Frames of Reference

Kind Of Red

A quintet of five new paintings by Sean Scully entitled Kind of Red, at the Timothy Taylor Gallery. This is painting as a martial art: prepare, focus, get to work; there’s a no-nonsense approach to these blocks of colour thrown onto huge sheet metal plates, rocking in rhythm across the wall. It’s easy to imagine Scully dancing before them wielding a fat wall-painting brush. And in the exhibition catalogue there’s a wonderful, curious and perceptive essay by Richard Williams. Continue reading “Kind Of Red”

All That Other Mother Jazz

My new exhibition, All That Other Mother Jazz, starts next Tuesday, in the fair city of Portsmouth. Come along if you can. Cheers, Jonny.

Jonny Hannah / The Rowley Gallery

Matisse, Scissors, Paper

We finally got to see Henri Matisse: The Cut Outs, the long awaited exhibition at Tate Modern, though perhaps a wet bank holiday Monday during half-term was not the ideal time to visit. Continue reading “Matisse, Scissors, Paper”

The Bullfinch

The bullfinch is surrounded by fragments of information describing both the natural and man-made world. There is a sense that this information has been sought, viewed and downloaded on a hand held screen. This is indicated by the excellent wireless signal displayed in the top right hand corner.

James Read’s The Bullfinch is included in this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

See more by James Read at The Rowley Gallery.

Aftermath

This exhibition at the Art Workers’ Guild in Bloomsbury features work produced during both the Great War and in the uncertain years which followed. Continue reading “Aftermath”

Paul Nash & Swanage

For one of my 65th birthday presents recently I received a superb little book, now something of a collectors piece, called Seaside Surrealism: Paul Nash in Swanage by Pennie Denton. Continue reading “Paul Nash & Swanage”

Foam To Femme

Much of last year I worked with my Pharmacopoeia partner, GP Liz Lee, on a commission for Denmark. Medicinsk Museion is a combined research unit and public museum at Copenhagen University, which in recent years reinvented itself by developing insightful, contemporary exhibitions alongside their historical collection of medical equipment and artefacts. Continue reading “Foam To Femme”

A Close Obama

I’d heard of a Daguerrotype but not a Woodburytype until this one arrived on our counter for framing. Developed by Walter B Woodbury in 1864, the Woodburytype has been described as – ‘the most beautiful photographic reproduction process ever invented’. Continue reading “A Close Obama”

Handmade Frames

Making picture frames is a hands-on experience at The Rowley Gallery. Kai has had her hands full recently. She stopped taking phone calls and buried herself in her work. Continue reading “Handmade Frames”

Sailing To Shanghai

This is Sailing To Shanghai, an early painting by Christopher Corr. We sold it recently to a fellow traveller who was curious to know its story, so I asked Christopher for more information. He sent us a few words and a lot more images. Continue reading “Sailing To Shanghai”