There's New and There's News

Well, I will readily admit that it is caffeine that is holding me together today. I am very tired having travelled two hundred miles in under 12 hours. With approximately four hours sleep.
Just as well I managed to open on time as I actually had an important meeting with the artist Stephen Bishop.
You will be hearing a lot about him in the next 12 months, quite a lot of it will be from me but no doubt  he will be talked about by others.
He will be exhibiting with me next year and I will have a permanent collection of his work at the gallery. I've said it before and I will say it again he is one to watch. One day people will start listening to me and they will get (buy) whilst the getting is good (moderately priced).
It won't be long before the number of noughts at the end starts to increase. Don't say I didn't warn you, because I did.
I have a thick wedge of solicitors notes to read and I am blogcrastinating big time. I have to respond when I have read them and I have had them for a week.
Read 'em and weep comes to mind. So I am off and will be back in touch when I have actually read them.
I hope that you have a good weekend planned. I am going to making several phone calls to family and friends as I have been promising to do so for some time now and I am sorry to say I haven't managed it yet.
The picture is by Stephen Bishop I want to get you thinking about his work.

Art Rage Us!

Wow! I hardly had time to get through the door before I was asked essentially 'What's the point of art?'.
I then proceeded to have in depth art conversation. To say I wasn't ready would be an understatement. I produce art because I feel the need to. It is something that I feel compelled to do. I have famine and feast moments in terms of the production as it is reliant on how busy the gallery keeps me.
I was asked what is your work trying to say? Some of it is trying to say something and some of it is trying to say nothing. Specifically what it is trying to say is hard to pin down. (Especially before coffee number three)

Does the viewer need to understand the back story in order to like it? Two years in and I am going to say a definitive no! Some people are interested but I don't think it will change someones mind from dislike to like. I think they will gain a better appreciation of the work and understand it.
I think if they have made their mind up to own it they are generally interested in finding out more about the artist and their process.

There are lots of artists whose work I am impressed by, the technical skill, use of colour etc but would I want to own it (even if I had the money) not necessarily.
That is what art education is for though. I remember at 14 my favourite artists were all working in a very representational way. Depicting things as they actually are/were. I thought abstract art was an abomination created by people who could not really draw or paint. That is fact!

Then I grew up, and saw things differently and was taught how to see to a certain extent. Now very rarely am I moved by figurative art that accurately depicts life as it is. It has something to do with not being able to bring anything of myself to it. That it gives me too many answers and doesn't ask enough questions.

If you paint something that is photo realistic what is it you are trying to say? Look at me I am very skilled technically and I can paint something so well, it looks exactly like the photograph that I copied from. And......................?

I'm just saying.

Anyway, I like art and that's all, some of it more than others. I am guessing it's exactly the same for you! If you would like to discuss the topics raised in this blog any further then please free to ask the questions asked to any artists that you know. However, that does not include me!

Ferry Across From Sandbanks!

DO NOT be put off by the fact that the ferry isn't running until December. It is annoying I know but the road to Swanage is still open and despite the horror stories in the press I did the return trip to Poole on Saturday in virtually the same amount of time that it takes via the ferry.
It is disappointing that business owners in Swanage have been thwarted by weather, the Olympics and now road works. It was a tough summer for many as visitor numbers were down. Now we are being hit again.
The idiocy of planners in this area! Would it be too much to ask that they liaise with each other every so often.
Well, I think that the fact the ferry was off on Saturday did impact on how many people came to the PV which was a shame because the work looks stunning.
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/ns/profile/mark+lloyd/2748
We found out that Mark has been featured in the Saatchi New Sensations of 2012 website. Click the link to find out more.
This is good news indeed for Mark he works hard and he deserves it.
I also found out that Josh Hollingshead who exhibited with me in September one the prize that he was nominated for and is currently being exhibited at Pallant House.

I told you he was one to watch. It will be appearing at the gallery in February so please come along and see it for yourself.

Date for your diary, Saturday 8th December will be the start of the Purbeck Collective's Winter Exhibition. It promises to have something for everyone. Join us for mulled wine and mince pies.

What's Not To Like?

If you haven't already done so please 'Like' the gallery Facebook Page

Guess who I have been on the phone to today? I bet you can't guess? Well I had to phone the lovely people at BT as my whole internet situation has become intolerable.

It is still not right and is causing me grief as it keeps disappearing when you least want it to. Which for me is all the bloomin' time!

I had people come into the gallery today who asked me where the naked dummies that were in the window had gone. I think that is genius.

Since I started writing this the internet has dropped out twice. So they have done an exceptional job of fixing the problem.

I am tempted to go back to my old hub which was far more reliable.

Mark Lloyd's exhibition starts tomorrow so if you fancy popping along to the Private View then please do.

If a big breakfast sets you up for the day why am I hungry? It's the big questions that fascinate me.

The gallery will be open a little later tomorrow as I have to get the PV organised and as I am without a car again, I have to rely on the kindness of others.

Can't have a PV with no booze or nibbles.

Going again now before the internet runs away again as it is threatening to do!

Mark Lloyd - Dystopia Is Here and It's Now!

Mark Lloyd

Another eventful day at the gallery. I really wish that I had got a webcam up to record the reactions of people to Robin Beuscher's work. It would have made hilarious viewing, if you didn't see them then I am sorry to say that they have now been replaced by Mark Lloyd's fantastic new exhibition.

I now realise the full potential of the windows in between shows and I will be looking for  artists to give me window fillers for in between exhibitions.
There will only one criteria and that is that the work must be eye catching and preferably provocative.
I want to get people talking and challenge their perceptions of what art is.
I am not expecting people to love it, I do want them to find it interesting and if it gets them talking about it then it has done it's job.

After several false starts with hanging Marks very first painting it all went up like a dream.
I have probably told you that I hate drilling holes in my walls, needless to say I still do. I am however an excellent filler inner, and sander and then painter.
He is very happy with it and so am I. Let's exhibit some great art and I'll settle for that.

The Internot As I Like To Call It!

Welcome to blog no. 514. I hope it finds you well. I am having to write my blog at home because my internet connection at work is so shockingly poor that I can't do anything.
I did mention that I am between shows at the moment and Robin Beuscher was kind enough to lend me two sculptures to put in the windows.
They are a bit controversial and very eye catching and I think that it is definitely going to get people talking.
My only wish is that I had a camera set up to record peoples reactions. I have seen double takes, people walk all the way past and come back.
I've included 'Red Tape Man' in this blog and you'll get an idea of what I am talking about. I think it's hilarious. You judge for yourself. If only all bureaucrats had to dress like this, it would make all of the rules and regulations so much easier to swallow.
New show up on Thursday, it's always exciting putting up new exhibitions especially when it's a first for the artist.
I hope that you can make it.
I have promised to select a winner from my new 'likes' from the gallery Facebook page, who will be the  proud owner of a piece of my work. Due to the technical difficulties I am experiencing at the gallery I have not been able to post a picture of the prize. Due to this fact I am going to delay choosing a winner until I have posted the picture.
All you have to do is 'like' the gallery Facebook page and you are in with a chance to win.

No Bloggy and a Very Sick Moggy!

Don't blame me, blame my erratic internet connection. So the textiles show has finished but that does not mean that the gallery is not full of exciting new images. Well technically, it isn't full as of yet but give it a day or two and there will be some stunning new work on display.
It is Mark Lloyds show that starts on Saturday we will take our time hanging it because it will be his first solo exhibition at the gallery.
It is going to be edgy and challenging and I should imagine it will raise a few eyebrows but that's exactly what I hope it does.
There will be those that won't like it as it isn't a beautifully painted seascape but art is not all about beautifully painted seascapes is it?
My aim has always been to champion the work of an eclectic mix of practitioners who work in a range of media and work with diverse subject matter.
I do not want to play it safe and provide Dorset with yet another gallery full of 'nice' art. That isn't to say that I don't want to show fantastically produced beautiful art because I do.
But every now and again I want to push a few buttons, get a few tongues wagging and fulfil my role as a curator/educator.
My rant is over come and see for yourselves. That is why I am here.

My few days off didn't happen as Merlin my cat decided he'd like a mini break at the veterinary hospital! Nice of him I thought, slightly more pricey than my planned visit to Cornwall. £156 a night which did include bed and breakfast, some interesting fur shaving and a drip. (At the Vets) I do curse the day the black cat came to town. He may well bankrupt me way before the double dip recession that we are in or out of depending on what you believe.

My gallery windows are going to be looking interesting let me know what you think if you pass them!