My Life As A Tree

Last summer on holiday in Catalonia, we visited Girona where we chanced upon this striking installation by Àlex Nogué. It occupied one room of a small municipal exhibition space, Bolit-La Rambla. It consisted of 28 sheets of paper with ink and pencil drawings on the back wall, 56 trays filled with water on the floor, 2 digital second counters on the ceiling, one counting forwards and one counting backwards. It was possible to step through the hole in the wall and walk around the installation, but really best viewed from this position where it appears framed. It seemed to be an archetype, a symbol of time & place, heaven & earth, shadow & light, growth & decay. It was so simple and elegant and memorable, and more perfect for being found by accident. Continue reading “My Life As A Tree”

Frames of reference

Goat Party

On Thursday evening we had a party at The Rowley Gallery to launch Christopher Corr’s new book, The Goggle-Eyed Goats. It was published on World Book Day by Andersen Press in London and Gallimard Jeunesse in Paris. We hung the gallery with Christopher’s paintings for the book, together with more of his other paintings, and created a joyful and exuberant feast for the eyes which we’re now reluctant to take down. Here are some photos from the book launch, courtesy of Clare Simms at Andersen Press. Continue reading “Goat Party”

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Goggle At The Goats

A reminder that Christopher Corr’s goats are let loose today, March 1st at The Rowley Gallery, 115 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LN from 6 o’clock. Books and paintings and artist on display.

Stop Press!  We’re acting the goat!  Special offer one night only 10% discount on sale of goat paintings.

Frames of reference

The Lonely Goatherd

Because of his fondness for transforming cheesy show tunes I felt sure that Sonny Rollins must have played The Lonely Goatherd at some time, especially with that goatee. It would have been right at home on his What’s New album. I can almost hear it. His lyrical saxophone singing the melody, then deconstructing it with one of his abstract solos over a rhythm of congas and bongos. But I can’t find a recording anywhere. We’ll have to imagine it, and make do with this version by Eddie Cano. Continue reading “The Lonely Goatherd”

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Trip To Birkenhead

A few weeks ago my wife and I spent a few days in the Wirral to see pictures I had in the annual exhibition of the National Acrylic Painters Association in the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum, Birkenhead. I was so pleased with the hanging of my work and so impressed with the beautiful gallery, a truly local gallery so well looked after, away from all the razzamatazz of the Tate Liverpool etc. across the Mersey. Continue reading “Trip To Birkenhead”

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St Cirq Lapopie

This beautiful butterfly cut-out was made by Joseph Silcott from a vintage Michelin map of the Dordogne and Lot river valleys. The central butterfly at the top with the green body features St Cirq Lapopie. Others display Rocamadour and Cahors. Joseph simply draws with scissors to release the butterflies from the map. Continue reading “St Cirq Lapopie”

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Dorset Landscapes

On Sunday I went down to Roche Court near Salisbury to see John Hubbard’s Paintings From The 1960s. They are beautiful atmospheric condensations on canvas and paper, displayed in a small light filled gallery in a corner of a garden overwhelmed with sculpture. This tranquil space is a refuge and standing before Rocky Woodland especially I was in a green shade reminded of the undercliff at Lyme Regis. There’s a lot to see. But I was not allowed to photograph it. So I will make do with some we framed earlier, for another exhibition, but one I now discover has just finished! Continue reading “Dorset Landscapes”

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A Good Shave

Ten years ago I received a strange email marked ‘cacklegoose’. Curious both because the author was nameless but more so due to she? he? offering ‘artistic material’ in the form of 328 razor blades. Further corresponding revealed it was from the writer and publisher Michael Raeburn of Cacklegoose Press. When his father, Walter Raeburn, died in 1972 Michael discovered a box of all the razor blades he’d used since the late 1920s along with the well worn razor in its purple velvet-lined case. Continue reading “A Good Shave”

Frames of reference