The Whistler Society 10 Year Anniversary Dinner and Fourth Journal Launch
As a trustee and founding member, I am very much looking forward to joining my associates of the Whistler Society at the Chelsea Arts Club tomorrow evening to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of its founding - which was spearheaded by the late, great architect, David Le Lay - to promote the life and work of artist, James Abbott McNeill Whistler.
Both as an artist and as a fellow American who lived in Britain, Whistler holds a special interest for me, so I am very eager to receive the fourth edition of The Ten O’Clock, the society’s journal, which will also be launched tomorrow. The publication is edited by Art Historian and Whistler scholar, Dr Georgia Toutziari alongside Assistant Editor, Emeritus Professor Dan Sutherland and author of Whistler: A Life for Art's Sake. Georgia and Dan co-wrote Whistler's Mother: Portrait of an Extraordinary Life so the journal will no-doubt be an engaging read, full of scholarly articles and insights.
Reflecting the character of the artist, the theme of the dinner is ‘flamboyant’ so I relish the opportunity to see everyone dine in their most frivolous garb! And with a much-anticipated talk by Gordon Cooke about the artist as printmaker, tomorrow evening promises to be a colourful and fascinating affair to celebrate the life of the colourful man and fascinating artist.
If you would like to find out more about The Whistler Society, visit the website here:
The Viewing Room, Bath. Opening 14th February
What an auspicious date to finally open the doors of The Viewing Room, Bath! We have been busy taking delivery of a wide selection of work by a number of established and award-winning artists that will be available to view in this intimate and domestic art space.
Throughout my work and travels, I have always had one overarching ethos - that of working symbiotically with others. My practice involves working with artists; nurturing their growth and bringing them together to engage in learning, creativity and conversation. Moreover, I delight in connecting artists with clients to extend this collaborative approach and foster relationships between them.
So that is why I am now opening The Viewing Room, a gallery space that will enable clients to experience personal and tailor-made viewings and through which I seek to bring artists and clients together. I will be on hand to guide you through the work and help you to determine whether you can envisage it in your home or work space.
Take a look at my Online Gallery and if you see something that particularly piques your interest, do get in touch to arrange your personal viewing.
The artists exhibiting in The Viewing Room's inaugural iteration are:
Belinda Crozier, David Ferry, Fiona McIntyre, Iain Cotton, John Ball, Louisa Burnett-Hall, Marguerite Horner, Mark Elliott Smith, Maxine Foster, Pete Hoida, Richard Walker, Roy Osborne, Ruth Piper, Susan McDonald, Timothy Emlyn Jones, Richard Walker and Andrélis-Rye.
Paradise Found: New Visions of The Blackdown Hills
18th Mar - 3rd Jun, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton
After much planning and preparation, Paradise Found: New Visions of the Blackdown Hills opens this spring. I am honoured to have been co-curating the show with artists, Tim Craven and Fiona McIntyre. Each curator has invited twelve artists to respond to areas of the exquisite Blackdown Hills in which the avant-garde Camden Town Group painted around 100 years ago. The exhibition will feature the work of The Camden Towners alongside the works of the 36 contemporary artists taking part. I selected the following twelve artists for their consummate skill and diverse practices and I am very much looking forward to seeing their work exhibited together in the show: John Ball, Benedict Brain, Day Bowman, Belinda Crozier, David Ferry, Maxine Foster, Marguerite Horner, Ruth Piper, Narbi Price, Brian Usher, Luke M Walker and David Walsh.
The Viewing Room at Hansard Studios
19th Apr - 7th May, Hansard Studios, London
Though rooted in Bath, The Viewing Rooms will also be an itinerant offering and I will be exhibiting artists’ work at pop-up venues across the country. The first of these nomadic offerings will be a show in London, opening in April. I have invited my represented artists to create new work to exhibit for the first time in this show. Work is well underway so more news will follow soon!
Guest Speaker for The Art Ladder by Parker Harris
25th of April, 5pm
I am delighted to be delivering a mentor's talk as part of the Parker Harris professional progression programme, The Art Ladder, which is designed to help artists navigate the art world. Each month, The Art Ladder introduces artists to professionals including gallerists, curators, collectors and art advisors. It also provides expert advice from art consultants on topics including: how to build relationships with collectors, how to work with galleries, how to use social media effectively, and more. This online mentoring programme is accessible to artists working across a range of media, at all stages of their careers. If you are an artist and would like to find out more about joining this programme, visit the website at:
Curator’s Talk: A Brush with Nature
12th May, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton
As part of the show, Paradise Found: New Visions of The Blackdown Hills, I will be delivering a talk, A Brush with Nature, examining how artists respond to their environment. I will be discussing the works of the artists that I have selected to take part in the show and with such a diverse mix, I certainly have a lot to talk about!
Luke M Walker: Artist’s Walk
13th May, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton
Following my talk on Friday 12th, datascape painter, Luke M Walker will be leading a walk and talk in The Blackdown Hills. He will be discussing his unique practice of collecting information on journeys - whether that of climate, distance and altitude data or that of pieces of natural or man-made detritus - and weaving the information into his paintings.
Luke's work is abundant in London as he is both resident and outreach artist for the development of the Battersea Power Station. But he is also a keen walker, climber and founding member of the Wilderness Collective so it will be very interesting to explore the rural landscape of this AONB during his walk.
Landscape-Datascape 001: 'Abbey to Applehayes'
by Luke Walker,
Acrylic and oil on canvas,
Diptych 76.5 x 62 x 6 cm (each)
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution:
Appointment as Co-Convenor of The Arts
In ongoing news, I am very honoured to have been invited by Jane Walters to become her co-convenor of The Arts for BRLSI, an independent organisation for the promotion of Science, Literature and Art to the City of Bath and the wider world. I will be responsible for arranging speakers and scholars to deliver talks about The Arts that will fit within the broad and illustrious programme of events.
If you would like to find out more about BRLSI's work and events, click on the button to visit their website:
And Finally... I'd like to say a huge thank you for your continued and enthusiastic support. I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming months.