Our Work of the Month is 'A Splash in the Pant' by Richard Bawden Linocut 1992, from a series of 85 The work recalls his parents Edward and Charlotte Bawden and their fellow Brick House dwellers Eric and Tirzah Ravilious cooling off in their birthday suits on a hot summer's day in the river. Brick House, in Great Bardfield High Street, was family home to the Bawdens for nearly 40 years, and was shared briefly in the 1930s with Mr and Mrs Ravilious. The local policeman, Sergeant Baker, who lived in the police station next to Brick House, calmly observes their uninhibited frolics. Is he disapproving, or does he want to jump in with them? A familiar figure in the Bawden household, the worthy Sergeant had earlier been depicted by Edward in the linocut 'Road to Thaxted' of 1956. Ducks, a heron, and an unmistakably Richard Bawden cat are less interested in the artists' antics. The recent hot weather has been most trying, and more high temperatures are forecast. We apologise to our visitors if we are occasionally forced to keep the gallery closed. We generally only do this when the temperature climbs well into the 30s. If only the River Pant ran through Saffron Walden! #summertime #greatbardfieldartists #fryartgallery