‘We Are Here’, an exhibition organised by a new generation of curators opened at the Wallner Gallery, Lakeside, Nottingham yesterday. The 14 -22 yr olds selected work from the huge pool of talent found in Nottingham’s many studio groups and came up with a mature response to notions of place, identity and geography. I was impressed. It was also a great chance to catch up with artists I hadn’t seen for a while :) I also managed a few hours at the studio. It’s the Derbyshire Open Studios weekend and although I wasn’t participating, it was good to see such a positive reaction to the studios by visitors. I attempted to paint but it definitely wasn’t the best. Justine has also installed her exhibition of drawings and paintings in the Exhibition Space. It’s been fantastic to see her work develop and her confidence grow since moving to HMS over 2 years ago. Her work is inspired by the local parklands to which she has returned again and again to record the changing seasons. The language has become more sophisticated and the latest charcoal pieces offer a real sense of personal engagement with nature. Two drawings were selected for the ‘We are Here’ exhibition.
Sarah Key (from HMS) and me submitted work for the RA summer show for the first time this year… and today we learned that both pieces were selected.
4 HMS artists were selected from local studios to show at the Wallner Gallery, Lakeside, Nottingham by Young Curators. This is a project run by the Lakeside Arts Centre for 14 -22 yr olds. I wasn’t chosen, but I had a sneak preview today as I popped in to see one of the artists… and it looks an interesting exhibition. I’ll be supporting the artists at the PV on Saturday. 5 HMS artists will also be opening their studios for the Derbyshire Open Studios this weekend. Although Im not taking part I’ll help to prepare. I’ts a good opportunity to spruce up the place.
Theft of a cable delayed the train home last night. I had been in London, along with most of the Southwell Artists, to collect our runners up certificate for our Big Draw event at the Minster last October. Amongst the images projected on a big screen was the colourful Noah’s Ark which Heather and I had created – adorned with creatures and butterflies. We had a nice meal in a Thai restaurant afterwards (which was v reasonably priced). Another enquiry about setting up the studios and I realised an important factor about HMS – we have made the spaces as cost effective as possible because we haven’t spent money on upgrading the property unecessarily. Everything is quite basic. We don’t have sinks in every space, the floors aren’t perfect and the lighting is only strip lights (though we do have huge windows). However, the chipboard walls allow for drilling, painting, sticking, and screwing. The floors will take a splash of paint. Most Important – the spaces are affordablle.
It’s great to see a solo show by a local artist in one of the premier spaces in Nottingham. Last night was the launch of Marek Tobolewski’s show ‘Continuum in Symmetry – New paintings and Drawings’ at the Djanogly Gallery where a huge contingent of the artist community turned up to support a dedicated and much admired friend. (The arrival of Nottingham Contemporary has raised the profile of the city enormously but local artists have suffered from the loss of Angel Row and Bonington Gallery as the new art gallery is dedicated to showing international artists). I was in awe of these sinuous, fluid and graceful pieces which take the viewer on an unending journey. Thank you Marek ! see Tom Hackett’s review www.a-n.co.uk/p/631740/
