Private View: If A Picture Paints A Good Night Out...

My last post mentioned how various events in Birmingham have been occupying my time just lately.  Prime amongst these was the private view for the exhibition, ‘If a Picture Paints a Thousand Words, Why Can’t I Paint’, organised by the Indigo Octagon collective and in which I participated as a guest artist.  Although the show had been open for a few days, the Friday evening event was an obvious opportunity to draw as many people as possible through the door and was, in that and several other respects, a real success.

Being at a geographical remove, I’d had a relatively little hands-on involvement with the show’s practical preparations and was unsure exactly what to expect prior to entering the gallery for the first time.  Additionally, I was rather breathless from the rapid race over through Friday evening M6 traffic, (thank you, Road Gods!), and a hurried hotel check-in.

In the event, I was delighted to see how well the exhibition looked and just how much care, thought and sheer hard work, Shaun Morris and the other guys had put into the hang.  Although generally familiar with the soft themes underlying the show, and some of the work on display, I hadn’t anticipated just how well different pieces would relate to each other across the room.  It was fascinating to observe the subtle correspondences between the differing preoccupations of the five artists emerge as one moved around the gallery.  I think one of the main achievements has been to allow these connections to be discovered and reflected upon naturally without too much spoon- feeding or conceptual contrivance.

It’s always scary to expose one’s work to a public arena and in the context of other artists’ output.  I was relieved to find I haven’t been fooling myself, and that, out in the World; my paintings can justify their creation.  Of course, there’s always a list of things one might do differently and certain aspects of the other participants’ work may suggest possible new ways forward for my own.  This is particularly true of Andrew Smith’s engagement with some concerns that I share but across a variety of platforms.  Despite my commitment to painting, he takes greater account of the flux of urban existence, and the relationship between environment, text and thought processes, than I have managed so far.  His video work, painted photographs and textual paintings supplied much food for thought.   Craig Underhill’s ceramics engage with the nuances of distressed hard surfaces to which I’m often drawn, whilst Shaun’s painted motorway nocturnes and Chris Cowdrill’s painstaking, collaged illustrations tackled those mutable zones at, and just beyond, the margins of any conurbation.

The Men They Could Hang: (L to R), Craig Underhill, Some Bloke From
Leicester, Shaun Morris, Chris Cowdrill, Andrew Smith

Work By Shaun Morris, (Left & Centre) And Andrew Smith, (Right)

Ceramics By Craig Underhill

Many exhibiting artists will probably admit that private views sometimes alternate between the slightly intimidating and the dispiritingly vacuous, but this time round it seemed the large gathering comprised people who’d come for the right reasons.  There was plenty of genuine interest in the work and lots of positivity and general good humour. I met many new faces and enjoyed numerous conversations. It was evident that the I.O. team had worked really hard at getting the word out and it paid off, with the room remaining full nearly all evening.  The exhibition brochure was a stylish art statement in its own right and the souvenir badges provided a nice touch of affordable ‘merch’.

Shaun & Andrew Perform 'Music For Service Stations'

Box Of Knives

The exhibition’s mixed media aspect was further enhanced by the inclusion of live music that turned a private view into a real multi-dimensional event.  Although Shaun and Andrew will maintain their performance of ‘Music For Service Stations’ wasn’t wholly successful, I was impressed they’d composed a piece specifically for the event at all.  They were followed by a committed performance from local band Box of Knives that went down very well with the room.

It Was a Mixed Crowd

Although our numbers were a little reduced through illness, I was pleased to be able to take a small contingent with me to add to the crowd.  As well as thanking the I.O. guys for making it all happen, and everyone who attended, particular thanks are due to Lorel, Susie, Pauline, Dave and Sid for helping to make it a great weekend altogether.  More of that in my next bulletin…

'Thanks For Coming'

It’s worth mentioning that the show continues until November 23 so here’s hoping that, before then, some more folks make it along to the Works Gallery, Jubilee Centre, 130 Pershore Street, Birmingham B5 6ND.  Oh, and if you want to know who Harvey Smoke is, - ask Andrew.