Creative visits

I recently visited Birmingham art gallery and saw a few thought provoking pieces that grabbed my attention. The first piece I came across was that of Ana Maria Pacheco “Man and His Sheep 1989” materials used were wood paint, marble and human teeth. The sculpture consists of seven figures surrounding an individual holing a sheep’s head on a pole. The relationship between the group and the individual is explored by the sinister expressions on their faces, which are enhanced by the use of human teeth and huge dark marble eyes. It definitely created an unnerving presence within the gallery.

Ian Mckeever Assumptio ii (Breathing) 1999 is an oil and acrylic on canvas. The painting is said to relate to the artists visit for six weeks to eastern Siberia followed by a visit to Kremlin. The sheer size of this painting on the wall along with the vivid use of color makes it seem very overwhelming when first viewed. The abstract forms can be interpreted as the lungs of body breathing.

Hughie O’Donoghue Three Studies for a Crucifixion 1996 – Rather than representing a real interpretation of the crucifixion of Christ instead these three prints that form a sequence to represent a universal image of human suffering. The figures are depicted in an abstract expressive manner blurring the definition of figure and background. The darkness and boldness of the prints fit with representation perfectly.

Eating and Drinking – I found this display of how we consume food over hundreds of years very interesting in terms of social study view.

There is more to food and drink than keeping your body alive. Each society has its own drinking and eating customs. We have to learn which foods are acceptable as well as how and when to consume them. We express friendship family and business relationships through the kinds of food we eat together. Certain foods mark special events such as celebrations or religious festivals. Food can be used as reward or punishment.

How did you gain your position in society?

In every society some people have more wealth power and prestige than others. People normally reach their positions in society either by birth or achievement. In some societies it is easy for people to change their status. In others its difficult or even impossible.

Art in the Heart

A celebration of the diverse and exciting exhibitions taking place across the west midlands during 2013. I absolutely love the logo produced for this, the use of simple shape, color and text works brilliantly together and definitely says “a celebration of great art”

 

An arts festival titled “the image” organized by Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture was featured locally during the beginning of September of which I attended and witnessed some absolutely awful works but also some very interesting pieces.

One of the great interesting pieces I saw was that of ‘The Igloo” a 9m diameter 360 degree projection space. The igloo dome has a screen all around its inside enabling you to see specially created images all around you, showing he spectacular capabilities of 360 imagery. By enetering the 360 it essentially put you inside the image itself, allowing you to explore the space you otherwise wouldn’t be able to do so. It takes you on a different kind of journey letting you experience thing sin a different manner as if you are really there stood on the street with the car racing past. Much better than cinema!!

Some of Andrew Logans works including pieces that have never been shown outside of London before were featured in an exclusive exhibition in a pop up gallery in my local town. These pieces were more of a far more modern style that I had seen before. I especially took an extreme liking to the glass glittery frog and the peaceful monk, which oozed spirit and energy with the use of vibrant colored glass.

However on visiting the exhibition of Andrew Logan’s work in the only museum in Europe dedicated to a living artist, was quite a different experience. Everything felt majorly dated and although an experience with the intention of providing humor, sentiment, entertainment and fantasy I am not sure it quite worked for me unfortunately and did not leave feeling inspired or creative but a little dazed and confused, maybe that’s a good thing?

Although on leaving the exhibition I came across “the cosmic galaxy egg” a 15 foot high fantastic glittering mirrored egg fabricated in 1983 made from bronze, shell, colored glass and fiberglass. I was completely taken aback by the sheer size of the piece and being able to see fragments of my reflection from every angle as I paced around the outside of it.

“The mirror of the universe has been my life for almost forty years. It has an energy like no other material. My life is an artistic adventure. The message of joy and happiness to celebrate human existence.” – Andrew Logan

 

Tenby museum and art gallery

During a vist to pembrokeshire I decided to vist the Wilfred Harrison Gallery situated within the Tenby art gallery. I viewed a selection of artworks from the gallerys permenant collection including works by augustus and Gwen John, John Piper, David Jones, Kyffin Williams, EJ Head and Nina Hamnett to name a few. There is also a “New Art Gallery” that features frequently changing exhibitions of locally relevant art in various mediums.

Featured in the “New Art Gallery” was that of Ray Howard – Jones 1903 – 1996. The exhibition was named “ A Retrospective”

Woman war artist and painter, studied at Slade School of art, London in 1920s. She is one of a handful of women to have became accredited a war artist, due to her paintings depicting preparations of d day shipping in Cardiff and are now in the collection of the Imperial War Museum. She is said to be inspired by nature and inner spiritual life portrayed in Christian teachings and celtic mysteries and legends. I think you can really see her artistc spirit and style in the use of gouache and pastel.

 

A sculpture by Augustus John featured in the gallery. Modeled in clay and cast in bronze , it seem s a very expressive approach to form and texture to evoke a physical presence of the whom portrait it is.

The Mayors Slip by Eric Bradforth painted in oils in 1995 – This strook me as possibly one of the most quirkiest unusual paintings of Tenby harbor, showing a lovely reflection in the pool featurd at the bottom of the slip. The bright colours are used perfectly and match the style of the piece perfectly.

During my visit to Pembrokeshire I was also lucky enough to come across the work of Gary Llewellyn a fine art photographer. On visiting the small gallery it was like having a fascinating insight into one mans photographic world. All images were so vibrant and full of energy and situations and landscapes really were captured beautifully. Was quite taken aback by his work.