ADZE Contemporary Art celebrates the joys of May with the exhibition Spring: New Works, New Directions at the gallery in Gillygate, York.

This selling show of paintings, prints, ceramics and sculpture showcases work by Alan Flood, Ken Jones, Michael Thacker, Louise Thompson and Jill Ford until May 22.

Flood presents land and seascape acrylic paintings on paper and board; Jones focuses on abstract landscape paintings in impasto oil and mixed media on board; Thacker specialises in carved limestone sculpture; Thompson contributes hand-thrown ceramic bowls; and Ford turns her hand to porcelain and bisque ware.

Prices range from £30 to £1,450; the gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm, and admission is free.

York Photographic Society is holding the final exhibition before the proposed closure of York Barbican Centre this summer.

"Sadly this would appear to be the last show at the Barbican," says society president John Foreman.

"This free venue for art exhibitions will be greatly missed by individuals and organisations such as ours, and City of York Council should be encouraged to include a free venue within its brief for the new developers."

The exhibition runs from this week until May 22; admission is free.

Updated: 09:32 Friday, May 07, 2004