As one year gives way to the next, we seek out new experiences to inspire the months ahead. Discover five January happenings, from a foraging walk through the South Downs countryside to an acoustic folk concert in a historic London church.
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith: Wilding at the Fruitmarket
Edinburgh’s Fruitmarket gallery is hosting the first public posthumous exhibition of works by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, an artist and activist who collaborated with the venue before her passing in early 2025. The curation of paintings and a large canoe sculpture examines how land rights have been shaped by history and politics. An enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation, Smith devoted her practice to pursuing justice and visibility for Native American people.
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith: Wilding is on at the Fruitmarket until 1 February.
Kaia Kater at St Pancras Old Church
Grenadian-Canadian folk musician Kaia Kater will perform at St Pancras Old Church, an intimate venue with deep, arched windows and high ceiling beams. Accompanying her original melodies with banjo playing, Kaia’s music reflects on her connection to Quebec, the Caribbean, and Appalachia, weaving in explorations of her father’s upbringing in Grenada. Atmospheric songs from her award-winning album Strange Medicine promise a contemplative experience within this ancient building.
Tickets are available for Kaia Krater at St Pancras Old Church on 23 January.
London Art Fair at the Business Design Centre
Across five days, the 38th London Art Fair will exhibit curated selections from prominent modern and contemporary galleries worldwide, including works by Francis Bacon, Barbara Hepworth, and William Kentridge. Programme highlights include a National Trust presentation of surrealist and post-war art, a section exploring experimental approaches to art creation, and a showcase of emerging international galleries in Mexico, Japan, France, and Turkey.
London Art Fair opens at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on 21 January and runs until 25 January.
Rory McEwen: Nature’s Song at the Garden Museum
The Garden Museum presents Nature’s Song, a celebration of the artist and musician Rory McEwen, known for his distinctive use of light and space in plant portraiture. Featuring expressive depictions of flowers, leaves, butterflies, and vegetables, the exhibition maps McEwen’s lasting influence on modern botanical art. Alongside the works, personal photos, letters, paintbrushes, works in progress, and musical instruments will be on display.
Rory McEwen: Nature’s Song is on at the Garden Museum until 25 January.
Foraging Walk at South Downs National Park
This educational walk through South Downs National Park will be led by an expert team of foragers and scientists, designed to introduce you to wild food sources while offering insights into folklore, history, and the medicinal potential of plants you pass along the way. As you listen and explore, enjoy beautiful winter scenery and moments of rest to try seasonal refreshments made from foraged ingredients.
Reserve your place on Terra Vitum’s Guided Foraging Course on 31 January.
Image 1: Emily Ponsonby, Buttered Greens, 2025. Courtesy of London Art Fair.
Image 2: Jaune Quick-to-See Smith Montana Memories: Absaroka, 1989, Montana Memories: Gifts of Red Cloth, 1989, I See Red: Going Forward, Looking Back, 1996. Courtesy Garth Greenan Gallery and Stephen Friedman Gallery.
Image 3: Kaia Kater, photography by Joshua Oliver.
Image 4: Laetitzia Campbell, The gates of memory, 2025, cotton threads on cotton fabric. Courtesy of London Art Fair.
Image 5: Rory McEwen with paintings of auriculas. Estate of Rory McEwen.
Image 6: Courtesy of Cuttlebone Photography.
Add a comment