nightclubs.
On Sept. 10, what would have been Cook’s 100th birthday, Bicester Village will unveil a mile-long open-air installation featuring life-size cutout characters and large-scale murals from the artist’s most popular paintings. The installation will span the length and breadth of the village, and will populate streets, benches, signposts, green spaces and phone boxes.
Guests will also be able to pose for photos in front of a full-scale recreation of one of Cook’s best-known paintings, “Breakfast at Elviras” from 1996.
Cook’s characters will guide visitors to a House of Voltaire pop-up at the center of the village, selling limited-edition prints, specially designed merchandise including cushions, silk scarves, tea cups and lambswool dog blankets. House of Voltaire will also offer rare, original Beryl Cook works for sale.
House of Voltaire commissions and sells artworks, limited-edition prints and specially commissioned merchandise by artists and designers of local and international renown. All purchases support Studio Voltaire, an arts and education charity that offers free community programs, champions emerging and under-represented artists, and produces live events.
Elverias Cafe by Beryl Cook.
The installation marks the launch of a three-year partnership between Studio Voltaire and Bicester Village, that will see the latter provide funding for Voltaire’s learning program.
Studio Voltaire said the partnership will allow it to expand its creative programming with local schools, colleges and community groups. The program aims to help those with limited access to creative opportunities by providing free, artist-led workshops, drop-in activities, and skills-development sessions meant to “foster wellbeing and community joy.”
Joe Scotland, director, Studio Voltaire, said: “This partnership with Bicester Village not only brings Beryl’s joyful vision to millions of visitors, but also provides transformational funding for our learning program, securing much-needed creative access for the next generation.”
Sophie Cook, Beryl Cook’s granddaughter, said: “My grandmother loved nothing more than watching people enjoy themselves, laugh and dress up. Seeing her characters come to life along the vibrant streets of the village is the perfect, playful tribute to her life and work.”
James Lambert, deputy chairman at Value Retail, said the takeover “offers our guests a completely unique cultural experience this autumn. Crucially, we are incredibly proud that this collaboration launches a three-year partnership supporting Studio Voltaire’s vital learning and community initiatives.”
